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Lowell Non-Com Happens UponBuddy's Grave on Attu IslandSergt. Fineberg Brings. Home Photo Record Of Pvt. Henry Rogerson’s SacrificeLOWELL—In the bleak fog and fast falling shadows of an Attu iwilight, the sergeant called his detail to a halt and ordered the aoys to take ten.” The detail topped- down eagerly. So did the sergeant. He rolled wearily on lis side,, slipped his helmet loose or comfort and started to think if home. Suddenly, looming out if the twilight before his eyes a ew feet away, a white cross ap-leared and clear lettering on a ilate bore the words, Lowell, ■ ,2ass.”IvWv.ycf■•. A .•’ Ylt;v •Staff Sergt. Bernard Fineberg I an air force detail stared again nd discovered that he ' had topped at the edge of a ceme-ery. And seeing that white cross ver the grave of a home town omrade, he confesses, started a hum of emotions “mixed of war nd Attu, peace and home, life nd death.” The Japs were still n the island.“We were weeding them out tlie hard way,” Fineberg said, ‘and we were losing a few men, too, but I made up my mind that if I came through, I'd take a little photograph ot that grave and bring it home one day to assure a buddy’s folks that he had received a soldier's burial and was resting in peace.”This silent promise of a soldier 300 miles from home was kept ds week, when Sergt. Finebex'g, xompanied by a civilian friend, 'arry Brand, visited ’ Rev. Thomas canlon, OMI, assistant pastor of ie Sacred Heart church, and of-:red the photograph of the *ave in which lies Pvt. Henry ogerson—one of two brothers ho died in the service of their untry. The emissaries felt that r. Scanlon could best express .e words it takes...Pvt. Henry Rogerson was a cas-ilty as the first wave of Yanks t Attu island in tiie thrust that ove the Japanese menace fromSergf. Bernard Felnbergthe continent. -From nearby Kisk. the Nips had sneaked out in a evacuation just preceding tl landing of another regiment lt;Uncle Sam’s soldiers. Shortly aft: the news of the death of Privai Rogerson reached here from o ficial sources, the bereaved far ily was notified of the death another brother, Francis, fro wounds in action in the Nortii A rican theatre. Two gold stars : the Rogerson service flag arouse widespread sympathy, and the civ authorities la.'. December name the Lincoln Street school, “tl: Rogerson school,” as a lastin tribute to the brothers who mad the supreme sacrifice. 'Farther north on Attu, a Lowell sergeant at nearly the santime marked his fellow citlzer grave. And when he returned lt;furlough after 20 months in tl northwestern island, his first a was to do his duty by a falk buddy as he saw it.
Newspaper Details
Lowell Sun
Lowell, Massachusetts, US
Thu, Jun 15, 1944
Page 75
Full Page
Clipped by
Pollard M.
MA, USA 31 May 2023
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