Citizens of Chicopee Remember World War II
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This monument dedicated by the citizens of Chicopee in honor of all who served in the armed forces of the United States during World War Two. This emblem with the spread eagle was awarded to all honorably discharged service personnel. The small lapel pin was proudly worn by all veterans. It was and is still called "The Ruptured Duck" by all World War Two veterans.
Pedestal around the globe
Let us keep forever living the freedom for which they served
Panel 1
U.S. Army
PACIFIC THEATRE
Pearl Harbor Philippine Island Dec. 08-1941
China-Burma-India Aleutian, Gilbert Marshall
Islands Leyte Okinawa Guadalcanal
Sailing to invade Japan 1945
EUROPEAN THEATRE
Algeria-French Morocco Nov. 08-1942 Tunisia
Sicily Naples-Foggia Italy Surrendered Sept. 08-1943
Salerno Anzio Monte Cassino Rome Normandy
D-Day June 06-1044 Battle of the Bulge Paris
Rhineland Berlin Germany Surrendered May 08-1945
End of WWII in Europe
Soldiers 8,267,958 Lost 234,874 109 from Chicopee
Panel 2
U.S. WOMEN'S ARMY
AUXILIARY CORPS
(WAAC) 05-1942 Became Women's Army Corps (WAC)
07-01-1943 150,000 enlisted 8,000 served in Europe
5,500 in the Pacific
Became part of Regular Army 10-20-1978
U.S. ARMY
NURSE CORPS
60,000+ served in every theatre of war
Landed in North Africa & Europe
200+ lost their lives
Panel 3
U.S. MARINE CORPS
MAJOR EVENTS
Pearl Harbor Wake Island Bataan Corregidor
Guadalcanal Makin Raid New Georgia Choiseul Raid
Bougainville Tarawa Cape Gloucester Roi Namur
Eniwetok Talasea Emirau Saipan Guam Tinian
Peleliu Philippines Iwo Jima Okinawa
Occupied Japan 08-30-1945 & China 09-30-1945
Served 475,604 Lost 24,511 8 from Chicopee
Panel 4
U.S. MARINE CORPS
WOMEN'S RESERVE
Established 06-30-1942 20,000 served
State Side & Hawaii
Demoblized 09-01-1946
Panel 5
U.S. NAVY
Patrol Atlantic Ocean Sept. 1939-May 1945
Pearl Harbor Dec. 07-1941 Coral Sea
Aleutian Islands Midway Philippine Sea Leyte
Took part in every invasion in all theatres
of war. WWII ended when Japan signed surrender
papers aboard the U.S.S. Missouri Sept. 02 1945
Sailors 3,380,817 served Lost 157 ships & 36,950 men
45 from Chicopee
U.S. Merchant Marine lost 866 ships & 6,895 men
2 from Chicopee
Panel 6
U.S. NAVY
WAVES
Pres. Franklin D. Roosevelt signed an order
on 07-30-1942 creating the Women Accepted
for Volunteer Service - WAVES - serving
at all naval stations in the USA & in Hawaii
more than 100,000 served
U.S. NAVY
NURSE CORPS
14,000 served state side & the Pacific islands
Bataan Corregidor Iwo Jima Okinawa
Panel 7
U.S. COAST GUARD
Activated 11-01-1941 Became part of the Navy
Took part in every European & Pacific invasion -
Manned 351 Navy ships 288 Army vessels
802 cutters
231,000 served with 1918 casualties 2 from Chicopee
Returned to the Treasury Dept. 01-01-1946
Panel 8
U.S. COAST GUARD
WOMEN'S RESERVE CORPS (SPARS)
More than 10,000 served state side.
& in Alaska & Hawaii
Organized 11-23-1942 Demobilized 06-30-1946
Panel 9
UNITED STATES ARMY
AIR FORCE
Created June 20, 1941 by Gen. George C. Marshall
Divided into 16 numbered Air Forces
Stationed around the world
5 continental USA 7 Pacific 4 Europe
Flew missions in every theatre of war
Dropped men, equipment & supplies in all invasions
B-29 dropped the "A" bombs Aug. 6-9, 1945
on Hiroshima & Nagasaki ending World War II
Panel 10
WOMEN'S AIR FORCE
SERVICE PILOTS (WASPS)
Formed 08-1943
Other women groups in Air Force
Women's Aux Ferrying Squadron (WAFS)
Formed 09-1942
U.S.A.A.F AIRWAC'S 07-01-1943
1,074 women ferried new planes
& flew target planes
38 lost their lives
Marker is at the intersection of Front Street and Bonneville Avenue, on the right when traveling east on Front Street.
Courtesy hmdb.org
