WHEN EAST MEETS WEST

By Hank Miller,

Hank is former resident of Gloucester City

 

The rainy season sets in around mid-June and lasts for about one month and a half in almost all regions of the Japanese archipelago. 

 

The of high cold atmospheric pressure front over the Sea of Okhotsk and warm high atmospheric pressure front over the Pacific gives rise to this phenomenon. 

 

Because it is the time when ume or Japanese plums ripen, the season is called baiu or tsuyu \”(ume-rain\”) 

 

During tsuyu, rain falls on and off for several weeks, or sometimes it continues to rain for days on end without stopping. The grey skies, together with high humidity of the season, mean that this is a very gloomy period for most people. It does not, however, necessarily follow that to have the rainy season is all bad, because at this time of the year, farmers, with all the rain it brings, plant rice, and the rice paddies need a good deal of water.

 

Tsuyu is a natural blessing to them. 

 

Warm Regards from Kitakyushu City, Japan 

Here\’s Today\’s Joke: Why did the dog chase his tail? Because he was trying to make ends meet.

*********************************

Boredom By Allan

Dogs get bored just like adults and children. Assuming that your dog is happy to just lie around
all day or stay on it\’s own while you are at work could lead to a very unhappy animal.

While it\’s not possible or practical for most people to have contact with their dog throughout
the day, due to work and other commitments, a dog will always be a lot happier if it knows that at the end of each day it will get the opportunity to go for a walk in the park or a run along the
beach.

The stimulation that it will get from this activity and the time that it is spending with you will help it to keep a healthy mind and a happy personality.

This time together is all important for building the bond that will ensure you both get the maximum benefit from your relationship.

Quality time with your dog will reap rewards, just as they would with a child, with a more obedient dog who is happier to please you than to misbehave. And a happier dog is a healthier dog that will tend to live longer and give you more years of pleasure.

Allan
http://AboutDogs.info

 

MEMORIES OF GLOUCESTER CITY–In the late 50\’s early 60\’s a group of dance students from Gertrude Porter\’s Dance Studio in Gloucester City would travel to Atlantic City to perform in Tony Grant\’s Stars of Tomorrow show located on Steel Pier.

We can only identify some of the Porterettes, if you recognize any of the missing names please email [email protected].

From left: 1. Mary (Sheldon) Dolrnte, 2, 3, 4, Faith (?), 5. Donna (Hoffman) Henefer, 6. Mary Alice (White) Birchmeire, 7. Carol (Stuebing) Colton, 8. Eleanor (Sandell) ? 9. Nancy (Hoffman) Forchic, 10. Connie (Sarlo) Cleary.

from the pages of the Courier Post

Almost all of the participants in the ceremony had left the cemetery area when three Purple Heart recipients stood on the curb.

Jim McNamee of Gloucester City joined the Army at age 16 and was in the fight at Utah Beach and later in France, Luxembourg, and Germany.

\”I grew up fast,\” said McNamee, 83, who worked in new home construction for 35 years and then became custodian for Gloucester City Catholic High School, where he still works.

Mike Grzybowski, also of Gloucester City, was a combat photographer with the Navy Seals during World War II and was on board the aircraft carrier USS Franklin D. Roosevelt on his way to Japan when the United States dropped an atomic bomb, leading to a quick Japanese surrender. He worked as an electrician for 32 years, first at the Brooklyn Navy Yard and then at the Philadelphia Navy Yard.

George Kuhn of Brooklawn, a Navy medic in Vietnam, now is an intensive care unit nurse at Cooper University Hospital in Camden.

CUSTODIO, DEACON

Henry, age 87, on May 27, of Bellmawr for 40 years.
Dearly beloved husband of the late Elizabeth (nee Ridgway) for 55 years and loving father of three wonderful daughters, Tina Polito, Pauline and her husband Bob Vogelsong and Betsy Custodio. He is also survived by eight grandchildren and five great grandchildren.

Henry was born and raised in South Philadelphia and served in WW II. He worked for the Marine Corp. Headquarters in Phila., when he turned 55, in 1976, he retired to become a permanent Deacon in the Catholic Church.

Actively involved for over 20 years with Mary Mother of the Church, his first deaconate assignment was there and he served for 10 years. Then he was assigned to St. Agnes RC Church, where he has served for over 20 years. Other areas where people have been blessed by Henry\’s compassion and humor are Kennedy Hospital, Turnersville (24 yrs.), St. John of God, Westville (11 yrs.)., Ancora Psychiatric Hospital (17 yrs.), Cooper Hospital (14 yrs.) and Kennedy Nursing Home, Turnersville (14 yrs).

Henry was a volunteer for the Samaritan Hospice for six yrs. and a member of the Knights of Columbus and the St. Vincent DePaul Society, both of St. Agnes. For over thirty-five years he attended retreats in Malvern, PA, and was known as a passionate and creative spiritual writer. Henry was known for his dedication to service and his consistent good humor and he will be greatly missed by his family, his Church and his friends.

Relatives and friends are invited to celebrate a Mass of Christian Burial 11:00 am, Thursday, May 31, at St. Agnes RC Church, 701 Little Gloucester Rd., Gloucester Twp. The viewing will be Wednesday evening from 6:00 to 9:00pm and after 9:30 Thursday morning at the Church.
The family requests donations be given in Deacon Henry\’s name to St. Vincent DePaul Society of St. Agnes, 701 Little Gloucester Rd., Blackwood, NJ.
The services are under the direction of Addison G. Bradley, 856-228-6900.

Dear Bill,

Just a note about today\’s services at the War Memorial monuments. I was very happy to see so many people there, of course more would have been great. The speakers were great, the Gloucester City Choir sang beautifully. The Brownie Troop (can\’t remember #) read a little poem about poppies, they are all so little, but spoke up loud and proud. All organizations showed their pride for our fallen soldiers.

Previous mayors along with the present Mayor and some council members were present. Along with other honored guests.

Unfortunately the Gloucester City High School Band could not be there, the director is very ill and couldn\’t participate. Two of the members, Gabby Spagnoplia and Stephanie Lado, represented Gloucester High, and played taps. They did an excellent job.

All in all the services went well and I thank everyone who attended. Hope to see them all again next year with some additions.

God bless the USA!

Verna Wames

more Memorial Day stories

Dear Bill,

Just a note about today\’s services at the War Memorial monuments. I was very happy to see so many people there, of course more would have been great. The speakers were great, the Gloucester City Choir sang beautifully. The Brownie Troop (can\’t remember #) read a little poem about poppies, they are all so little, but spoke up loud and proud. All organizations showed their pride for our fallen soldiers.

Previous mayors along with the present Mayor and some council members were present. Along with other honored guests.

Unfortunately the Gloucester City High School Band could not be there, the director is very ill and couldn\’t participate. Two of the members, Gabby Spagnoplia and Stephanie Lado, represented Gloucester High, and played taps. They did an excellent job.

All in all the services went well and I thank everyone who attended. Hope to see them all again next year with some additions.

God bless the USA!

Verna Wames

more Memorial Day stories

Photos and Comment by Frank Messenger

Always wondered why anyone would want to be Mayor of Philadelphia…..now I think I know. These are some shots of his \”Reception\” room in City Hall. It is truly an amazing building, the largest free-standing masonry building in the world. The Mayor\’s reception is a beautiful.

Hi Bill; 

 

I recently found your Notebook after renewing old acquaintances with fellow members of the GHS Class of \’66, and have been a regular reader since. Over the years

 

I\’ve had a couple of things on my mind about the old stomping grounds that I couldn\’t satisfy through normal internet means, and thought maybe you could help.  

 

Having attended Highland Park School from 1954 to 1958, I was scolded regularly for playing on the \”Hinky-Dinks\”. The \”Hinks\”, if you\’re unfamiliar, were long piles of dirt originally intended as elevation for a railroad line that was never built. I\’ve managed over the years to learn a lot about the proposed railroad and its demise, but the thing that has nagged at me is the origin of the name \”Hinky-Dinks\”. It had to mean something, once upon a time. 

 

The other thing that I have sought in vain for, for a very long time, is a picture of the \”BeefBurger\”. The \”Beef\” was a hamburger place in the Brooklawn Shopping Center in a building that was shaped like a hamburger. Try convincing some people that the place you hung out at as a teen was a building shaped like a hamburger. 

 

Any of this sounds familiar? Is there hope?  

 

Any light you could shed on any of this would be appreciated, as I have several others interested at this point,  

 

Thanks, 

Ron Brittin 

Sewell (Mantua Township), NJ 

By Phil Cohen

Gloucester City NJ has given 66 of its young men to our nation since 1917, a huge loss in proportion to the actual population of the town. Gloucester has honored its fallen heroes with a series of monuments on the east side of Broadway in the center of town.

WORLD WAR I

 

DAVID BARNABY, Private, of 521 Hunter Street, Gloucester City, was fatally injured when he was kicked by a horse over the right eye, near Hausen, Germany, on February 2, 1919. He was a member of Battery F, 76th Field Artillery, in the Army of Occupation, and was sent on a detail for horses to Hausen. On the return Barnaby asked permission to fall out to adjust his saddle. The detail had gone but one hundred yards when Corporal Hayes saw him fall. 521 Hunter Street, Gloucester City.

FREDERICK H. BAYNES 935 Monmouth Street, Gloucester City was killed in action in the Meuse-Argonne offensive on October 9, 1918. He enlisted in the old Third Regiment, National Guard of New jersey, and was sent with the regiment to Camp Edge, Sea Girt, on July 25, 1917, and later transferred to Camp McClellan, Anniston AL. He became a member of Company G, when the regiment was changed to the 114th Infantry. He was the son of Frederick H. and Rebecca Baynes of Gloucester City.

WILLIAM M. HICKMAN, Private, of 613 Market Street, Gloucester City, was killed in action on September 29, 1918. He was one of twelve volunteers who endeavored to capture a German machine-gun nest in the Argonne Forest. He was shot in the hip and as he fell was shot in the forehead and instantly killed. He was the only one of the twelve to be slain. Private Hickman was a member of Company B, 145th Infantry, and was drafted April 29, 1918 and sent to Camp Lee VA, for training. He arrived in France on June 22, 1918. This young soldier was the son of William C. and Elizabeth Louise Hickman, of Gloucester City.

AMON LANE

JOHN J. SHELDON, Private, of Gloucester City, died at Syracuse Recruit Camp, Syracuse NY on October 13, 1918, from pneumonia. The young man had been drafted July 29, 1918 and sent to Syracuse, where he had been assigned to Battery A, 126th Field Artillery. He was the son of Louis and Mary Sheldon, and resided at 100 North Broadway, Gloucester City.

TOWNSEND C. YOUNG, Private, of Gloucester City, was killed in action October 12, 1918, north of Verdun when the 29th Division entered the Meuse-Argonne battle. He was a member of Company G, 114th Infantry, and went away from Camden with Third New Jersey National Guard, on July 25, 1917, and was trained at Camp Edge at Sea Girt NJ and Camp McClellan at Anniston AL. He was the son of Mr. and Mrs. Charles Young, of Gloucester City.

 

ROBERT J. ANDERSON	PFC	ARMY	117th Infantry Regiment 30th Infantry Division
JOSEPH A. BARRON	SF2C	NAVY	USS FRANKLIN CV-13
RALPH E. BATEZEL	S1C	NAVY	USS SKILL
WILLIAM J. BODDINGHAM	PFC	ARMY	29th Infantry Regiment
DANIEL G. BOOTH	AOM2C	NAVY	USS Ticonderoga Torpedo Bomber Squadron VT-80
SAMUEL BURNS	TSGT	AAF
ALDEN P. COCHRAN	TSGT	ARMY	18th Infantry Regiment 1st Infantry Division
THOMAS C. COSTELLO	2LT	AAF	553rd Bomber Squadron 386th Bomber Group, Medium
ALBERT CRABTREE	PVT	ARMY
EDGAR S. CROUTHAMEL	2LT	AAF	8th Air Force
FRANK DICKINSON	TEC5	ARMY	113th Ordnance Bomb Disposal Squad
JOSEPH DI SANTIS	S1C	NAVY	USS PRINGLE DD-477
JOHN G. ELLIOT	SGT	ARMY
FREDERICK GEHRIG	GM3C	NAVY	USS Atlanta
DAVID GINSBURG	PVT	ARMY	502nd Parachute Infantry Regiment 101st Airborne Division
ALBERT S. GODALLA	PVT	ARMY	351st Infantry Regiment 88th Infantry Division
JOSEPH HARRISON	PFC	ARMY	Company F 324th Infantry Regiment 44th Infantry Division
ALBERT l. HARVEY	PFC	ARMY	175th Infantry Regiment 29th Infantry Division
JOHN J. HEGENER, JR.	PFC	ARMY	38th Infantry Regiment 2nd Infantry Division
ALBERT C. HOBBS, JR.	PVT	ARMY	112th Infantry Regiment 28th Infantry Division
HAROLD E. HOLLOWAY	CPL	ARMY
ROSS C. HUNT	PVT	ARMY
JOSEPH H. JOHNSON	PFC	ARMY	31st Signal Construction Battalion
THOMAS JOSEPH	PFC	ARMY	143rd Infantry Regiment 36th Infantry Division
EDWARD P. KEENAN	SSGT	ARMY	121st Infantry Regiment 8th Infantry Division
JOSEPH C. KOBBY	PFC	USMC	81st Marine Division
GERALD LYONS	PFC	ARMY	116th Infantry Regiment 29th Infantry Division
JACK B. MCDERMOTT	S1C	NAVY
PAUL MAILLEY	2LT	AAF	23rd Photographic Squadron S5th Reconnaissance Group
JAMES L. MYLES, JR.	1LT	ARMY	Air Transport Command
FRANCIS NEWCOME	PFC	ARMY	Headquarters Company 3rd Battalion 407th Infantry Regiment 102nd Infantry Division
ALBERT L. PARKER	PVT	USMC	2nd Marine Division
JOHN R. PLETKIN	PVT	ARMY
EDWARD T. RODGERS	TEC5	ARMY	322ND ENGINEER BN
JOSEPH A. SCHEURICH	PVT	ARMY	48th Infantry Battalion 7th Armored Division
THOMAS M. SHERIDAN	TEC5	ARMY
HYMAN SMALL	TSGT	ARMY	175th Infantry Regiment 29th Infantry Division
WILLIAM J. SPENCER	WT2C	NAVY	USS PRINCETON
WALTER W. SPRINGER, JR.	SSGT	AAF	330th Bomber Squadron 93rd Bomber Group, Heavy
JOHN. J STAINKER	SSGT	AAF	328th Bomber Squadron 93rd Bomber Group, Heavy
JAMES STINSMAN	SSGT	AAF	535th Bomber Squadron 381st Bomber Group, Heavy
WALTER E. STUHL	TSGT	AAF
FRED WALKER	MM1C	NAVY
WALTER WALKER	PVT	AA	611th School Squadron
JOSEPH H. WESSEL	SGT	ARMY	60th Infantry Regiment 9th Infantry Division
JAMES W. WILKIE	TEC5	ARMY
WILLIAM T. WILLIAMS	1LT	AAF	447th Bomber Squadron 321st Bomber Group, Medium
WALTER R. WILLIAMSON	PFC	ARMY	16th Infantry Regiment 1st Infantry Division

 

KOREA

C. RICHARD EPPLEMAN PFC MARINES Company C, 1st Battalion,
1st Marines, 1st Marine Division 10/11/1930 9/30/1951 FRANK E. SULLIVAN SGT ARMY 223rd Infantry Regiment
40th Infantry Division 1930 12/23/1952

VIETNAM

HARRY G. BRANNON SGT ARMY 5/9/1936 8/15/1966 CHRISTOPHER M. DANIELS SGT ARMY 12/18/1948 2/3/1968 WILLIAM B. HAMACHER PFC MARINES 7/11/1949 5/22/1968 WILLIAM F. RIDGE CPL ARMY 10/11/1949 8/24/1969 JOHN J. RODGERS PFC MARINES 5.25.1947 1/15/1967 RONALD J. BATES CPL MARINES 11/4/1949 7/31/1969 WAYNE A. COLANTUONO SP4 ARMY 11/22/1946 10/20/1967 PAUL J. FLAHERTY PFC ARMY 10/17/1948 1/7/169 MICHAEL A. WALTERS PFC ARMY 1/11/1947 5/11/1969

 

Source Gloucester City War Memorial (see photos)