Following is a list of local veterans whose obituaries appeared in the Gazette between July 15 and Aug. 3. The information given here about their service is what was provided in each obituary.
John “Stan” Parsons, 81, Easthampton, d. July 12; he served four years in the U.S. Air Force.
Philip Omasta, 96, Hatfield, d. July 6; a decorated veteran of World War II, he helped prepare for the arrival of the Allied Forces in France after D-Day.
Kenneth A. Blow, 81, Westhampton, d. July 9; he served in the U.S. Marine Corps from 1955 to 1958.
Margaret W. Casey, 95, Duxbury, d. July 12; she served in the WAVES during World War II, where she was an aerial gunnery instructor.
Roger G. Benoit, 75, Northampton, d. July 14; he served in the United States Navy on the USS Wasp.
Edward “Skip” Hammond, 76, Greenfield, d. July 19; he served his country as a member of the United States Army from 1963 to 1965 on active duty as a commanding officer of an armor training unit at Fort Knox, Kentucky. By the end of his service, he had earned the distinction of first lieutenant and received the Army’s medal of commendation.
Brian McNamara, 72, Amherst, d. July 12: he enlisted in the Air Force after high school where his experiences influenced his view of the world and shaped his interest in justice and fairness for all. During his time in the service Brian became involved in the civil rights movement in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, where he was stationed and worked to integrate the housing market. He served in Vietnam in 1965-66.
Alice Nurczyk Barr, 92, Leeds, d. July 23; she served in the U.S. Cadet Nurse Corp during World War II.
Robert Fisher Merritt, 91, South Hadley, d. June 24; he served his country in Europe during World War II.
Robert A. Callander, 83, Easthampton, d. July 25; he served in the United States Air Force in Korea.
James E. Durfer, 53, Florence; he joined the United States Marine Corps Reserve in 1982. Following college, Jim entered the Navy, earning his Naval Flight Officer wings in 1988, joining Carrier Airborne Early Warning Squadron 125. During this time, he fought in the Persian Gulf War and participated in flight test programs throughout the US. He flew over 80 missions in Desert Storm and had over 100 carrier landings. Noted decorations included the Meritorious Service Medal, multiple Air Medals and Navy Commendation Medal with Combat “V” for valor.
Charles F. Barrett II, Dover, New Hampshire, d. July 28; he enlisted in the United States Air Force. He started his career in the Air Force as a recreation specialist with morale, welfare and recreation at Bergstrom Air Force Base, Austin, Texas. He then became a recruiter and was stationed in South County, Rhode Island where he traveled up and down the eastern seaboard for his duties. Chuck received many awards for excellence in the recruiting field. He retired as a technical sergeant in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, after 20 years of service.
Veterans Voice appears twice each month. Send submissions to Veterans Voice, c/o Brenda Nelson, Daily Hampshire Gazette, Box 299, Northampton, MA. 01061; or email bnelson@gazettenet.com.