Bernard Handel's Recollections of World War II
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Patriotism and Honor: Veterans of Dutchess County, New York Part II Dutchess County Historical Society 2019 Yearbook • Volume 98 Candace J. Lewis, Editor Dutchess County Historical Society The Dutchess County Historical Society is a not-for-profit educational organization that collects, preserves, and interprets the history of Dutchess County, New York, from the period of the arrival of the first Native Americans until the present day. Publications Committee: Candace J. Lewis, Ph.D., Editor David Dengel, Dennis Dengel, John Desmond, Roger Donway, Eileen Hayden, Bill Jeffway, Melodye Moore, and William P. Tatum III Ph.D. Designer: Marla Neville, Main Printing, Poughkeepsie, New York mymainprinter.com Printer: Elizabeth Lewis, Advertisers Printing Co., Saint Louis, MO [email protected] Dutchess County Historical Society Yearbook 2019 Volume 98 • Published annually since 1915 Copyright © by Dutchess County Historical Society ISSN: 0739-8565 ISBN: 978-0-944733-14-1 Cover: Top: Young men of Dutchess County recently transformed into sailors. On the steps of the Armory, Poughkeepsie, New York. 1917. Detail. All Photographs by Reuben P. Van Vlack. Collection of the Dutchess County Historical Society. Bottom: September 20, 1917, the second of six draft contingents in 1917 are escorted to the Poughkeepsie train station. In this instance, the largest of the six, Governor Whitman attends. Functioning as a means to gather coins and bills for a “smokes fund” for the soldiers, the first flag is carried by the local Elks Lodge (B.P.O.E), earning $271. The second flag is carried by employees of the Prudential Company, earning $46. Back Cover: African-American draftees walking with suitcases to “entrain” from Poughkeepsie station for service. Recruitment of persons of color was segregated. They no doubt wished to serve their country with honor and pride in anticipation of better days ahead. 1917. The Dutchess County Historical Society Yearbook does not assume responsibility for statements of fact or opinion made by the authors. Dutchess County Historical Society P.O. Box 88 Poughkeepsie, NY 12602 845-471-1630 email: [email protected] dchsny.org This issue of the Dutchesss County Historical Society’sT ITLE iii yearbook has been generously underwritten by the following: Anonymous L In loving memory of Mildred Strain (1908-1986), a devoted supporter of the Dutchess County Historical Society. iv DCHS YEARBOOK 2019 Anonymous N TITLE v Joan Smith N In loving memory of James R. Smith (1946-2016) vi DCHS YEARBOOK 2019 Shirley M. Handel L LTC Gilbert A. Krom X In memory of a beloved brother and fine soldier. TITLE vii David Dengel Dennis Dengel M We support our men and women in uniform. viii DCHS YEARBOOK 2019 Lou and Candace J. Lewis X TITLE ix F. Julius and Carla Gude X Eileen Mylod Hayden and Dr. Benjamin Hayden x DCHS YEARBOOK 2019 Poughkeepsie Public Library District is proud of its longtime association with the Dutchess County Historical Society. Together we offer our community a selection of exciting avenues into our fascinating past. TITLE xi ZIMMER BROTHERS JEWELERS SINCE 1893 B D ESIGN CENTE Design nspired B Yo visit us in Poughkeepsi and Rhinebe k LEWIS & Lou Lewis GREERP.C. J. Scott Greer .\l'T<>l{:'.LYS .YI I. .\\\ CORPORATE,Corporate, COMMERCIAL Commercial & BUSINESS LAW; ~ CONSTRUCTION LAW; MUNICIPAL LAW; REAL& PROBusinessPERTY Law;TAX LAW Dylan C. Harris Construction Law; Phil Giamportone MunicipalLOU LEWIS Law; J. SCOTT GREER RealVERONICA Property A. M TaxCMILLAN Law ~ JOAN QUINN PAUL E. DENBAUM 510 Haight Avenue, Suite 202 • Poughkeepsie, NY 12603 CongratulationsPhone: (845) to 454-1200the DCHS! • Fax (845) 454-3315 Visit our website at www.lewisgreer.com It’s been a historic 100 years! 510 Haight Avenue, Suite 202 Poughkeepsie, New York 12603 Phone: (845) 454-1200 Fax: (845) 454-3315 See our website at www.lewisgreer.com ******************************************** xii DCHS YEARBOOK 2019 Lights, Camera - Auction! BIDNOW! Online From Anywhere! You've got to bid it to win it. Powered by excellence, Proven by results. TITLE xiii www.babiarzreporting.com Raising the Bar ON LEGAL & BUSINESS REPORTING 845-471-2511 Poughkeepsie, NY 866-282-0671 White Plains, NY & Nyack, NY 845-565-1801 Newburgh, NY xiv DCHS YEARBOOK 2019 Lillian Loomis, Poughkeepsie Rooftops. N.d. Woodcut. Collection of Eileen Mylod Hayden. Although this print is not dated, we can place it in the decade of the 1930s, after the formation of the Barrett Art Association to which the artist belonged and the construction of the Mid-Hudson Bridge (1929-1930) shown in the image. The view may have represented a vantage point from the Former Amrita Club, including well known buildings such as the Orthodox Jewish Synagogue. On the other hand, the view may be partially imaginary. TITLE xv In Memoriam Julia Hotton Member of the Dutchess County Historical Society Board of Trustees We are sad to report the passing of Julia Hotton on August 5, 2019. She was a valued member of the Board of Trustees at the Dutchess County Historical Society for over six years and a member of the organization for many years before her service on the board. She wrote and published two articles for the DCHS Yearbook (in 2014 and 2017). Ms. Hotton was the former Assistant Director, responsible for education, at the Brooklyn Museum. She was retired from the New York Public Library Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture as curator and manager of its Art and Artifacts collection, and there she also directed educational and cultural programs in African American history. As an independent curator, Ms. Hotton organized a variety of art and historical exhibitions for the New York Historical Society, the Mariners Museum in Newport News Virginia, Syracuse University, and Manhattan East Gallery of Fine Arts. She is survived by her daughter Tanya. xvi DCHS YEARBOOK 2019 Table of Contents Letter from the Editor Candace J. Lewis .......................................................... xix Call for Articles: Yearbook 2020 .......................................................................... xxi 2019: The Year in Review by Bill Jeffway ..................................................... xxiii FORUM: Patriotism and Honor: Veterans of Dutchess County, New York, Part II Lieutenant Alvin H. Treadwell Lost and Found ............................................. 3 by Peter Bedrossian Dutchess County’s African-American Experience During the World War, 1917 to 1919…and beyond .................................................................... ...9 by Bill Jeffway and Melodye K. Moore Decoding the Past: George Wuest’s First World War Adventures ........19 by William P. Tatum III Immigrant Farmer in the OSS .........................................................................31 by Julian Strauss “Orchestrated Hell”: Edward R. Murrow’s December 1943 radio broadcast, Reporting on his RAF bomber flight over Nazi Germany .......................................................................................................43 by John Barry (commentary), Bernard Handel’s Recollections of World War II ......................................55 by Candace Lewis (ed.) The Fighting O’Connells:Twentieth Century American Soldiers .......63 by Candace Lewis ARTICLES: Miscellaneous Topics in Dutchess County History The Clarks of Nagaland .....................................................................................83 by Elizabeth C. Strauss DCHS Yearbooks Open Windows into “Invisible” Black Community ..........................................................................99 by Bill Jeffway Raise High the Roof Beam, Carpenter: Profile of a Consummate Volunteer ............................................................ 105 by John Desmond Locusts and Lincoln ........................................................................................ 123 by Margaret Duff Let Us Go For an Afternoon Walk Around Hopewell Junction ........ 133 by Charlotte Dodge (1913-2009) ADDENDA Contributors ......................................................................................................... 143 DCHS Trustees and Staff ................................................................................ 146 DCHS Vice Presidents ..................................................................................... 147 Municipal Historians and Historical Societies of Dutchess County ................................................................................................ 148 Dutchess County Bar Association Celebrates 100 Years ...................... 152 DCHS Donors ..................................................................................................... 158 Dutchess County Historical Society Membership .................................. 163 The Online Version of This Yearbook is Altered Slightly From the Print Version to Accommodate Navigation Letter from the Editor He was at the helm in the small hours of the morning. A pea-soup fog had engulfed the ship. He had been in conditions like this dozens of times before, because he had grown up on boats along the New England coast, but now Jack was a first lieutenant in the U.S. Navy, a strapping twenty- five year-old, 6 ft. 4 in.—a tall, a smart, even-tempered fellow. He was alone at the helm, alone managing the navigating, blind in the con- cealing weather with everyone asleep below decks, including the captain. And enemy Japanese could be expected to appear at any time. Not only was he concerned about the Japanese, but he did not want to collide with another