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Taps
117th
Cav Association
Honor Roll
This page is dedicated to our
fallen brothers, sisters and their spouses. The post will remain here for a
month or so and then removed. I will create an archive for those who
wish to review these at a later date. - John
We all will meet them at Fiddler's Green
Readers:
Please notify Membership Chairman SGM (Ret.) Ken Mahan of the death
of members of the Association, WWII vets who served in the 117th,
102nd
or 38th
Cavalry Squadrons, or anyone who served in the
post war cavalry units.
Frank A. Woods
Passed
away on 24 December 2009 at home in Rochester, NY. He was 85. Woods
was a highly decorated WWII combat veteran of the 45th
Infantry Division (Italy) and the 117th
Cavalry Reconnaissance Squadron (Mecz), where he rose in rank to
Platoon Sergeant, 3rd Platoon, A Troop. Woods held the
Silver
Star, Bronze Star – V and the
Purple
Heart. He was with the 117th
Cavalry for the invasion of Southern France (Operation
Dragoon), and a combat leader until VE Day. Woods was discharged
from the 117th
Cavalry to take a post with Special Service Troops in Germany, where
he led a riding academy and taught horsemanship, as he had done in
Fort Jackson, SC in 1942. Woods was an electrician for Rochester
University Medical Center. He was an avid hunter of waterfowl,
turkey and deer, and a skilled fisherman. He is survived by his
loving wife Marianne, whom he met in Bad Homburg, Germany, where
they married. Their first child was born in Germany. Their children
are Kitty (Michael) Kolozvary, Al (Maryann), Bill (Tacy), Barbara
Swamp, Daniel "Fritz" (Lisa) Woods and Larry Kaplan; 10
grandchildren, 2 great-grandchildren and many friends. Donations to
the
Disabled American Veterans may be made in his honor. (Picture is
Frank Woods in B Company, 122nd
Engineers SCARNG, 1950)

George T. King
Died on 14
November 2009 Parsippany NJ. He was a
Class
of ’41 member and WWII veteran of the 102nd
Cavalry Reconnaissance Squadron (Mecz), participating in the
Normandy Invasion D+2. He was a medical technician and was decorated
with the
Silver
Star and Bronze Arrowhead. King was a member of VFW Post 10091,
Fort Lauderdale, FL. Born in Newark; he lived in Boonton, NJ,
Florida and Mount Olive, NJ. He was Executive Housekeeper of Passaic
General Hospital for 20 years, retiring in 1982. King was past
president of the NJ and National Association of Executive
Housekeepers. He is survived by his wife of 32 years Faye (Glowsky)
King of California; 3 sons, Peter R. (Yvonne) of Dover NJ, Terrence
M. (Martha Anne) of Hallieford VA and Dennis G. of Myrtle Beach SC;
a daughter Lauren R. Sturtevant of Ferndale WA; 5 grandchildren and
2 great-grandsons.
Dr. William T. Haley, Jr.
Passed
away on 19 September 2009 in Salem, MA. Dr. Haley was a WWII veteran
of the 102nd
Cavalry Reconnaissance Squadron (Mecz) serving as a Captain and
Surgeon. He joined the Squadron in England and participated in the
Invasion at Normandy, D+2. CPT Haley was decorated with the
Distinguished Service Cross for Gallantry and Courage on the
battlefield on the outskirts of Paris, 25 August 1944. He was also
awarded the
Purple
Heart. Dr. Haley was decorated with the French
Legion
of Honor on 20 May 2009 during a ceremony at the Massachusetts
State House. During the war, towards the end of battle, he was part
of the liberating force that freed the prisoners at the
concentration camp of Buchenwald, an experience that, like so many
other American soldiers, was to influence his thinking, actions and
teaching for the rest of his life. After his discharge in late 1945,
he continued his medical career as a general practitioner at the
former Mary Alley Hospital in Marblehead and Salem Hospital until
his retirement in 1984. He was a member and leader in several
medical societies and the AMA. Dr. Haley was deeply involved in
Marblehead, the Board of Health, Marblehead Power Squadron, and
Marblehead Yacht Club. He was a communicant of the Star of the Sea
Church, CCD volunteer and board member of the St. Vincent DePaul
Society. Dr. Haley loved France and her language, travelling there
into his „90‟s. His love for travel began in 1939, when he bicycled
throughout Europe. He was a graduate of the Country Day School for
Boys of Boston, Harvard College and Tufts University School of
Medicine in 1941 and interned at Newton Wellesley Hospital until
joining the US Army. He was married to the late Elizabeth
Fitzpatrick Haley for 59 years. Dr. Haley is survived by his sister
Elizabeth Litton of Hilton Head SC; his sister-in-law Lois L. Haley
of Marblehead; his 2 children Eileen Haley Mathieu (Owen) of
Marblehead and Peter Haley (Sarah) of Newton and 5 grandchildren and
1 great-grandchild. Also many nieces and nephews. His brothers Paul
and John Haley predeceased him.
J oseph P. Mulford Sr.
Passed away on 28 September
2009, in Phoenix AZ. He was a Trustee of the Essex Troop
Association, and retired a Sergeant First Class after serving for 27
years in the NJARNG. He was an Administrative Assistant with the
Essex County Youth House, retiring after 23 years. He also worked
for Professional Security in Nutley. His wife Carol (nee Boland) had
passed away previously. Devoted father of Michele Stelling, Joseph
Jr., Margaret Mulford and James R. Mulford, USMC; sister Agnes
Conway and 5 grandchildren.
LTC (Ret.) Knute E. Seebohm
Died 5 October 2009, Chester NJ.
He served in the US Army 1970-1972 and later joined the NJARNG,
retiring in 1993. He was past CO 2-102nd ARMOR and an active member
of the Iron Horsemen Association. He had retired as Director of the
Morris County Library. He is survived by his wife Janet, sons Scott,
Erik, Todd and their wives and children; sisters Ingrid McCollum and
Lorna Nelson and many cousins, nieces and nephews.
Keith Ashley
Died 18 September 2009,
Melbourne, FL. He served in the 117th Cavalry as a Sergeant, Troop
A, mortar platoon. He was a co-founder of Ultimate Tool and
Manufacturing, and later director of mechanical and manufacturing
engineering at NBS. He was an inventor and had nine U. S. Patents.
He is survived by his wife Bonnie, sons Brett and Drew, 3
grandchildren and a brother David Ashley.
George Frederick Kimble,
Command Sergeant Major (Ret.)
Passed away on 21 June 2009, Westfield,
NJ. Served in the WWII US Army Air Force as a Sergeant. Joined the
5th CAV Recon, Troop A in 1947 and rose to 1SG before transferring
to the 250th Signal Battalion, retiring as Command Sergeant Major.
His sons Frederick J. and Kenneth R. Sr. also served in and retired
from the 250th Signal BN. The CSM was predeceased by his devoted
wife of 57 years, Jean. She was the sister of LTC (Ret.) Ken Quaas.
Kimble and Quaas joined the 5th CAV Recon together in 1947. Mr.
Kimble was with Cummins Metropolitan in Newark for 33 years,
retiring as warehouse manager. He was an avid fisherman and Jersey
Shore sailor. He is survived by his 3 children - Frederick J. Kimble
and his wife Nancy; Kenneth R. Kimble Sr.; and Karen J. Bare and her
husband Tracy. Also survived by four grandchildren, three
great-grandchildren and many nieces and nephews. He was predeceased
by daughter-in-law Carol (wife of Kenneth) and grand-daughter Trisha
Marie (daughter of Frederick).
HENRY V. BERNARDSKI
Died Tuesday, 3 March 2009
at Bayonne Medical Center. He was 89. A lifelong resident of
Bayonne, he served in the US Army during WWII; a combat veteran with
the 117th Cavalry Squadron. He was a proud Class of ’41 member of
the Essex Troop and 117th Cavalry Associations, and a supporter of
the National Guard Militia Museum of NJ. He was a machinist with
Singer Manufacturing in Elizabeth, for 37 years. He was preceded in
death by his wife Tina, a daughter Donna; siblings Mary Lewchuck,
Vincent, Rudy and Bruno Bednarski. Survivors include a daughter,
Mary Lou Bernardski and many loving nieces and nephews.
DOROTHY (WILCOX) REPKE
Died on Wednesday, 15 April
2009 at her home in Concordia, Monroe Twsp. NJ. She was 86 years
old. Mrs. Repke was born in Halifax, Canada and settled in Newark,
NJ. She became a US Citizen in 1950, and moved to Scotch Plains NJ,
where she lived for many years before moving to Monroe Twsp. She was
a bookkeeper with Loreal Co. in Clark, retiring in 1977, and was a
member of the First Presbyterian Church in Cranbury. She was
predeceased by her husband William O. Repke, a WWII combat veteran
of the 117th Cavalry Squadron, who died in 2007. She is survived by
three daughters, Gail R. Foust and husband David L. of Macedonia,
OH; Donna L. Repke of Lawrenceville, GA; Lisa R. Curtin and husband
Tom of North Brunswick and five grandchildren.
JOANN I. KLEIN
Passed away on
Monday, 20 April 2009 at her home in West Chester, PA. She was born
in Jamaica, NY; Joann was the daughter of the late Joseph and Nellie
Ruth Whipple Infanger. She met her lifelong love and husband Kenneth
in the Roselle Park High School. They were married 51 years. They
lived in Cranford for 30 years before moving to West Chester, PA.
After raising her four children, she attended Kean University and
graduated Summa Cum Laude with a degree in early childhood handicap
education. Joann taught for 22 years in the Cranford school system.
She enjoyed traveling in the USA and Western Europe. She is survived
by her loving husband Colonel Kenneth C. Klein, retired from the New
Jersey Army National Guard and the Exxon Corporation. Colonel Klein
is a past commander of the 5/117th Cavalry; also children Jennifer
Kearns, Linda Klein, Kenneth C. Klein and Katherine Klein; a brother
Joseph Infanger and seven grandchildren.
MAURO FIERRO
Died on Thursday, 30 April
2009 at Trinitas Regional Medical Center, Elizabeth NJ. Mr. Fierro
was born in Salerno, Italy and immigrated to Elizabeth, NJ at the
age of 15, where he lived in the Peterstown section. He was a
resident of Clark for the past 20 years. A Vietnam Veteran
(1967-1970) serving in the US Navy, he joined the 5/117th Cavalry at
the Westfield Armory, serving for almost 17 years, retiring as a
Staff Sergeant in 1995. He was a member of the American Legion Post
328 and the VFW Post 7363, Clark NJ. He retired from the Union
County Correctional Facility as a Lieutenant after 20 years. He was
a member of PBA Chapter 199. Survived by his loving wife of 31
years, Mrs. Barbara (Bucci) Fierro; devoted father of Ms. Christina
Fierro, Mrs. Theresa Koursaris and husband Stelios; Mrs. Adrianna
Fierro; granddaughter Elaina Koursaris.
J ames Joseph Minnitti
Passed on Sunday, 27 December 2008 at
his home in West Orange, NJ. He was a Special Police Officer for the
Township of Orange for many years. A proud Essex Trooper, Minniti
was a WWII veteran, joining the 102nd Cavalry Regiment in 1942. He
saw action throughout the war as a driver for the squadron
commander. He was active in the VFW and the Essex Troop Association.
Survived by his children Joan Dittrich, Jos. E. Minniti and Diane
Cross; brother of Anthony, Jeannette Scala, Benny, Carmen and
Michael and survived by eight grandchildren and six
great-grandchildren.
Robert Mark Goldstein
of Green Brook, NJ. Died on 1 February
2009. Son of Barbara and COL (Ret.) Sandford B. Goldstein. An
attorney, he was a graduate of University of Colorado with a degree
in Astrophysics, and William Mitchell College of Law. Survived by
his parents, a brother Kevin and his family; his children Saiya and
Ilona of Colorado and Isadore of Minnesota; and his loving companion
Isabella Volz.
KATHERINE O’NEIL
Died on 1 February 2009 Las Vegas, NV.
Wife of George O’Neil, Class of ’41, 117th Cavalry Reconnaissance
Squadron (Mecz). 5 Children.
Gordon Grenville Smith, 71
He died as a result of injuries
sustained while fox hunting, 21 September 2008. Casanova, VA. Was
Commander of Troop A, 5/117th
Cavalry, Westfield NJ, 1970.
Member of 117th
Cavalry Association. Graduate of
Michigan State University with a BS degree in Agriculture and
received an MBA from The University of Pennsylvania Wharton School
of Business in 1971. His career began with Johnson &Johnson as Group
Product Director; he then went on to successfully develop the
Somerset Medical Office Park in Somerville, NJ. Consulted to
physicians in business management. Gordon was a passionate
foxhunter, loved books and loved his family. He is survived by his
son Gordon G. Smith Jr. of Bloomfield, MI, a daughter Elizabeth
Alden Smith of Orlean, VA, his sister Linda Stedman Montague of St.
Michaels, MD. Also surviving are his fiancé Judy Allen of Casanova,
VA and three grandchildren. A memorial service will be held on
October 17, 2008 at 3 p.m. at Grace Episcopal Church in The Plains,
VA. Memorial contributions may be made to the Christopher Reeve
Foundation, 636 Morris Turnpike, Suite 3A, Short Hills, NJ 07078
Warren J.
Garoni,
88 Passed away 27 August 2008.
Chester, VT. Class of ’41 member, 102nd
Cavalry, sent to North Africa
with 2nd
Squadron, original member 117th
Cavalry Reconnaissance Squadron
(Mecz). Tech 4 Garoni was wounded on 29 December 1944 in action near
Bitche, France. He received the Bronze Star, Purple Heart and
Soldier’s Medal. Travelled to Europe for 50th
Anniversary of WWII, visiting
cemeteries and concentration camps. Member of American Legion Post
67, Chester VT. A member of the Essex M Troop and the 117th
Cavalry Associations. Garoni
grew up in Montclair and raised his family there. He was with
Prudential Insurance for 31 years. Survived by a son Leigh of NY, a
daughter Christine Petrizzo of Florida, 4 grandchildren and 1 great
grandchild. Also two sisters, Eleanor and Geraldine.
Ralph Bockino, 89
Passed away on 15 June 2008. St. James,
NY. WWII veteran inducted 21 April 1941.Joined the 102nd
Cavalry and was with the 117th
Cavalry Reconnaissance Squadron
(Mecz) from Africa through VE Day, SGT Bockino was honorably
discharged 30 September 1945. Survived by his wife Catherine and
sons. Member of the 117th
Cavalry Association.
Hilda “Terry” Goldfaden, 83
Passed away 6 June 2008. Wife of the
late Major Fred Goldfaden, a pilot with 5/117 CAV D-Air.
June 30, 2008
MALONEY - William B. Maloney Sr.
William B. Maloney Sr. passed away peacefully at Robert Wood Johnson
University Hospital at Rahway on June 28, 2008, surrounded by his
family. Friends are invited to visit from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9
p.m. on Wednesday at the Dooley Funeral Home, 218 W. North Ave.,
Cranford. A Mass of Christian Burial will be conducted on Thursday
at St. James Church in Springfield. Interment will be at the
Fairview Cemetery, Westfield. Bill was employed by the New
Jersey National Guard for 40 years. He received many commendations
throughout his Armed Forces service, including the Bronze Star for
his courage in World War II. He also participated in D-Day. Mr.
Maloney was a past president of the 117th Cavalry Association and a
member of the 102nd Essex Troop Association, the VFW Post 7363 of
Clark and Post 164 of Hackettstown; he was a life member of American
Legion Post 328 of Clark and a member of the NRA and the Knights of
Columbus in Springfield. Bill was predeceased by his wife of 47
years, Janet Fleck Maloney, in 1989, and by a son, Timothy, in 2005.
He was blessed to have found love a second time and spent almost 20
years with Jane Planer, who predeceased him in February of 2008. He
was also predeceased by his siblings, Marion Kenny and John Jack
Maloney. Bill leaves behind many friends and relatives, including
his sons, William Barry Maloney Jr. and his wife, Barbara, Bruce
Maloney and his wife, Betty, and Kevin Maloney and his wife, Gale.
He was a loving grandfather to Kelley Maloney-Najjar, Brian, Megan
Maloney-Flynn, Shannon, Bruce Jr. and Devan; and greatgrandfather to
Lorenz Najjar. He leaves behind a sister, Jane Belzer, in
California. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in his memory
to the 117th Cavalry Association or to Wounded Warriors.
Published in the Star-Ledger on
6/30/2008.
May
9, 2008
George J. Yohrling III
67, retired president, CEO,
Curtiss-Wright Controls; executive vice president, Curtiss-Wright
Corp., former mayor of Randolph
CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- George J. Yohrling III of Charlotte, N.C.,
beloved and devoted husband of 44 years to Elaine (Gasparik)
Yohrling, died at home on Wednesday, May 7, 2008, after a long and
courageous battle with prostate cancer.
He was born on Sept. 28, 1940, in Jersey City to George Yohrling and
Edna Abel. He graduated from Wayne Valley High School in Wayne, in
1958. Upon graduation, he went to work for Bell Laboratories where
he met and eventually married his one true love, Elaine Gasparik in
April 1964.
He proudly served his country as a
sergeant in the New Jersey Army National Guard from 1960 to 1965.
While working for Westinghouse in Dover, he attended college at
night and received a bachelor's degree in industrial engineering
from the New Jersey Institute of Technology in 1969. He later
received his MBA from Fairleigh Dickinson University in 1977.
Mr. Yohrling always had a passion for politics. In 1968, at the age
of 28, he was elected to the Randolph Town Council. In doing so, he
became the first registered Democrat, as well as the youngest
elected official, in the 160-year history of the town. In 1973, he
became the first Democratic mayor ever elected in Randolph. He was
also very active in his hometown of Randolph. He served on the
Randolph Planning Board, Drug Abuse Council, Youth Soccer Recreation
Committee and also coached youth soccer, basketball and track.
Despite his busy work, school and social service schedule, he never
missed one of his son's athletic games or daughter's music recitals.
Just before graduation from Fairleigh Dickinson, he joined the
Curtiss-Wright Corp. in Fairfield as an engineer in 1976. His job
took him to Gastonia, N.C., in 1985, when he was promoted to general
manager of Curtiss-Wright Flight Systems in Shelby, N.C. Mr.
Yohrling would spend 30 years in total at Curtiss-Wright. He retired
as executive vice president of the Curtiss-Wright Corp. and
president and CEO of Curtiss-Wright Controls in March 2006. He
proudly continued to serve as a consultant for the company he loved
until his death.
His sense of community involvement did not falter when he relocated
to North Carolina. He served on the board of directors for the
Cleveland County United Way, the board of directors for the Gaston
County Chamber of Commerce and as chairman of the United Way Walk
America Fund in Cleveland County. He had incredible passion and
generosity for several other worthy charitable causes including:
Habitat for Humanity, where he served as a family support mentor in
Beaufort, S.C.; the Presbyterian Hospital Foundation in Charlotte,
N.C.; Volunteers in Medicine in Hilton Head Island, S.C.; and
Classroom Central in Charlotte, N.C. Over the course of his life, he
realized just how fortunate he was and thought it was his moral
obligation to give back to those less fortunate than he.
Professionally, Mr. Yohrling maintained his sense of involvement. He
was named to the NJIT College of Engineering Board of Visitors and
in 2002 he was named a Distinguished Alumnus of NJIT. He also served
on the board of governors for the Aerospace Industries Association
and on the board of directors of the National Defense Industrial
Association.
There is no doubt that George Yohrling loved his communities,
charities and Curtiss-Wright. However, what defined him as a man was
his incredible and unyielding love of his family, most notably, his
best friend and love of his life, Elaine. As his disease progressed,
she never left his side. She comforted him to the very end with a
smile, a touch or a kiss that redefined the meaning of unconditional
love. Even in his final days, he still found ways to demonstrate his
love for his wife and kids. His will to live and courage in the face
of adversity was without equal.
In addition to his wife, he is survived by his three children,
Elaine Stansberry and her husband, Randy of Findlay, Ohio, Stephen
Yohrling and his wife, Crista of Charlotte, N.C., and George
Yohrling IV and his wife, Jennifer of Plymouth Meeting, Pa. He also
leaves behind five wonderful and incredibly loved grandchildren,
Joseph and Patrick Stansberry of Findlay, Ohio, Matthew Yohrling of
Charlotte, N.C., and Katie and Natalie Yohrling of Plymouth Meeting,
Pa., all of whom will miss their Grandpa terribly.
Mr. Yohrling also leaves behind his mother, Edna Abel of St. Louis;
his sisters, Margaret Eisenhower of Myersville, Md., and Enda Burch
of Columbia, Ill.; and brother, Richard Yohrling of Port St. Lucie,
Fla. He was the loving uncle to many nieces and nephews.
He was predeceased by his granddaughter and his "little guardian
angel," Lauren Elaine Stansberry.
Visitation will be from 5 to 9 p.m. at the Heritage Funeral Home -
Matthews/Weddington Chapel, at 3700 Forest Lawn Drive in Matthews,
N.C., on Friday, May 9. Friends and relatives are invited to attend
a service of celebration in his honor also at Heritage Funeral Home
on Saturday, May 10, at 1 p.m. Burial will take place immediately
following the memorial service at the Forest Lawn East Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, the family respectfully requests that donations
be made in his memory to the Presbyterian Hospital Foundation, P.O.
Box 33549, Charlotte, N.C. 28233-3549.
The Yohrling family is in the care of Heritage Funeral Home --
Weddington Chapel.
May
13, 2008
PAUL W. KENWORTHY SR., 96, of
HOWELL
PAUL W. KENWORTHY SR., 96, of HOWELL, died Sunday, May 11, at his
residence. Mr. Kenworthy was born in Kearny and had lived in
Oceanport and Colts Neck before moving to Howell 30 years ago. Mr.
Kenworthy was a U.S. Army veteran serving during World War II in
Central Europe as a staff sergeant for the 117th Calvary. He was a
lifelong member of the Essex Troop of West Orange, as well as a
member of the Monmouth County Steeple Chase Association. He also
served on the Farmer Advisory Committee for Howell Township. Paul
was an owner and trainer of thoroughbred horses, retiring 35 years
ago.
Surviving are his wife of 66 years, Marie L. Kenworthy; a son and
his companion, Paul W. Kenworthy Jr. and Maria Hinchcliff of Howell;
two daughters and sons-in-law, Paula and Stanley Baiga of Howell,
and Beverly and Eugene Ketcham of Bluffton, S.C.; six grandchildren;
and eight great-grandchildren.
Visiting hours will be from 2 to 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. Wednesday until
his funeral service at 8:30 p.m. at the Clayton & McGirr Funeral
Home, 100 Elton-Adelphia Road (Route 524), Freehold Township.
Interment will be Thursday in Arlington Cemetery, Kearny, leaving
from the funeral home at 10 a.m. At the request of the family,
kindly omit flowers. For directions, information, or condolence
messages to the family, visit
www.claytonfuneralhome.com.
editor@117th-cav.org
webmaster@117th-cav.org
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