The Stories of Village Heroes

by Cindy Goldstein =

The Mamaroneck Observer continues to publish profiles of some of our Village heroes represented on the street banners.  Their stories are both interesting and inspiring.

Supervisor Robert L. Hultzen, American Red Cross

Before joining the American Red Cross in early 1942, Bob Hultzen worked for the New York State Welfare Department as an area supervisor, distributing surplus commodities for relief.  He joined the American Red Cross as a field director in early 1942 and, when he was killed, he had seventeen months of foreign duty: 4 months in North Africa, 2 months in Sicily and the rest of the time in Italy.  He served with the 8^th Army and received his promotion to regional supervisor while he was overseas.

In a letter to his wife, Irene O’Connor Hultzen, W. W. Jefferson, the director of Civilian War Relief, describes the way Hultzen died.  In late afternoon, on July 31, 1944, “information came to Bob’s headquarters that three soldiers were in a nearby field in a terribly wounded condition…. After examining the first solder and starting towards the second, he inadvertently stepped on a mine, and its explosion instantaneously took his life.”  A tribute to his character was also noted in the letter: “Bob was a friend to all the members of our staff.  He was kind, sympathetic, thoughtful and gave of himself freely in trying to do things that make life more pleasant for other people.”

At the time of his death, his four children, 2 boys and 2 girls, ranged in age from 1 to 8 years.  The family put a “Card of Thanks” in the local newspaper, thanking “their many friends and neighbors for their kind expressions of sympathy and condolence during their recent bereavement.”

Only a week before she was notified of Bob’s death, Irene had received a letter from him saying that he was ill and was going to ask for leave in September so he could be home for Christmas. The family lived at 1115 Knickerbocker Ave. in Mamaroneck, but their home was demolished in the mid-fifties to make way for I-95.  

Bob was buried in the Sicily-Rome American Cemetery in Nettuno, Italy.  Jefferson described the American Cemetery as “large, surrounded by trees on a hill not far from the sea.  It was indeed fitting that he should be laid to rest with the other American men, who in the discharge of their responsibility were buried in this place.”

John E. O’Brien Fireman 1^st class, U.S. Navy

John E. O’Brien graduated from Mamaroneck High School in 1941 and lettered in cross-country all three years he attended.  He was living at 122 Sunset Rd with his two sisters, Barbara and Kathleen, and his brother Robert when he joined the Navy in 1942.  His father, John E. O’Brien, Sr., was a World War I vet.  He owned a fireproof storage facility and was an agent for Mayflower Moving Co.

In July 1943, O’Brien’s ship, LST-342, was assigned to the Asiatic-Pacific theater and participated in the New Georgia-Rendova-Vangunu occupation.  On July 18, 1943, the LST-342 was struck by a torpedo fired from the Japanese submarine RO-106 off the Solomon Islands at 1:30 a.m.  The LST-342 was carrying a cargo of aviation fuel and ammunition and was bound for Rendova Harbor.  When its escort failed to appear, it departed Wernham Cove at 6:20 p.m. on July 17, alone, due to the urgent need for the shells. 

The explosion split the ship in two, with the stern sinking and immediately trapping the personnel inside, while the bow remained afloat.  It was eventually towed to Purvis Bay (Tokyo Bay) off Florida Island.  There, the bow was beached so that usable equipment could be salvaged.  The bow was then abandoned but can still be seen in Purvis Bay today.  It is a haunting sight.

At least 82 men went down with the ship, including the commanding officer of LST Group 14, Commander Paul S. Slawson, and the artist Lieutenant Commander McClelland Barclay.  Barclay was a well-known illustrator who, during the war, designed recruitment posters for the Navy and several types of camouflage patterns.

After the explosion, many of the crew were in the water and some managed to deploy life rafts from the bow section and float at sea until morning.  They tried to paddle towards Wickham Anchorage while attempting to signal friendly planes.  At 5 p.m., they were spotted by a PBY Catalina and, soon afterward, at 5:30 p.m., USS LCI(L)-62 arrived to rescue them.  They were then delivered to Wickham Anchorage, where they received medical treatment.  On July 20, 1943, at 7:43 p.m., the rescued crew, around 90 men, was returned to Guadalcanal.  Sadly, O’Brien was not one of those rescued.  He was declared missing in action and was officially listed as lost and buried at sea twelve months later.

He is remembered at the Manila American Cemetery at Fort Bonifacio, Manila, Philippines. He was awarded the Purple Heart.

PFC Vincent G. Piacente, U.S. Army

Pfc Vincent Piacente was one of four sons of Gregory and Elizabeth Piacente, who were Italian immigrants.  Vincent was born in Uniontown, Pennsylvania.  In addition to the four sons, including his twin brother, Joseph, the Piacentes also had four daughters.  When Vincent was five, the family moved to Mamaroneck, where he grew up and attended Mamaroneck schools. His brother, Anthony, said he remembers Vincent and his brother, Joseph, riding around in a 1938 Chevrolet with a rumble seat.

“They were always together,” he said. They just drove around, picked up girls, and went joyriding on the beach at Harbor Island.

As a member of the 47^th Regiment (known as the Raiders), 9^th Infantry Division, Piacente was a veteran of campaigns in Africa, Sicily, Italy, France and Germany.  During the summer of 1944, he was wounded during the Battle of the Hedgerows in France and was hospitalized in England for three months.  According to one member of his family, he had been offered the chance to go home because of his wound.  However, he chose to return to his unit and had only just returned to duty when he was killed in the Battle of Hürtgen Forest, Germany, on November 25, 1944, by German machine gun fire.  At the time of his death, his twin brother Joseph was in India, his brother Anthony was also overseas in Europe, and his brother William was stationed at Palm Springs, California with the Army Air Corps.  Both Joseph and Anthony found out about Vincent’s death by having their letters to Vincent returned unopened with DECEASED stamped upon them.

As a result of his outstanding service, Piacente was awarded two Purple Hearts and five campaign medals.  He was buried at Arlington Cemetery and was a member of St. Vito’s Church in Mamaroneck.

Editor’s Note: The Mamaroneck Observer gratefully acknowledges the assistance of Jan Northrup for this article.