Alonzo L. Waters, publisher of the Journal-Register was requested to think back in personal memory over his four score of years and set forth some of his own views of the part the huge stone Armory has played in Medina’s history.

To those of the present generations the closing of the State Armory on Pearl Street does not reflect many of the attributes of those who have lived with the institution for the greater part of a century.  Since World War II the building has been almost exclusively utilized as housing for the military.  However, back at the turn of the century, and for some years previous, the Armory was the scene of many athletic and social occasions during the winter months.

Both the company and those outside the enlistments engaged in winter sports that were attended by large and enthusiastic numbers.  Sports like basketball, indoor baseball, wrestling, boxing, indoor racing events and others were scheduled generously.

Then there were the famous Armory dances at which Moll’s Orchestra of Rochester was the feature attraction.  They were the social events of the season and hundreds of couples moved gracefully over the floor until the strains of “Three O’Clock in the Morning” or some other familiar strain closed the festivities.

Many men of local prominency have captained the local military organization here in Medina since the Armory was built.  Those of recent decades included Maj. Gen. John Thompson, who took his forces into World War I and later represented Orleans County in the State Assembly for some 14 years.  Gen. Thompson also continued his interest in the military after he left the local command and was one of the commanding officers of the famed 27th Division during the war years and those immediately following.

There were Captains LeRoy J. Skinner, Arthur Munson, John W, Oakes and others well-known locally who headed the local company during the years between the two world wars, each giving generously of time and abilities to the success of the “militia”.

Preceding all of these, and the first commander of my recollection, was Major Sanderson A. Ross.  It is my recollection that he was the first commanding officer of the company to occupy the new building.  When the local company was first organized it held its drills and musters in the top floor of the building now occupied by Garlock’s Office Products, Main Street.

The State Armory probably occupies as much of a page in modern history for Medina as any local stone and mortar institution.  That it should become a casualty of our modern times is understandable, but regretted.

There must be some use for so utilitarian a building.  It stands with or without occupancy as memorial to thousands of young men who gave of themselves for the defense of their country both in war and peace times.  Many of those who marched away to the cheers of the local citizenry never returned and their resting places dot the hillsides of Europe and Asia as well as other hallowed sites throughout the world.

The contribution of the Armory to Medina as a building can most likely never be approached in the future.

To those of the older generation its closing rekindles memories of many in the community whose names still linger,  In addition to the commanding officers there are many names like Ward Hollenbeck, Curly Sinclair, Bill Breitsman and scores of others, who made the Armory their working homes over the years, whose memories are re-kindled with the thoughts that the Pearl Street institution is to draw the drapes over its military career.

Saturday 26 Feb. 1977 started out like other drill days at the Armory except that the 41 soldiers standing in formation were in class A uniform.  That afternoon at 13:00 hrs. we would stand for our last formation and march past our Brigade Commander Col. Karl C. Verbeck as a Detachment in our Armory for the last time.  We spent the morning preparing with a rehersal, getting the military marching music on a small tape recorder to match our drill and ceremony.  The men would clean out their lockers and turn in any equipment not being transfered to Batavia. There was a solemnity to the day that was very much noticed by me as I was in charge and I was becoming part of the history of this fine building, as the last commander.

We were to clean out the entire building in the days to come with most everything being transfered to Albany.  We had to know which equipment, furniture, paintings etc. belonged to the State of New York or the Armory itself. The attic held many old surprises under years of soot and dust, some of which I cleaned and found to be useless except for historical old enlistment papers that I gave to the Historical Society. 

The afternoon came and I called the Detachment to Fall In.  Some members of the Medina High School Band were present to play the National Anthem.  Nearly a century of military tradition and honor was soon to be left to local history.  I was disappointed by the small civilian turnout, only 40 or so watched from the balcony overlooking the drill floor.  Col. Verbeck told the men they were welcome to join the company now being reformed in Batavia. He praised the unit for its honored service in past wars, but added that “it doesn’t seem right that strength should be rewarded this way.”  I stated what I have previously mentioned in previous blogs on this site but added “During this time of the volunteer service, we, the Guard and other reserve components were the backbone of this nation’s defenses in a national emergency.” Remember the Draft had been eliminated in 1973. Those words were proven to be so true since 2003 with the current situation in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Glenn Stalker, representing the Medina Village Board, read a resolution expressing the community’s appreciation to the troops, both past and present.  I had expressely asked our former Administrative Supply Technician, SFC Donald McElwee to be present as I was going to hand our Company Guidon (flag) to him for safe keeping.  The Guidon contained the silver bands, representing the Battle Honors of the Armory, that Co. F earned in WW II.  The state ordered me to send the Guidon to Albany and I refused saying that it must remain with the village.  During one part of the ceremony I called Don to come forward to receive the Guidon, it was fitting he should have this honor for he had been a member of Co. F prior to their activation in 1940, had served with the company throughout the war , remained with Co. C after the war as our only full time employee until his retirement just a few years earlier.

The ceremony brought back many memories to the veterans present but Don McElwee said it best, “It is an end of an era, Thinking back of the people I’ve known and heard about who served here…..well, it’s hard to express it in words right now.”

“They should have played the ‘Battle Hymn of the Republic’, commented another soldier. “It would have been more appropriate….since the battle is over and the men are going away.”

During the period 1960-1977 a number of area men received their commission as Second Lieutenants:From Albion- Jesse G. Weaver Jr., Charles P. Shervin, James Scibetta, Daniel Spriegel, Jerome J. Makowski.  From Medina- Eugene W. Standish, Kenneth D. Howlett, Allen O. Seaver, William A. Boucher, Joseph G. Rich Jr., Robert E. Weet, Joseph A. Grabowski, Francis R. Grabowski, Eugene T. Kujawa, Stanley R. Kubatek, James Balcerzak, Gary Hudson, Richard Kosiorek, Richard H. Glass, James C. Crowley, and ____ Herivan. 

Serving as First Sergeants during this period have been William M. Arnett, Smith A. Munson, Alfred L. Schmitt, Donald E. Bensley, John Walsh, Ronald Winans, David Thom, Thomas Taylor and John Fox.  Don McElwee served as Administrative Supply Technician from 1 Dec. 1948, until his retirement in 1974.  Our last AST was MSG John Harrington who remained with the 174th Inf. as the Bn. Sergeant Major. I should mention that First Sergeant Don Bensley a member of the Monument Committee, became our Bn. Sergeant Major prior to SMG Harrington.  Both these men are soldiers of the utmost professionalism.

In 1975, 1st. Lt. James Balcerzak took over as Detachment Commander.  During Annual Training 1975, Company C. received the honor of being nominated the outstanding infantry unit in the Brigade.  A trophy to this effect was awarded during Annual Training 1976.

In November 1975, Lt. Balcerzak left our unit to take a position with the 98th Div. Army Reserve in Rochester, I was sad to see him leave as we had been High School classmates.  The unit was always a family as many of the members throughout its history were neighbors, classmates and friends outside of the Armory.  The Command passed to 1st. Lt. Ralph Roberts from Brockport, while Captain Steven Trinkle from Akron took command of the company in Batavia.  Both of these fine officers were forced to leave the company temporarily because of civilian job conflict.

We now reach the final months of the military history of our local Armory.  As was mentioned in a previous blog we had two rifle platoons in Medina.  Many members were  coming to an end of their six year obligation to their state and nation and were not re-enlisting.  I told the papers of the day that it was “a sign of the times”, Increased state expenditures in other areas and general apathy of the public following the Vietnam War toward the military contributed to the closing of this historical building.

With Co. C being once again consolidated in Batavia, many members of the unit decided not to follow the Company and drive to the Batavia Armory and left the unit.  Lack of strength of the unit was the reason given for phase-out and a warning of this was given when a number of local officials were invited to a “crisis” dinner meeting at the Apple Grove Inn.  Under my command the numbers were continuing to decline to about half strengh of 45 men..  Today I look back and realize that we were going through a phase that may have turned around given time but one has to remember that the village and county has a small population and would not have supported a 100% unit strengh.  The units of the Battalion in Buffalo, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, A Co., and B Co. with Combat Support Company in Tonawanda were also competing for enlistees.

At the time, the last command consisted of Company Commander James Mahoney.  Captain Mahoney was an example of an officer that was a Vietnam veteran, we were getting officers who wanted to get their 20 years for retirement but not enough of the enlisted veterans to have much impact on numbers.  For months we were getting men in the door at the same rate as the “obligors” who left.  At the time of the closure, I had eight years with the Batallion, with one year with Co. B in Buffalo getting my feet wet as a new 2nd. Lt. under the guidance of Captain William Rott Jr..  The opportunity to return to Medina was wonderful as I lived in the village.  As Detachment Commander, there was alot of pressure to increase numbers.  As I said to the papers “I feel that because the moral of the men was low over the threat of closure, I think most of them will leave once their initial enlistment is over.  Most of them are local fellows who stayed, worked hard and played hard as a unit because we had the comraderie and esprit-de-corps of a hometown unit.”

Also at this time  we continued to reach the public with newspaper articles of what we were doing as a unit, such as training events including riot control training at the South Main Street Park, pictures of local enlistees such as my dear friends Greg and Richard Kwiatkowski, Richard had finished his obligation to the Marine Corp prior to his enlistment in “Charlie” Co. We provided honors for Memorial Day in Medina, Middleport and Lyndonville.  We, when time permitted, tried to do public works, in South Main Street Park and a paper-drive to help with expenses for a local child’s medical bills. I am sure I have forgotten many other events.  We always had a great Mess Section especially after Rick Callard became Mess Sergeant, he was one man that stayed with C Co. after consolidation with Batavia and his recent passing brings back many fond memories of over 20 years in the Company.  We had our annual Christmas parties, one for our children and an adult party in our club rooms at the Armory. Another friend gone from us to soon, Jim Balcerzak was in his element with the kids at the party. One year our Santa arrived by armored personel carrier, I think it was Bill Bacon.

Next time I will discuss the day the flag came down and share historical memories of Alonzo L. Waters, publisher of the Journal-Register at the time of the Armories closing.

In April of 1963 the unit was again re-organized to Co. C 1st Battalion (MECH) 174th Infantry NYARNG.  During this period under the command of Capt. Stan Kubatek, the unit was again given a superior rating by Headquarters of First United States Army for annual inspections conducted in 1963 and 1964.  In addition the unit received a Superior Unit Award for the training year 1964 from the National Guard Bureau. It was during this time, Sept. 1958-Sep. 1974 that Guardsmen maned Nike-Ajaks and Nike-Hercules missile batteries and were now called “Missile Age Minute Men”.  Although the 27th Armored Division was never called to active duty, the year 1968 found 14 Air National Guard units mobilized and 34 Army National Guard units mobilized. Among these were two infantry brigades, the 29th from Hawaii and the 69th from Ka. and Ia.  Eight units saw combat in Vietnam and 4,300 National Guardsmen became individual volunteers.

On 1 Jan. 1965, Lt. Harvey A. Lyndaker, a member of the Medina Central School faculty, assumed command from Capt. Kubatek.  I should note that Capt. Kenneth Howlett became interm commander in 1962 whilst Capt. Kubatek was attending Officer Advanced School.

During the new commander’s tenure his unit received a Superior rating from Headquarters First United States Army for the annual inspection conducted on 28 April 1965.  Lt. Lyndaker was promoted to Captain, effective 5 Oct. 1965.

In Jan. of 1968, the 27th Armored Division was deactivated and reorganized as a Brigade of the 50th Armored Division.  Prior to this time the Combat Commands had been replaced by Brigades in the Armored Divisions.  Many units were deactivated and others found “homes” in the expanded 42nd Inf. Div. that later became armored.

The famed 27th Empire Division had been eliminated. More than 160 years of history gone. The Division had been recognized as being the second oldest division in the US Army.  Now we were part of the 50th Armored Division and the unit was split between Medina and Batavia, the first and second rifle platoons were housed in the Medina Armory, whilst headquarters, the third rifle platoon, and “Charlie” mortars were housed in the Batavia Armory.  This is the situation that remained until the Armory was closed by the State in 1977.

Lt. Robert Weet, the executive officer of the company remained in Medina as Detachment Commander with SFC Donald McElwee as full -time administrative aide.  Going to Batavia with the company headquarters was Captain Harvey Lyndaker and First Sergeant Donald Bensley.  They both had the challenge of organizing a new unit in Batavia.

In Sep. 1968 1st. Lt. Francis R. Grabowski took command and in April 1969, 1st. Lt. Verdon L. Norsen took command. During this time, Captain Norman Wilcox was Company Commander in Batavia, when he was called to Batallion Staff duty in Buffalo in 1973, 1st Lt. Norsen became Company Commander with 1st. Lt. Gary Hudson of Medina as Detachment Commander at the local Armory.

During Lt. Hudson’s Command the unit was activated in June and July 1972 for state aid to civil authorities in the flood stricken areas of Corning and Painted Post, New York.  I was attending Officer Candidate School at the time and got the call to return to C Co. for the emergency.  I had been teaching at Lyndonville Jr./Sr. High School when I decided to join the local unit in Feb. 1969, I will never forget Lt. Norsen, more or less ordering me to become an officer. One of the best decisions I made in my 61 years.

Every member of the unit saw the importance of the Guard during this state emergency.  It was on the way to this disaster that we had one of our own, the Detachment suffered a shock when two of our vehicles were struck by a drunken driver on Rt, 98, injuring 15 members who were sent to the Albion Hospital.  I did what I could for the driver of the car but he died on the way to hospital.  We also had to lift a 2 1/2 ton truck up far enough to pull our lads out as their limbs were caught underneath, the vehicle had completely overturned.  Some members of the unit received medical discharges as a result of this accident.  Since it was dark, I did not see the state of my field jacket until arriving at the Batavia Armory, where I was told to get another issued to me before resuming our convoy to Corning.

In 1974 Cpt. Wilcox returned as Company Commander and the 174th (MECH) Inf. was AGAIN reorganized and lost our Armored Personel Carriers and we became “straight leg” infantry once again.  I believe that this is when we left the 50th Armored Division and became part of the famous 42nd “Rainbow” Infantry Division.

The 42nd ”Rainbow” Division shoulder patch. During WW I, because it contained National Guard units drawn from throughout the United States,
the 42nd became known as the “Rainbow Division” by their Chief of Staff, General Douglas MacArthur.  An alternative explanation of the surname comes from Canadian troops: “The Rainbow Division, came after the storm,” implying that the Canadians did the work but the Americans were taking the glory.

Upon re-organization of the 27th Division from an infantry to an armored division on 1 Feb. 1955 “C” Company was the only unit in the 174th Inf. Regiment to retain its letter designation.  As part of the 174th Armored Infantry Battalion the unit received armored personel carriers and a new concept in training was followed.  The US Army was now in a Cold War mode of defending the Fulda Gap on the border between East and West Germany.  Army training was based on a defense senario that would not change much until after the demise of the Soviet Union in the early 1990’s.

C Co. achieved Superior ratings in the calendar years 1955 and 1956 from the National Guard Bureau for efficiency in training.  Capt. James Farley, upon being assigned as Battalion s-3 in Sep. 1957, turned over command to 1st Lt. Jesse G. Weaver Jr. of Albion.  Lt. Weaver upon transfer to the Inactive National Guard on 1 May 1958 turned the unit of five officers, one warrant officer and 122 enlisted men, over to 1st. Lt. Charles P. Shervin.

In March 1959 the unit was again re-organized as Co. C 1st Armored Rifle Battalion 174th Inf. and due to efficiency in training the unit received an award from the National Guard Bureau as “Excellent”.

Lt. Shervin on being assigned as Liaison Officer at Battalion Headquarters in Buffalo turned over command of the unit to 1st. Lt. Stanley R. Kubatek on 1 Aug. 1960.  Lt. Kubatek was one of the original members of the unit and had advanced through all enlisted ranks prior to receiving his commission as a 2nd Lieutenant in Oct. of 1956.

 The new 27th Armored Infantry Division shoulder patch as of 1 Feb. 1955.

The patch became a triangle divided into three areas.  The upper portion contains the numeral 27 and superimposed on the three color areas-red representing artillery, blue infantry and yellow cavalry-are the track of a tank and a cannon.  A bolt of lighting in red is superimposed on these.  The items symbolize mobility, firepower and shock action in armor.

The Company F Memorial Fund received a generous donation accompanied by the following letter by a former Medina resident, November 2007. We are especially grateful to Mr. Smith for this most moving letter and generous contribution:

 ”Dear Mr. Menz,

I was very happy to read in The Journal Register the address and name of how to make the check out for the memorial for the Company F, 108th Infantry Regiment of the NY 27th Division, so I could make a contribution. I had read previously that such a plan was underway but could not find out where to send it. I had made inquiries to some friends but they did not know and I even made a telephone inquiry to a supposed committee member but never received return call.

So to make a long story short I was born and raised in Medina and lived at 309 Commercial Street with my family. One of my brothers was Sylvester B Smith with the nickname of “Sally”, who marched with F Company that beautiful October day in 1940, with many of his friends who I also knew. He was my hero. I was a member of Co. L, 174th Infantry for a couple of years during the war and then enlisted in the regular army when I was 18. I also had the distinct honor of being in the honor guard for our Congressional Honor Medal winner John Butts as he lay in the armory before his internment at St. Mary’s cemetery.

Brother Sylvester attained the rank of 1st Lt. in the infantry with the 83rd Division in the European Theater. He was awarded the Silver Star our third highest medal for valor and the Purple Heart. He also was given the Bronze Star, Combat Infantry Badge the European Theater of Operations Medal with three Oak Leaves, plus many other medals. After returning home from service he and two other F Company members Tom Morien and Richard Doberstein went on to St. Bonaventure University to get their degrees. He then spent twenty five years before retiring as a Special Agent with the FBI.

I and my brothers left Medina to seek our livelihoods elsewhere because the opportunities were limited in Medina. However, we often reminisced what a God given gift we were given to grow up in Medina during the depression. We had all the amenities wonderful people, our own Sacred Heart Church, a wonderful high school, with teachers that were superb, a great sports program. Included also was our own swimming holes in the Erie Barge Canal, the quarries, Swetts, Brunners, Wards and the Glenwood Lake commonly referred to as the “Dam”. Fishing in the Dam, Oak Orchard Creek and the canal. Hunting along the towpath adjacent to the canal and Galaghers farm. Plus trapping for skunk and muskrat to make a few dollars. During the summer months during our high school vacation we worked on the muck farms ten hours a day for $2.00 for a ten hour day riding on the open deck of the truck from Medina to the Farms in Shelby and Elba. This was depression time and we were happy to make a few dollars to help support the family, it really made us proud to contribute. I guess I have digressed a little but I wanted to give you a capsule of the background some of the F Company members.

I still visit Medina to see my sister Irene who is in the Medina Hospital nursing home. This gives me an opportunity to visit with a few friends that are still living to reminisce about many of our early days. In fact, I drove down especially to take Tom Marjanowski to see the annual rivalry game between Albion and Medina. It was 62 years when we played in the 1945 game and defeated Albion 12-6 they had an undefeated season going into the game and we had lost one game to Lancaster. He threw me the winning touchdown pass for the victory. That day there must have been three thousand people watching the game, compared to 300 this year.

Enclosed is my personal check in the amount of —– to help fund the erection of the monument. I also would like to thank you for being chairman of this most important historical remembrance of a group of veterans that stand tall, not only in our community but in the history of the United States to “Valor-Virtue-Courage-Honor-Duty”.

I do not know if I could get a copy of the Company F Roster so I can give it to Sylvester’s family to hand down through the generations of his kin, but I would sure appreciate it.

Sincerely, Raymond M. Smith (Kujawa), Tonawanda, NY”

 THANK YOU, MR. SMITH!

Sons of the American Legion Squadron 204 recently donated $500 to the Company F Memorial Fund. The memorial will honor those who trained at the Medina Armory and served actively during times of conflict. (l to r): Wayne Hale, Jr., Squadron Secretary/Treasurer; Chuck Eaton, Squadron Commander; Bill Menz, Company F Memorial Committee chair; Guy Eaton, Squadron 1st vice-Commander. Individual contributions may be made to the Company F Fund, Medina Savings and Loan.

The Distinctive Insignia of the 174th Infantry (Bn Crest). Extracted from the Army Institute of Heraldry, 6 Sep. 1968.  The 174th Inf. was inactivated on 22 August 1992 with the downsizing of the US Armed Forces, both Active and Reserve.

The Crest is Silver, with a white field, White represents Purity and Honour.  It has a red Saltire Cross, this cross represents Blood spilled by the Regiment in the Civil War, 1861 to 1863, the years when the Regiment served.  In the Centre is a large French Fleur d’Lis (flower of the lily), this represents the service of the Regiment in France in WW I, 1917-1919.  On the left side of the Crest is a Large Green Cactus, this is for the Regiments service on the Mexican Border in 1916 when “Black Jack” Pershing led the Army against the Mexican outlaw Pancho Villa.  General Pershing also headed the American Expeditionary Force (AEF), to France in WW I.  On the right side of the Crest is a Turretted Castle which represents the service of the Regiment in the Spanish-American War of 1898 which took place largely in Cuba; and, at the bottom is the Motto, SEMPER FIDELIS, which is Latin for EVER FAITHFUL.

In June 1854 the 74th Regiment was formed with Company “D” (The Buffalo City Guards, organized in 1837) as its first unit.  Companies F,C and B were formed and mustered into service the same year.  Howitzer Company was formed the following year.  During the period 1856-1861 Companies M,K and G were organized.

In 1861 the Regiment volunteered for service but orders placing the unit on active duty were countermanded.  Half of the Regiment was then organized as the 21st NY Volunteers and left for two years service in the Civil War.  This unit saw service at Antietam, Manassas, South Mountain, Fredricksburg and Rappahannock.  The remainder of the Regiment recruited to cover the men lost by formation of the 21st.  Companies H and I were formed in 1862.

Formation of other volunteer units (49th, 116th, 33rd, and the 100th) depleated the ranks in the Regiment by entire companies.  In 1863 the 74th Regiment was active in the Gettysburg Campaign and in quelling draft riots in New York City and Buffalo.  In June 1866, the 74th was called out to restore order during the Finnian Raid into Canada.

In 1898, the Regiment volunteered for service in the Spanish-American War.  This request was denied by the authorities.  However, hundreds of members volunteered individually and saw service during that war.

In 1916 the Regiment was ordered into US service and sent to the Rio Grande during the Mexican Border disturbance.  In 1917 the 74th was called to service as part of the 27th Infantry Division.  When the division was changed to the two brigade unit, the 74th and 3rd NY were consolidated to form the 108th Infantry Regiment and saw action at many points on the Hindenburg Line.  The remaining officers and men of the 74th and 3rd NY formed the cadre for the formation of the 55th Pioneer Infantry Regiment.

In 1921 the 74th was redesignated the 174th Infantry, one can see that the lineage of the 174th and the 108th are combined for much of their histories.  In 1940 the Regiment was once again ordered into US service and after Dec. 1941 was placed on coastal defense missions along the Pacific.  Members of the Regiment saw service in all theatres during WW II.  The Regiment returned to State service and in 1947 reorganized as the 174th Infantry with Company C in Medina.  The 108th Inf. continued in other parts of NY State.

After WW II some members of Co. F rejoined the National Guard unit in Medina.  The National Guard being reconstituted in July 1947.  On 21 July, 1947 Company C 174th Infantry, under the command of Capt. Keith Fraser, was organized as the first federally recognized unit after WW II.  Capt. Fraser, who was Executive Officer of Co. F 108th Inf. during mobilization in 1940, turned over command  of the unit to another former Co. F member, Capt. Homer A. Durnell on 1 June 1948, again a former member of Co. F Capt. Eugene Garrett assumed command on 11 Dec. 1948 when Capt. Durnell reentered active federal service.

Capt. Garrett originally enlisted in Co. F, 108th Inf. in Feb. 1936, and was inducted into Federal service as a platoon sargeant in 1940.  He was given a direct commission of 2nd Lt. on 6 June 1941, and served with the 108th Inf. until 30 June 1945.  During that period he obtained the rank of Captain and until 3 Oct. 1944, commanded Co. L, 108th Inf. through the Philippine Campaign.

During his tenure as Commander of Co. C, 174th Inf., Capt. Garrett attended Infantry Officer Advanced School for 15 weeks at Fort Benning Ga.  During his absence, First Lt. Marshall E. Seddon of Lockport became acting Company Commander effective 2 Jan. 1953.  First Lt. Seddon enlisted in the Army Air Corp. in Feb. 1943, where he was a bombardier and a navigator.

Some of the promotions made by Capt. Garrett  were, Sgt. Walter Levanduski of Medina who enlisted in July 1947, was promoted to sergeant first class in recognition of his outstanding performance as rifle squad leader.  Sgt. Jesse G. Weaver of Albion enlisted in Jan. 1949, was promoted to sergeant first class for his ability as section sergeant of the 57 millimeter recoilless rifle section.  Cpl. Bernard J. Bloom of Medina enlisted in July 1947, he was promoted to sergeant for his ability as a squad leader for the 57 millimeter recoilless rifle section.

Cpl. Alfred L. Schmitt of Medina was promoted to sergeant in recognition of his skill with the browning automatic rifle as instructor.  Pfc. Laurence E. Crawford of Albion enlisted in Dec. 1949, was recognized as a gunner in the 57 millimeter recoilless rifle squad having acquired considerable skill in the handling of this weapon.  Pfc. Charles A. Westcott of Middleport enlisted in May 1951 was promoted to corporal.  He served in the armed services as a baker and has been promoted to second cook with the company.

Under Capt. Garrett’s leadership future unit commanders were enlisted and started on the road to becoming commissioned officers.  Capt. Garrett commanded the unit until 5 Aug. 1954 when he turned over the unit to 1st. Lt. James A. Farley.

Sgt. Clayton Falls and Cpl. David Bacon of Medina, NY are members of the 339th “Polar Bear” Regiment, which shattered the vitals of the vaunted Gothic Line, taking Italian peaks as high as 3,400 feet east of Highway 65 and the Futa Pass.  Cpl. Bacon was an original member of Co. F, 108th Inf., that was federalized in Oct. 1940.

In crossing the Gothic Line, the 339th broke through at some of the most firmly held points, moved on to capture Mt. Frena and Mt. Coloreta, dominating Firenzuola, and subsequently took Mt. LaFine, Mt. Bibele and Castlevecchio.

The “Polar Bears” got their name in WW I, when they fought in waist-deep snow along the 400-mile front between Archangel and Leningrad in Russia.