Category: Company I

Richard Keefe 1925-1992

Post author By Jim Keefe
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Richard James Keefe
November 19, 1925 – October 15, 1992

Military History

Enlisted 17 May 1943 to accept an appointment from St. Thomas Military Academy to Infantry Officers’ Candidate School. Reported for Active Duty on 18 Dec. 1943 with rank of Corporal. Was commissioned 2nd Lieutenant, Infantry, at Fort Benning, Ga., 23 May 1944. Served as Rifle Platoon Leader and Executive Officer with Company I, 304th Infantry, 76th Division, in the United States for six months and in the European Theatre of Operations for eight months. Participated in Rhineland, Ardennes, and Central Europe Campaigns. Was awarded the Bronze Star Medal for valor. Was promoted to 1st Lieutenant during combat in April 1945.

Served with the 3rd Battalion, 26th Infantry, 1st Division, at the war trials in Nürnberg , Germany. Served as Headquarters Company Commander, 3rd Battalion, 26th Infantry, and motor officer for the International Military Tribunal. Was promoted to the rank of Captain in August 1946, and was separated at Fort Dix, New Jersey on 14 October 1946.

Awards:
Bronze Star Medal, Combat Infantry Badge, American Campaign Medal, European-African Middle Eastern Campaign Medal – with 3 battle stars, World War II Victory Medal, Army of Occupation Medal, Reserve Medal.

Army Reserve:
Joined the Army Reserve in 1947 and was assigned to the 409th Infantry Regiment, 103rd Division. Served as Regimental Motor Officer, Infantry Regiment, 103rd Division. Served as Regimental Motor Officer, Assistant Regimental Plans and Training Officer, Regimental Plans and Training Officer, and Regimental Supply Officer.

Short Tours of Active Duty while in Reserve:
Active duty training with Minnesota Senior Army Instructor, Fort Snelling, 13 June 1949. Satisfactorily completed Amphibious Warfare Indoctrination Course, U.S. Naval Amphibious Base, Coronado, Calif., from 11 Sept. 1949 to 26 Sept. 1949. Satisfactorily completed the Infantry School Associate Infantry Officer Advanced Course, Class #3, Fort Benning, Ga., from 2 April 1951 to 29 July 1951.

Reserve Activities:
Attended weekly Reserve meetings on Tuesday Nights in addition to a two-week tour of duty every year, usually the last two weeks of August.

Appointed Reserve Commissioned Officer grade of Major in the Army of the United States on 6 September 1955.

Appointed Reserve Commissioned Officer grade of Lieutenant Colonel in the Army of the United States on 5 September 1962.

Richard Keefe retired with the grade of Lieutenant Colonel.

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Obituary from 1992

Richard J. Keefe, age 66, of Golden Valley. Survived by wife, Dolores; daughter & son-in-law, Julianne & Kyle Jenson; sons and daughters-in-law, Michael & Elizabeth, Paul & Jodie, Timothy & Diane; sons, Thomas, James, Nicholas, Gregory; 15 grandchildren; sister, E. Patricia & husband, Donald Whittredge; brothers and sisters-in-law, J. Byrne & Helen and David & Peggy Keefe, and nieces & nephews. Preceded in death by brother, John and sister, Mary Keefe; sons, baby twin boys Keefe.

Member of Serra Club of Hennepin-Twin Cities, American Society for Quality Control, and Retired Officers Club. Life member of Reserve Officer Association. Active in the Church of the Good Shepherd, Good Shepherd School, and Benilde-St. Margaret’s High School.

Funeral Monday, 9:30 am from Gearty-Delmore Robbinsdale Chapel, 39th & W. Broadway, and Mass of Christian Burial 10 am at the Church of the Good Shepherd, 145 Jersey Ave. S. Interment Ft. Snelling. Friends may call 4-7 pm Sunday. Prayer Service 5 pm Sunday. Memorials preferred to Good Shepherd Parish or Hospice Program at North Memorial Medical Center.

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Jay M. Hamilton 1921-2008

Jay M. Hamilton, 86, of Medford, Oregon, passed away on April 17, 2008. Jay was born to Ernest J. and Pearl E. (Bernstrom) Hamilton on October 29, 1921 at Holy Cross Hospital, Salt Lake City, Utah. He graduated from South High School, Salt Lake City, June 1940. Jay majored in forestry management at Utah State University, class of 1944.

Jay entered the U.S. Army in 1944 and with his advanced ROTC class, was assigned to I Company, 304th Infantry Regiment, 76th Infantry Division. Jay served our country in World War II (Mulde River, East Germany). While serving in Germany he met Ingeborg Marianne Haase. They married August 9, 1947 in Upper Bavaria, Germany. She preceded him in death in 1976. Jay retired from active military service as a Lieutenant Colonel from Fort Ord, Calif., May 31, 1963.

Jay served Providence Hospital, Medford as Personnel Director from 1968-1977; and was Secretary – Treasurer, 304th Infantry Regiment Association, 76th Infantry Division Association from 1998-2000.

On February 18, 1977, Jay married Edith Barbara Prack, who survives. A sister, Mary Beth Logan of Manhattan Beach, Calif.; son, Steve (Charlene) Hamilton; daughters, Catherine Ann Hamilton, Margaret (Eric) Patterson; and son, Mark (Ann) Hamilton, all of Medford; stepchildren, Barbara (Peter) Benson of Portland, Ore., and Anton Prack, of San Francisco, Calif., survive. Jay leaves behind eight grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents.

Published in Salt Lake Tribune

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Donald Katz 1916-2011

Post author By Jim Keefe
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Donald J. Katz was born in Detroit, the first of three children of Sarah and Izidor Katz. He attended the University of Michigan and Wayne State University Law School. As an Officer in World War ll, he served as a Captain in Patton’s 3rd Army and was part of the final push into Germany. His last assignment before returning Stateside was as head of the Nuremberg motor pool for the Nuremberg War trials.

Upon returning home, he joined his father Izidor and brother, the late Wilfred L. Katz, in the fledgling John R. Lumber Company, which later prospered and became a respected member of the greater Detroit business community. He was a dedicated member of the Rotary Foundation. He participated locally, nationally and internationally in this community service organization and was awarded the Paul Harris Fellowship honoring him as an advocate of the Foundation’s goals of world peace and international understanding.

Don was a member and supporter of B’nai Brith and Technion. For 50+ years Don was a member and served on the Board of Temple Emanuel as an officer. For the past 15 years he was a member of Temple Kol Ami.

Beloved husband for 67 years to Bernice Katz. Dear father of Bruce (Andrea) Katz and Steve Katz. Loving grandfather of Emily (fiance Chris Magrin) Katz and Carly Katz. Devoted son of Izidor and the late Sarah Katz. Brother of the late Wilfred (the late Bernice) Katz and the late Marilyn Kaufman. Brother-in-law of Sydell (the late Sam) Leebove, Toby Berkower and the late Dr. Donald M. Berkower. Also survived by loving nieces, nephews and loyal friends.

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Frank Mucedola 1921-2007

Frank Mucedola, 85, of 7007 State Street Road, died peacefully Saturday, March 24, 2007, after his heroic battle with prostate cancer. At his side were his loving wife and family.

Frank was born in San Severo, Foggia, Italy, but lived most of his life in Auburn. He was a communicant of St. Francis of Assisi Church. After the love for his family, music was his life. Frank was a performer, a teacher and a composer. For many years, Frank toured Auburn and central New York playing with the Sammy Speno Orchestra. He performed as a soloist with several symphony orchestras, such as the Syracuse Symphony and the New Haven Symphony. The highlight of his musical career was performing with the world-renowned Mantovani Orchestra from 1985 until his death. They toured the world including all 50 United States, performing for millions of people.

He owned and operated the Frank Mucedola Accordion School. He composed many pieces of music for the accordion; the most famous was the “Fox and the Hound,” which is played throughout the world. Frank was a member of the American Federation of Musicians, the American Accordionist Association, the Italian Heritage Society and the VFW.

Sgt. First Class Frank Mucedola was an Army veteran of World War II, having served with the 304th Infantry Regiment of the 76th Division as part of General Patton”s Third Army that fought through France, Luxembourg and Germany. He was awarded the Bronze Star with the V Device for Valor for single-handedly taking out a German gun nest with a bazooka, that had his company pinned down during a night action.

The son of the late Felix and Angelina Mucedola, Frank is survived by his devoted wife, Adriana Coppola Mucedola; three sons, Felix and his wife, Mary Ann, Randolph and his wife, Amy, all from Auburn and Joseph and his wife Cathy, of Weedsport; a daughter, Anna Maria Tuori and her husband, Guy, of Cicero; sister, Dora Longo; brother, Anthony Mucedola and his wife, Margaret, all of Auburn; nine grandchildren, Felix, Mike, Frank, Joey, Diana, Adriana, Alexander, Guy and Jason; and several nieces and nephews.

Frank”s life defined the American experience… initiated as an immigrant, tested as a patriot, and demonstrated to all as a role model. His talents as a soldier helped free a continent, his skills as a musician brought happiness to millions and ultimately, his gifted ways as a husband, father and honor bound friend set an unparalleled standard for all who knew him.

This obituary was originally published in The Citizen (Auburn, NY).

– Frank Mucedola’s Funeral –

March 28, 2007

“After the mass, the funeral procession got to drive by my Dad’s accordion school one last time and then by City Hall where they rang the Wheeler Bell in honor of the passing of a veteran. There was an accordion on the front steps where the mayor was standing as we drove by.“

“At the cemetery there were a couple of soldiers who played taps and then folded the American flag that laid over the casket and presented it to my Mother. It was a great tribute to him.“

-Joe Mucedola (Frank’s son)

Frank Mucedola interview from 2003 published by the New York State Military Museum.

Frank Mucedola’s son Felix “Phil” Mucedola’s interview for Musically Speaking with Bob Piorun.

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Walter M. Nogas 1912-1945

Post author By Jim Keefe
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Walter M. Nogas, T/Sgt
Camp McCoy, Wisconsin – 1944

Excerpt from an interview with Frank Mucedola (1921-2007).
Technical sergeant for the 3rd Platoon, I-304-76.

There was another sergeant, he was a weapons platoon sergeant. He lived in Utica – in those days the New York Central used to run through Auburn – and he was a brakeman on the New York Central in civilian life and he worked the Albany/Niagara Falls route. And he says “Moose” – that was my nickname, “Moose” – he says, “when the war is over I’m gonna come down to your house and we’re gonna have spaghetti dinner together. So that’s all we always talked about, “Yeah, when the war is over, gonna have a spaghetti dinner.”

So now this is about two weeks before the war ended, we had to go on a reconnaissance patrol. It was me, Katz and two other guys that are going. Before you attack you make your reconnaissance patrol of the terrain that you’re gonna attack so you can prepare whatever action you’re gonna take. And this guy, he says, “Moose, wait awhile. I wanna come with you.” Now he wasn’t supposed to come with us, so he jumps in his jeep and we go to this farmhouse.

Katz goes up to the farm, he spoke in German, he says to the farmer, “Any German soldiers around here?” The farmer says, “No, they left a long time ago.” Okay. So now there’s a barn in back, I took a run around the barn and here’s this German sneaking up on us, okay? So we come face to face and I shot the guy and I killed him. So now I holler to the rest of the guys, “Come on over.” I say, “The Germans are over here.”

They run over, and this guy that wanted the spaghetti dinner gets shot in the gut. Now he’s on his hands and knees… “Moose, I’m gonna die.” And I says, “aw, you’re gonna be all right.”

And that was it…

Walter M. Nogas, T/Sgt
Born July 29, 1912 in Niagara County, NY.
Died Apr 19, 1945 (aged 32)
Buried: Netherlands American Cemetery and Memorial
Plot B, Row 6, Grave 10

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