Remembering Two World War II Vets from Bovina

Five years ago this coming November, we unveiled the restored Bovina Roll of Honor – a roll of Bovina’s World War II vets. Two of the veterans on the roll, Stanley ‘Stub’ Hewitt and Gordon Rabeler, did the honors. Sadly, both of these gentlemen have passed away- within about 3 months of each other.

Gordon (left) and Stub (right) unveiling the Honor Roll on November 3, 2012.

Stub died on April 3, 2017, 20 days shy of his 93^rd birthday. He was born on April 23, 1924, in Margaretville, the son of John W. and Laura (Alton) Hewitt. Stub grew up in Bovina and was a graduate of Andes Central School. He proudly served in the U.S. Army during WW II and was in Italy during the occupation of Europe. Following his honorable discharge, he returned home.

On December 13, 1947, he married Norah Travell Hewitt in Hobart, a union that lasted 63 years, until her passing in 2010. Stub was employed as a truck driver with Deltown Foods of Delhi, retiring after over 42 years of service. He was a member of the American Legion Donald W. Gleason Post 190, Delhi, and the Oneonta Eagles. He was survived by his four children, ten grandchildren and 19 great-grandchildren.

Gordon E. Rabeler died on July 16, 2017 at the age of 94. He was born on February 10, 1923 to Henry and Eunice Rabeler in Leigh, Nebraska. He graduated from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, NY as a chemical engineer. Gordon also served in World War II and was involved in the European campaign. He worked for over 40 years at International Paper Company in research where he received many awards for his contributions in the paper making industry. Gordon was an avid skier, skiing into his early 90s.

He was survived his three children, five grandchildren and three great grandchildren. He was predeceased by his wife Kathryn, of 67 years. 

Bovina Honor Roll Unveiling - More photos

Carrie Hewitt Choquette has shared pictures she took at the unveiling of Bovina's re-installed World War II Honor Roll  on Saturday (November 3) and has let me share some of them with you.  And I got another phone call today with information about another veteran on the roll, Wilbur VerNooy (misspelled as VanNooy on the honor roll).  His sister Erma Martin from South Kortright was somewhat surprised that he was on the Bovina roll, but I did find that in 1940 he was living on Mountain Brook, working as a hired hand for John and Bernice Stewart.  Wilbur passed away in 1975 and is buried in New Jersey.

In the center, Gordon Rabeler is introduced to Bovina Supervisor Tina Mole by Ray LaFever.  To the left are more members of the Rabeler family.

Visiting the display of photos of the veterans on the honor roll.

Members of the Rabeler family at the unveiling.  There are several Rabelers on the roll, including Paul, Henry, Ruth and Gordon.  Gordon is at the far left in this photograph.

 Below are three photos of the actual unveiling, done by veterans Gordon Rabeler and Stanley 'Stub' Hewitt.

Bovina Honor Roll unveiling

Today's unveiling of the refurbished Bovina Honor Roll (see the blog entry for October 9, 2012) went very nicely, with over 50 people attending.  Two of the surviving veterans from the roll, Gordon Rabeler and Stanley 'Stub' Hewitt, were able to attend and unveil the new installed roll. 

Thanks go to:

• The Bovina Historical Society, who has had custody of the roll since the 1970s and allowed it to be reinstalled at the Community Hall.
• The Bovina Town Board, who supported putting it in the Community Hall.
• Dick Brannen, who did the carpentry work needed to stabilize the roll and allow it to be on display after almost 50 years.
• Cathie Hewitt, Carrie Hewitt Choquette, Evelyn Stewart, Shannon Shoemaker, Shirley Shoemaker and Donna Bray for help with the refreshments.
• Jim and Tom Hoy, who very generously donated the funds for the cost of refurbishing the roll.  They are doing it in memory of two of their cousins who appear on the roll, 1st Lt. Robert J. Hoy, USAAF and S/Sergeant William A. Hoy.

Tom Hoy was able to attend today's event, with the daughters of Robert Hoy.  Family members of William Hoy's family also attended, as did a number of other family members of the veterans on the roll. I've posted some of my shots.

In case you haven't seen it, there was an article in the November 2 Daily Star (Oneonta) about the honor roll at http://thedailystar.com/brightside/x121540327/Bovina-to-unveil-repaired-WWII-Honor-Roll.  Since the posting of the article in the Daily Star and in the Walton Reporter, I've had some phone calls about veterans on the roll.  Today, I found out that there are two more people from the roll who are still with us, bringing that number up to five.  Robert Lewis's daughter called me to let me know that her father and her uncle Roy Lewis are still around.  Robert lives in Florida and Roy in Virginia.

Attendees await the unveiling

Gordon Rabeler on the left and Stub Hewitt on the right after the unveiling.  To the left of Gordon are World War II vets Ed Rossley and Charlie Eustis

Tom Hoy with Bill Hoy's daughter on the left and Robert's daughters on the right.

The Bovina Honor Roll in its new location.  On the left are pictures of the roll in its original location.

I am expecting to have some better quality pictures in the next few days which I will share when I get them.  My thanks to everyone for their support of this project. 

Bovina Honor Roll Unveiling

On Saturday, November 3 at 2 pm there will be a small ceremony to commemorate the installation of Bovina's World War II honor roll at the Community Hall.  I hope to have one of the surviving people from the roll do the unveiling.  And I will have a small exhibit of photographs of the men and women who are on the honor roll.

The Honor Roll, which once stood next to what is now the Bovina Historical Society Museum, has been in storage in the museum for at least 30 years.  The Bovina Town Board agreed to have the roll hung in the entryway of the Bovina Community Hall.  Bovina carpenter Dick Brannen agreed to do the carpentry work needed to stabilize the roll, put it in new protective housing and mount it on the entryway wall.  Former Bovina residents Jim and Tom Hoy have very generously donated the funds to cover the costs for the installation.  They are doing this in memory of two of their cousins who appear on the roll, 1st Lt. Robert J. Hoy, USAAF and S/Sergeant William A. Hoy.  Below are pictures of Robert and William Hoy on their respective wedding days. 

Robert Hoy was married to Shirley Sharkey on August 5, 1944 in Bovina.  Photo by Bob Wyer, courtesy of the Delaware County Historical Association.

Two weeks later, on August 19, 1944, his brother William Hoy married Jane Hilson, also in Bovina.  Photo by Bob Wyer, courtesy of the Delaware County Historical Association.

See my blog entries for June 3, 2011 for information and photographs of the roll.  I'm still looking for information on some of the people on the roll - see my blog entry for  May 18, 2012 for details.  And I will have a scanner available at the ceremony so if you have any pictures of the people on the roll to share, I can copy them right there. Come and see this important artifact from Bovina's recent past come back out in public again. 

Bovina's World War II Honor Roll - Some Assistance Please

With help from the Town of Bovina and the Bovina Historical Society, I am working to reinstall Bovina's World War II Honor Roll (see my blog entry for June 3, 2011 concerning this Honor Roll).  I also need some help from you. 

There are 94 names on the roll.  Through my own knowledge and through the use of Ancestry.com and other sources, I've been able to get enough information on about 2/3 of the names on the list, including birth and death dates.  In the  process, I have identified three people on the roll that are still with us - Ed Davidson, now living in California, Gordon Rabeler, who is in Rockland County, NY, and Stanley 'Stub' Hewitt, who lives in Lake Delaware.

Below are 32 names for which I need some clarification of information I have found or for whom I have no information at all.  I have included birth and death years when I have found those.  For some people, I did find information on Ancestry.com, but because the name is relatively common, I'm not sure in all instances if I have the right one.  I also included text that came from an issue of the 1946 Walton Reporter that provided information on soldiers from Delaware County.  If there is no information, that means I could not find their names - at least in the section marked 'Delhi Draft District.'

So, if you know this person or know someone who does know him (or in one instance here, her), please let me know.  I'm also going to be trying to get photographs of everyone on the roll - preferably in uniform - so if you have photos or know someone who does, I'd appreciate that too.  Drop me a line at bovinahistorian@gmail.com or put any information you wish to share in the comments field at the end of this blog.  Thanks folks.  Any assistance will be greatly appreciated. 

• Samuel Barlow - Walton Reporter: Denver, Col (Delhi): Seventh Armoured Division; inducted Feb. 12, 1942, discharged Aug. 8, 1945.
• Edward Barnes
• Paul Bellino, c 1908-xxxx
• Edwin Chase, 1916-xxxx -Walton Reporter: Temple, Texas (Delhi):  Sergeant, Medical Detachment, 1884th Service Command Unit; inducted Jan. 26, 1942, discharged March 4, 1946.
• Kenneth Curtis, 1923-xxxx - Walton Reporter: Delhi:  First lieutenant, 7th Air Service Group; enlisted Aug. 19, 1942 called to active duty May 24, 1943, discharged Aug. 17, 1946; Asiatic-Pacific and Caribbean service April 18, 1945 to May 25, 1945, and Dec. 4, 1945, to Aug. 2, 1946.
• Frances Decker, 1920-xxxx - Walton Reporter: [Francis A. Decker] Bovina Center: Private, Medical Corps; inducted April 24, 1942, discharged June 12, 1942.
• Donald DeSilva, 1918-1989 - Walton Reporter: Arena: Private, Co. B, 714th Military Police Battalion; inducted March 30, 1943, discharged Oct. 26, 1943.
• Jack Ditty, 1920-xxxx - Is this Thomas J. Ditty, Delhi, who is referenced in the Walton Reporter?  Walton Reporter: Sergeant; enlistment.
• Warren Eitner, 1921-xxxx
• Floyd Estus, 1909-1981 - I suspect that the first name on the roll is incorrect.  I didn't find a Floyd, but I found a Lloyd who was in the Walton Reporter (and who also showed up on Ancestry.com).  Walton Reporter:  Andes: Private first class, Anti-=Tank Co., 320th Infantry; inducted Sept. 23, 1942, discharged Sept. 16, 1945; European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign medal, American Service medal; foreign service Oct. 22,
• Robert Finkle, 1919-2007 - Walton Reporter: No discharge recorded: Shavertown: Army Air Forces; enlisted November 1939.
• Leroy Graham - Is this Jacob L. Graham? I did not find a Leroy.  For Jacob Graham, the Walton Reporter had the following:  No discharge recorded: Bovina Center: Navy; enlisted March 6, 1944 when 17.
• Richard Grundy, 1921-1986 - I did not find Richard but found Harry R.  The R could stand for Richard, but I'm not sure.  Walton Reporter: [Harry R.] Lake Delaware, Delhi:  Technical sergeant, 87th Mountain Infantry; enlisted July 19, 1940, discharged June 26, 1945; European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign medal, American Service medal; foreign service Sept. 7, 1940, to July 13, 1943, and Ju
• Robert Hoagland - Walton Reporter: Bloomville: Private first class, 1983rd Service Command Unit, Prisoner of War Camp; enlisted March 19, 1940, discharged Sept. 28, 1945; Asiatic-Pacific Campaign medal; foreign service Jan. 23, 1942, to Sep. 13, 1944.
• Donald Hoyt, 1920-xxxx - Walton Reporter: [Donald E] Hobart:  Private first class, Co. D, 712th Military Police Battalion; enlisted March 6, 1940, discharged Aug. 9, 1945; Asiatic-Pacific Campaign medal; foreign service April 9, 1940, to July 1, 1944.
• Rudolph Hunt, 1909-xxxx - Walton Reporter: Delhi:  Sergeant, 1262nd Service Command Unit; inducted Jan. 20, 1944, discharged April 21, 1946.
• Ralph Hyatt
• Everett Hyatt
• Arthur Jones
• Robert Lewis - Walton Reporter: Bovina: Private, Co. C, 317th Infantry; inducted April 25, 1944, discharged Dec. 22, 1945; Purple Heart medal (Nov. 29, 1944), European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign medal; foreign service Oct. 22, 1944, to Feb. 20, 1945.
• Roy Lewis
• Lawrence Lewis, 1923-xxxx
• Leora Miller, 1924-xxxx - Walton Reporter: No discharge recorded: East Meredith: Waves, navy.
• Ernist Miller
• Bernard Perry, 1925-xxxx - Walton Reporter: Bovina Center:  Private first class, 107th Tactical Air Command Reconnaissance Squadron; inducted March 30, 1943, discharged Nov. 16, 1945; European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign medal; foreign service Sept. 5, 1943, to Sept. 14, 1945.
• Arnold Schneider, c 1909-xxxx - Walton Reporter: [Sterling A.?] Bovina Center:  Technician 5th grade, Co. C, 53rd Signal Battalion; inducted April 22, 1942, discharged June 7, 1945; European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign medal; foreign service Aug. 19, 1942, to May 25, 1945.
• Albert Simonson
• Robert Todd
• Carl Tuttle, 1915-1997- [is this Earl Tuttle?]  Walton Reporter: Delhi:  Technician 5th grade, 255th Infantry; inducted May 25, 1942, discharged Oct. 5, 1945; European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign medal; foreign service April 3, 1943, to Sept. 28, 1945.
• Arthur VanAlstine
• Wilbur VanNooy
• Marcus Young

Bovina Honor Roll

During World War II, the Town of Bovina created this Honor Roll of its men and women who were serving in the war.  It stood by the Bovina Public Library (now the Bovina Historical Society museum). The roll was taken down sometime in the 1960s to protect it from the elements.  Below are two pictures that both date from the 1940s. Compare them with each other and with the roll as it looks today and you'll see that names were regularly being added during the war.

Photo from 1940s by James Hoy, courtesy of Jim and Tom Hoy.

Photo courtesy of family of Jack Hilson - click on image to see larger view

Photo by Ray LaFever, May 21, 2011 - click on image to see larger view

Here's an alphabetical list of the names on the Honor Roll, courtesy of Ed Davidson:

HAROLD AITKENS

HERMAN ARCHIBALD

LEONARD ARCHIBALD

LYNN ARMSTRONG

HAROLD BARBOUR

SAMUEL BARLOW

EDWARD BARNES

DONALD BARNHART

HERBERT BARNHART

PAUL BELLINO

JOHN BIGGAR

JOSEPH BIRDSALL

JOHN BURDICK

AMOS CHASE

EDWIN CHASE

LESTER CHASE

FREDERIC COLE

GLENN COLE

KENNETH CURTIS

ALLAN DAVIDSON

EDWIN DAVIDSON

FRANCES DECKER

DONALD DeSILVA

ETHEL DeSILVA

FRED DeSILVA

JACK DITTY

WARREN EITNER

ODE EKSETH

ROBERT ERKSON

FLOYD ESTUS

ROBERT FINKLE

EDWARD GERRY

ELBRIDGE GERRY

HENRY GERRY

ROBERT GERRY

CRAIGHTON GONYO

NOEL GONYO

LeROY GRAHAN

RICHARD GRUNDY

LAUREN HEWITT

STANLEY HEWITT

ALEX HILSON

JACK HILSON

ROBERT HOAGLAND

ROBERT HOY

WILLIAM HOY

DONALD HOYT

RUDOLPH HUNT

EVERETT HYATT

RALPH HYATT

ALLAN JOHNSTON

ARTHUR JONES

RAY JOSCELYN

SYLVAN LaFEVER

CLARK LAY

ROBERT LEE

LAWRENCE LEWIS

ROBERT LEWIS

ROY LEWIS

ROBERT LIDDLE

ARTHUR MAYHEW

DAVID MAYHEW

DONALD MAYHEW

HARVEY McCLELLAN

BOYDEN McCUMBER

CHARLES McINTOSH

FORREST MEADE

ERNIST MILLER

LEORA MILLER

ARNOLD PERRY

BERNARD PERRY

GORDON RABELER

HENRY RABELER

PAUL RABELER

RUTH RABELER

ARTHUR REINERTSEN

ROBERT REINERTSEN

SEGARD REINERTSEN

CLIFTON RUSSELL

EVAN RUSSELL

ARNOLD SCHNEIDER

CARL SCHNEIDER

ALBERT SIMONSON

ADRIAN SLIUTER

ROBERT TODD

CARL TUTTLE

ARTHUR VanALSTINE

HARVEY VanBUREN

WILBUR VanNOOY

THOMAS WALLIS, Jr

PALMER WATERMAN

ROBERT WATERMAN

WILLIAM WILSON

MARCUS YOUNG

I would love to hear from anyone who knows the history of this roll or of the names on it.  As far as I know, there are two people on this roll who are still with us:  Ed Davidson and Stanley (Stub) Hewitt.  If there are others, let me know.  I am pursuing getting funding to stabilize the honor roll and erect it somewhere in town where it can be seen. So stay tuned for further developments.