U.S. Army Air Corps SSgt. Frank Maglaty during World War II. (Submitted by Linda Maglaty Roberts)
HARTFORD-TOLLAND COUNTIES, CT — As military members of the past and present are celebrated on this Veterans Day, Patch editors in north-central Connecticut asked readers to share photos and stories about their beloved heroes.
The response has been tremendous, with readers from across Hartford and Tolland counties (and even a few just beyond those boundaries) sending in tributes to the veterans in their lives.
The photo atop this story is of SSgt. Frank Maglaty, an Army Air Corps veteran from West Hartford who was drafted in 1943 and was stationed in Italy. He served with the 816th Bombardment Squadron in the 483rd Bombardment Group. He was a top turret gunner on a B-17 and earned numerous accolades, including the Air Medal with two oak leaf clusters, Sharpshooter and a Good Conduct Medal. On his first mission, his plane was shot down over Yugoslavia, but all crew members survived as Partisans led them back to a friendly area at night. He went on to fly 35 more missions.
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Those who correctly followed the submission instructions are featured in this gallery, which will be continuously updated throughout the day. The veterans will be listed in reverse alphabetical order.
U.S. Army Col. (ret.) Dr. Michael Zapor. He grew up in Enfield and served in Iraq and Afghanistan. Although he is an infectious disease doctor, he was sent over as a field surgeon with the 101st Mountain Infantry Division. Submitted by Mari Schectman.Lt. Adeline E. Vicario, U.S. Army Corps of Nurses, World War II. Born 1922 in Brooklyn, N.Y. Upon graduation from Central Islip School of Nursing, enlisted and assigned to the Charles A. Stafford Army Hospital Ship, arriving in the Philippines and served in the Sternberg General Hospital in Manila. She attended John Adams High School in South Ozone Park, N.Y. A lifelong Long Islander, she passed away in 2006. Daughter lives in Canton. Submitted by Nora Hillman.Sgt. Jon Sperling of Bloomfield and military working dog Shiloh. U.S. Air Force, 1983-87. Patrick Air Force Base, Florida.Walter J. Sierakowski (on left), U.S. Army. Served in North Africa and Italy from Dec. 1941 until 1946. Born and grew up in Rockville. The photo was taken near Naples, Italy, Walter having been part of a unit rescuing Italian civilians from the slopes of Mt. Vesuvius in the 1944 eruption, among many other wartime duties. Submitted by Don Sierakowski.Proud Marine Sgt. Warner Robinson, fought in Vietnam, participating in over 30 missions. A graduate of Enfield High School, he and his brothers have all served following their graduations. Submitted by Jan Rypysc.U.S. Army Col. Ragnar H. "Pete" Peterson, World War II and Korea. Recipient of Purple Heart, Silver Star, Bronze Star, Combat Infantry Badge and many other medals. An inductee of the Infantry Officers Hall of Fame at Fort Benning, Georgia. Past Commander of VFW Post 10361. Lived in Farmington from 1961 to 2016; passed away at the age of 96. Submitted by Joyce Peterson.Frederick A. Peterson Jr. ,U.S. Coast Guard during World War II. Gunner’s Mate, served in Pacific Theater. Grew up in New Britain; lived and died in Kensington in June 2023 at age 99. Had four sons who served in the Army, Navy, Air Force and Marine Corps. Submitted by Roger Peterson.Cpl. Frank J. Peters, U.S. Marine Corps 4th Division in World War II. He will be 100 years old on Dec. 17, and has lived in Windsor that entire time. Submitted by Diane Madden.Cpl. Bernard F. Nolan Jr., U.S. Marine Corps, 1966-68. Served in Vietnam, 1966-67. Grew up in Waterbury, attended St. Francis Xavier Grammar School and Croft High School. Presently resides in Wolcott.Lieutenant Commander Andrés Nieto, M.D. U.S. Navy, Afghanistan 2009. Grew up in South Windsor. Submitted by Paula Nieto.Bob McMillan, U.S. Air Force, with his wife Joyce and son Todd upon returning from the Vietnam theater in 1968. Served 32 years through Desert Storm, retiring as a full colonel after 32 years. They have lived in Southington for 50 years.Jan McCollum, U. S. Navy QM3, 1968-1972. From Mansfield Depot. Submitted by Penny Hunt.Five Locario brothers born and raised in Enfield. Not in uniform are Joseph and Phil, who both served in World War I. In uniform are Frank, George and Salvatore, who all served during World War II. Submitted by Theresa Locario Botellio.Benjamin Law of Tolland, U. S. Navy 2012 - 2021. He served on the USS Carl Vinson in San Diego, California and Bremerton, Washington. Attended UConn prior to leaving for the Navy. Currently resides in Bremerton. Submitted by Leslie Law.PFC James O. Lambert, U.S. Army marksman during the Korean Conflict, 1950-53. He was in charge of an anti-aircraft radar van in Inchon, Korea. Photo is at Fort Bliss, Texas, at the Chihuahuan Desert. Grew up in Rockville, settled with his wife and family in Tolland until he passed. Submitted by Dana Lambert.PFC Alvin Kotler, U.S. Army, served in Korea 1951-1953, cook with the Army Medical Corps at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in Germany. Awarded Army of Occupation Medical, Germany. Grew up in Hartford, attended Weaver High School, University of Connecticut (BA), Central Connecticut State College (MBA). Lived with wife of almost 60 years and three children in West Hartford until his passing in 2020. Submitted by Elaine Kotler.SSgt. Wayne C. Jensen, U.S. Air Force, Korean War. Born 1934, attended Manchester High School, lived 40 years in Enfield, passed away in 2010. Submitted by Tim Jensen.Lt. Col. Samuel S. Humphrey (1923-2009, U.S. Air Force, lived in Canton. Served in the South Pacific in World War II. Retired out of the Pentagon after 25 years of service. Submitted by Marianne Humphrey Burbank.William J. Huebner Jr., U.S. Army corporal in World War II and staff sergeant in Korea. During the Korean War, he was ithe Army 3rd Division and the United Nations war correspondent. Grew up in Watertown, Mass. and lived in Avon for many years until his death in 2010. Submitted by Holly Huebner Ryan.Pvt. George Carl Height, U.S. Army during World War II. Lifelong resident of Southington. Passed away in 2020. Submitted by Sybil Height Williams.Construction Mechanic CPO Joseph B. Hagan, U.S. Navy Seabees. Served 26 years, from Vietnam to Desert Storm. Grew up in Jersey City and Keansburg, N.J. Currently resides in Simsbury. Submitted by Maria Hagan.Edward M. Gwozdz, U. S. Army, 334th Infantry Regiment, Medical Detachment, Surgical Technician. Battles and campaigns - Rhineland, Ardennes and Central Europe, June 1944 - May 1946. Awarded Bronze Star medal for "crossing open terrain under constant enemy mortar and sniper fire to reach the casualties and administer aid, saving the lives of several men." Good Conduct medal, European African Middle Eastern Campaign Ribbon, Distinguished Unit Badge, Army of Occupation Medal of Germany, Victory Medal. Graduated Hartford Public High School, Hartford Trade School and Wharton American Technical School in England. Met and married wife Janet while stationed in Edinburgh, Scotland. Built a home on Forbes Street in East Hartford, where they lived for 62 years. Worked at Pratt & Whitney prior to enlistment and continued work there for another 35 years. Passed away in 2006. Sgt. Neil Brian Gillespie of Windsor, U.S. Air Force, Vietnam era. Awarded the Bronze Star Medal. Born in 1946, died in 2021. Submitted by Kelly Gillespie Nesbitt.Sergeants Joseph and Irene (Van Guilder) Frangiamore met and married, after only knowing each other for 16 days, in Reno, Nevada in 1944 while serving in the Army Air Corps. They were both chefs and worked together in Reno until he was shipped overseas to Italy, where he served until the end of World War II. After being discharged, they returned to his native Thompsonville, where they lived and raised four children. Irene was originally from Cannon Falls, Minnesota. Submitted by Karen Frangiamore Kwiecienski.Col. Bob Feher, U.S. Air Force 1991-present. South Windsor High School class of 1991, currently resides in South Windsor with wife Kelly and children Gabe, Ryan and Brett. Lewis Dube of South Windsor, U.S. Navy, World War II. Member of Naval Combat Demolition Unit, earned a Bronze Star for his efforts on Utah Beach. Submitted by Justin Dube.PFC Julio J. DiBacco (1920-2010), U.S. Army Company D 17th Armored Engineer Battalion, World War II. Received the Bronze Star for Bravery - swept for mines to secure the area for tanks to proceed. By destroying key bridges, creating obstacles and fighting as infantry, the engineers delayed the Wehrmacht enough for the Allies to organize a counteroffensive. Julio grew up in Hartford. Submitted by Mary Varley.Lt. Col. Allen Diamond, U.S. Army, retired April 2024. Grew up and graduated from Tolland High School, went to UConn for a short time before boot camp in Missouri, then onto two deployments in Afghanistan and one mission at The Horn Of Africa. Among his many awards are the Bronze Star Medal, three Meritorious Service Medals, Army Superior Unit Award, Global War On Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Saint Maurice Award and The Iron Man Trophy Award. In this photo, his parents, Susan and James, werlcomed him home from Africa a few years ago. Submitted by Susan Diamond.Joseph D. Connolly Jr. of New Bedford, Mass. U.S. Army Air Corps, 1st Lieutenant during World War II. He (front, second from left) and his crew are pictured with one of their planes called Lil Gypsy. He lost one of his eyes during air combat over Germany. Earned a Silver Star and a Purple Heart. Graduated from Bentley College. Passed away in 1990. His children and grandchildren live in the greater Hartford area. Submitted by Jacqueline Zimmer.Sgt. Richard D. Colbert, show in the jungles of New Guinea where he served as an air traffic controller with the Army Air Force in World War II. Raised in Hartford, attended St. Patrick's and then Weaver High School. Passed away in 1983 at age 60. Submitted by Rich Colbert.MSgt. Kait Cardello, U.S. Air Force. Loadmaster, 103rd Airlift Wing. Lives in Suffield. Submitted by Gregg Barratt.Russell M Birch, U.S. Army, born 1921 in Middletown, New York ,died July 2006 in Seminole, Florida. Fought in World War II in the Rhineland in the Ardennes, critically wounded in the Battle of the Bulge, recipient of the Purple Heart. Has a brick in the West Hartford Veterans Memorial. Submitted by Barbara Belmont.Seaman 1st Class Walter E. Bednaz (at right), U.S. Navy, World War II. Earned a Bronze Star and Area ribbon for his efforts in the European-African-Middle-Eastern area on SS J E B STUART in 1944. Also served in the seas off Russia, England, France and Italy. After completing the Navy Training School in 1943, he immediately shipped out, serving until the end of 1945. Raised in Suffield where his mother Mary and seven brothers and sisters farmed the land. Every family boy only attended Suffield schools until grade 8 and then was expected to finish their education in the service. Each one completed high school. Submitted by Diane Gabel.
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