By Theresa Knapp 

The Medway Memorial Committee held a ceremony on Nov. 11 to commemorate Veterans Day, also known as Armistice Day. Their guest speaker was World War II veteran Dr. Vincent Arone of Hopedale. 

The program also included local and state officials, religious leaders, patriotic songs sung by Medway High School students, and a presentation of a flag in memory of Marine John Kingsbury, Jr. (1923-1943), Medway’s first veteran killed in action. 

As is customary, the ceremony began on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month to commemorate the 106th anniversary of the end of World War I.

Robert Saleski, Chairman of the Memorial Committeeserved as Master of Ceremonies; he is also the Chairman of the Medway Memorial Committee. 

Post Commander Kevin Bellows welcomed the crowd. 

 “We gather today to show our gratitude to the veterans of the United States Armed Forces. Here, and across the nation, Americans are marking this day with expressions of respect for all who have worn the uniform of our country. This is a day of honor...We remember those who served America by fighting and dying on the field of battle, and we remember those veterans who have lived to serve America and their communities in many ways,” said Commander Bellows. 

“Veterans know that duty and sacrifice are more than words, they know the cost of freedom, they know the time spent away from family and friends and the names and faces of the men and women who have paid for it. If you are a veteran, you stand watch over the memory of great events and of brave Americans…You have a special place in the life of America and America is proud of you,” he said. 

State Proclamation 

Massachusetts Senate President Karen Spilka thanked the committee for hosting the event and presented a proclamation, signed by Governor Maura Healey, declaring the day to be Veterans Day. She also thanked Dr. Arone for his service, noting her father had served in World War II. “It’s really special to have you here, Dr. Arone, to share; and thank you so much from the bottom of all of our hearts.” 

Sen. Spilka said Massachusetts is known nationwide as having the strongest laws related to its 300,000 veterans and their families. She said the state legislature, in August, passed the “HERO Act” which is “the most comprehensive veterans legislation in over 20 years.” It expands benefits to Massachusetts veterans and their families. [see page 4]

“In Flanders Field”

Medway Memorial Committee’s Richard Parrella, wearing a red poppy on his lapel, read the poem “In Flanders Field” by Lt. Col. John McCrae. 

According to the American Legion Auxiliary, after the poem was published in 1915, the red poppy became a symbol of the blood shed by those who fought and those who continue to fight for our country. 

“Missing Man Table”

JVC Saleski explained the significance of the empty table set for one at the front of the room. “That is set up in remembrance of what they consider to be a missing man or POW [prisoner of war].” 

Commander Bellows read the poem “Remember,” which explains the significance of each part of the display, including the small table, white tablecloth, single red rose, red ribbon, lighted candle, slice of lemon, salt, inverted glass, and empty chair. 

Town Proclamation

Medway Select Board member Glenn Trindade read a proclamation from the board extending its deepest gratitude to all United States veterans and their service. 

Guest Speaker 

Dr. Vincent Arone 

Mr. Parella introduced Dr. Arone who was a member of the Army Air Force from Sept. 22, 1942 to Dec. 31, 1945.  

Dr. Arone served in the Central Pacific Theater as a radio operator and belly gunner on the aircrew of the 42nd Bomber Squadron on a four-engine bomber aircraft. He achieved the rank of Staff Sergeant and received many decorations and commendations. At 103 years old, he is the last surviving member of his aircrew on the Belle of Texas. 

“I appreciate you inviting me to be here,” said Dr. Arone. “I’ve got some very interesting stories to tell but, with time constraints, I can’t tell them all.” 

Dr. Arone was born and raised in Watertown, Mass. He knew he would be drafted so he had his father take him to enlist. The government asked what job he wanted and he said he would like to fly an airplane. He had one year of extensive training and was then sent to the Central Pacific. 

He told many stories, and included many fun facts - including many U.S. planes were named after characters in the comic strip Li’l Abner by cartoonist Al Capp - but he primarily focused on his time in Funafuti, part of the Ellice Group; and Tarawa, part of the Gilbert Islands in the Central Pacific. He recalled the physical strength needed to navigate the plane (it took two men), and the logistics of being able to fly only 1,000 miles before running out of fuel. 

He told the story about invading Tarawa. 

“The United States decided that, because [Tarawa] was such an important fortified island, that they would have to invade it and they sent, believe it or not, 17 aircraft carriers, 12 battleships, 12 cruisers, 66 destroyers, 36 transporters to get the soldiers on the island, and it was just a horror,” said Dr. Arone. “We lost 1,037 boys, American boys were killed in the first hour because of the riptide.” 

He said the transporters were supposed to bring 1,000 men to shore but could not because of the coral reef, so the soldiers had to wade to shore, carrying 60 pounds of equipment.  

“The short of it is that 1,037 boys were killed the first hour, it was horrible,” said Dr. Arone. “And here we were in the sky looking for a place to land because we didn’t have enough fuel [to get back to Funafuti after a bombing mission in Nauru]. And we were told Tarawa was 700 miles closer to our home base so let’s go to Tarawa. We didn’t know we were supposed to invade on the same day.” 

Dr. Arone recalled trying to rescue fellow soldiers in distress. “The Dog Patch Express was one of the ships that was hit. For some reason or other, the Japanese were waiting…They shot the plane down and I took pictures of it going down and cracking up into three places and sank immediately.”

Dr. Arone’s commanding officer said they would go back to help. “We knew all of the 10 guys, I still remember their names - Shopko, Paradise - and they all died. I think they were saying their rosary beads at the waist windows when they realized it was the end. And they did, they sank, immediately.” 

Dr. Arone recalled making history when they landed the Belle of Texas with the help of parachutes. 

The aircraft had come under heavy fire on one of their return trips and they had to make an emergency landing. The hydraulic system was out, and the guns and radio weren’t working. 

“We had the tail gunner and the two waist gunners blow parachutes to slow us down because the runway was only 4,400 square feet and you need at least 5,000 to land a plane…We landed with the parachute and there were some Seabees swimming, in their birthday suits, who saw the parachutes open and they rushed to the scene.”

Dr. Arone was stuck in the ball turret and it took some time to get him out. The Seabees helped repair the aircraft. “They counted 300 hits on the airplane, it’s unheard of.” 

Dr. Arone summarized his speech by saying, “The short of it is that we took the island back, we kept it, and we won the war.”  

Marine John Gilbert Kingsbury, Jr., Medway’s first veteran killed in action

Private First Class Marine John Gilbert Kingsbury, Jr. was Medway’s first veteran killed in action (July 1943). At the event on Nov. 11, PFC Kingsbury’s cousins donated the memorial flag and purple heart that were given to the Kingsbury family after the soldier’s death. The items were presented to the VFW and the Medway Memorial Committee, and were then given to the Medway Historical Society for permanent preservation. 

Medway Historical Society President Sheila Dubrawski accepted the donation. “We’re honored to hold these and preserve these and cherish these items along with the other military items from our brave soldiers from Medway, thank you.” 

The hour-long program concluded with a luncheon. 

To watch a full recording of the event, visit bit.ly/MedwayCableArone2024.