The first man from boro to die in WWII.

 

Korean War

Pvt Lewis J. Terry lived on Navesink Ave and was only 18 years old when he was killed in 1951 in Korea on a Thursday, three days after that year's Memorial Day. 

 Three days after our town most likely had a similar weekend as this year’s - waving flags, barbecueing - never knowing that a family would be shattered only a few days later. 

Pvt Terry had received a Purple Heart only a month before for previous injuries, and went right back to fighting.

Horner Williams' post about Pvt Terry is simply extraordinary. Please go here to read it.  

WWI

Christopher Doughty was the first Fair Haven man to be killed in action in WWI - two days after arriving in Europe, on September 18, 1918 at the age of 22.  

 His mother was a big part of the initiative to have the doughboy statue placed in Memorial Park and was there at its unveiling on August 26, 1924.    

It was jarring to find another article about young Christopher - Only a few years earlier, it looks like he and his friends - including Viola Sickles' future husband, Arthur, were doing teenage things like annoying the elders in town for swimming off the dock on a regular basis.  In 1913 he was just a kid enjoying the Navesink.  5 years later he lost his life serving in the US Army).

Corporal Charles Burdge was 22 when he died from diphtheria in a military hospital in Hoboken in March 1919. He was assigned to a motor transportation unit.

Walter Grover was killed in France in October of 1918. His sister, Tillie Bennett, lived in Fair Haven and he was visiting her before he enlisted in the US Army.

Myron Morson was 17 when he died from pneumonia in New London, CT, only a month after joining the Coast Guard - he had tried numerous times to enlist in the Army but kept getting turned down because of his age. 

  He gave up a position with a NYC brokerage firm to enlist and got sick 2 weeks later.  He felt it was his duty to serve and told his friends he was prepared to die.

Chester Berry also died in service during WWI.  His name, and the names of all the 49 men who served in WWI were added to the memorial plaque at the August 1924 ceremony. 

WWII

Ernest Ackerman left Princeton University to enlist and died a few weeks before D-Day.  He was a bombardier and was killed April 3rd, 1944 over Hungary. He never met his son who was born after his death.

William Davison was a machinist's mate on the submarine USS Wahoo.  It was sunk by Japanese aircraft in October 1943 and a moment of silence was observed by Fair Haven Council in December of that year at their meeting. He was the first man from our boro to die in WWII. 

 In 2006, his friend Richard Pettigrew said in an interview in the APP, "I remember when he came to my house for the last time.  He told my mother 'This will be last trip on a submarine.  I don't know if I'll be coming back…”

John C. Hammell was an intelligence officer assigned to a unit in England protecting a repair depot from German attacks.

William T. McCue grew up on McCarter Avenue and was one of three brothers serving. He was killed in Italy in 1943.

 The Fair Haven Council held a moment of silence at their January 1944 meeting to honor him, the 2nd young man from Fair Haven to be killed in WWII.

John C. Minton was a 20 year old bombardier on a B-24; his Dad was president of the Fair Haven BOE and on Council.

Ehrick Parmley never went to his Rumson High School graduation or prom because he enlisted in the Navy in February of his Senior year - killed at age 18.

Louis Pempeck was wounded July 13th 1944 in France, went right back in and was killed in action 2 weeks later.

George C. Richter was lost at sea in the Pacific theatre.  His Mom died at home on 2nd street a few years later.

Timothy Sullivan grew up on Harrison Ave. Graduated from Rumson High School in 1941.  Landed in France on DDay, was killed in July and his parents found out a month later via telegram. He was 21.

John T. Van Brunt, Jr. was a Coxwain with the US Navy and was one of 11 Monmouth County men killed or injured in one week in July 1944.  He and his wife lived at 3 Church Street.

On January 22, 2019, sadly, another Fair Haven young man paid the ultimate price.  Private First Class Jamie Riley died during a US Army training exercise. He was 21 years old.

  Eight years earler, when he was in the 8th grade, Knollwood School recognized Jamie's partriotism and commitment to service and awarded him the honor to present a wreath at the tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington Cemetery during the class trip to Washington DC.

We remember and honor all who paid the ultimate price in service to our country - including many from our area that fought in the Revolutionary war and also the Civil War, and those who have succumbed to the emotional scars of serving - whether during war or peacetime and say thank you.