PICNIC IN THE PARK – Western Mass Veterans Association will hold its second annual picnic in support of military members, veterans and their family members on Oct. 5 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Spec Pond Recreation Area off Boston Road in Wilbraham. Musicians Biff Gore and Noah Lis, both contestants on season 6 of NBC’s “The Voice,” will headline.
To help sponsor Veterans Picnic in the Park, to volunteer, or for more information, contact Alicia Smith at 525-5436, extension 1406. Sponsorship and volunteer registration information can be found on the Picnic in the Park web site vetspip.org.
INDIANHEAD REUNION – The Second (Indianhead) Division Association is searching for anyone who served in the Army’s 2nd Infantry Division at any time. For information about the association and our 98th annual reunion in Tucson, Arizona from Sept. 18 to 22, contact Bob Haynes at 2idahq@comcast.net or call 224-225-1202.
IWO JIMA REUNION – The last reunion for the USS Iwo Jima (LPH2/LHD7) includes all ships company and embarked Navy and Marine Corps personnel. It will be held at the Sheraton Waterside Hotel in Norfolk, Virginia, Oct. 2 to 5. Please contact Robert G. McAnally at 152 Frissell St., Hampton, VA 23663, or call (757) 723-0317, or email yujack46709@gmail.com. Visit ussiwojimashipmates.cfns.net for more information.
Following is a list of local veterans whose obituaries appeared in the Gazette between Aug. 9 and 22. The information here is what was provided in each obituary.
Richard Mott, 72, Rockridge, Florida, formerly Westhampton, d. Aug. 3; he was drafted into the Army during the Vietnam War in 1966. He was stationed in Murnau, Germany, where he was an instructor responsible for training field mechanics.
Ludolph H. Nehring Jr., 87, Florence, d. Aug. 9; he worked at 104th Tactical Wing of the Air National Guard in Westfield for 42 years. In October 1961, during the Berlin Crisis, he was activated to Phalsbourg, France for nine months as part of Operation Stair Step. He retired with the rank of senior master sergeant. His nickname in the guard was “Swamp Fox.” With the guard he traveled all over the world. He won numerous awards with the pistol and rifle team of the Air National Guard. He spent several weeks every summer at Otis Air Force Base on Cape Cod, while his family camped nearby.
Felix Rodriguez, Jackson, South Carolina, formerly Easthampton, d. Aug. 8; he served our country in the Korean War and was a very proud veteran who wore his Korean War hat everywhere he went.
Gerald “Jerry” Clarence Lapointe, 69, Agawam, formerly Easthampton, d. Aug. 10; he joined the National Guard.
Ralph Francis Slater Jr., 73, d. Aug. 10; he served briefly in the navy.
Ellenor Huntington Morrill Rennell, 96, Leeds, d. July 29; she proudly served as an administrative specialist in the U.S. Army in World War II.
William Christopher “Chip” Hufnagle, 84, Easthampton, d. Aug. 11; he joined the United States Airforce. During his time in the military he was awarded the Soldier’s Medal of Honor for heroism.
John A. Page, 95, Pelham, d. Aug. 13; he was a World War II veteran and while serving, his brother Bob was killed in action.
Joan Davenport Lee, 97, Amherst, d. Aug. 14; during World War II, she served in the U.S. Naval Reserves (WAVES), and was stationed at the U.S. Naval Medical Center, Bethesda, Maryland, and the U.S. Naval Hospital, San Diego, California. Her service in WWII had a profound effect on her worldview.
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.