We acquired 8 boards containing named patches from West Chester & Chester County, Pennsylvania and its surrounding areas. They were originally collected and displayed by Himelright Dry Cleaners in West Chester during and after WWII. GIs or there family members could have their Military Uniforms dry cleaned for free in exchange for a patch which would be displayed in the main windows of the Himelright Dry Cleaning store.
We have been entrusted with this collection by its previous caretaker, Anthony Polito of West Chester, PA. We intend to research each service member and share their stories for future generations.
As we research the service members, we will link their names to their information.
We are adding to this section as we research each board, please be patient.
ROW 1:
1st. SGT. W.E. FITZGERALD CAMP GORDON GA. 10th Armored Division
T/SGT. DAWSON MORRISON FIELD FLA. Army Air Force
PVT. J.H.DECHMAN CAMP VAN DORN MISS. 99th Infantry Division
LT. JOHN H. ZELL CAMP MC COY WIS. 2nd Army
LT. B CAT FORT KNOX KY. 8th Army Air Force
T/SGT. J. HIMELRIGHT SOMEWHERE IN ENGLANG 8th Armored Division
ROW 2:
LT E.W. DICKS SOMEWHERE IN BRAZIL Army Service Forces
SGT.G.V. TERRY CAMP RICHIE MYD. 1st Corps
PVT. W.H. LINDSAY FORT CRD CAL. 4th Army
SGT. E TIGNOR DOUGLAS ARIZONA Army Air Force
PVT. W. PETERS FLUSHING LONG ISLAND AA Command Central
COL. J.M. REILLY WEST CHESTER, PA 3rd Service Command
ROW 3:
CPL. J.M. HERSHEY GUADAL CANAL U.S.M.C. 1st Marine Division
PVT. DAN FA CCIOLLI CAMP CLAYBORNE IA. 103rd Infantry Division
CPL. FRED SURRINER SOME WHERE IN ITLAY 1st Infantry Division
LT. JOHN T. GROFF CAMP FANNIN TEXAS IRTC Infantry Replacement Training Center
SGT. JOHN HIMELRIGHT LAKE CHARLES LA. Army Air Force
P.F.C. W.F. BARRY U.OF. PA. PHILA. PA. Specialized Training Program
ROW 4:
? Army Alaska Defense Command
PVT. W.S. POWELL CAMP SHELBY MISS. 69th Infantry Division
T/SGT. WM. SCUARTZ LANGLEY FIELD VA. Army Air Force
PVT. B.G. JONES SOME WHERE IN SICILY 11th Airborne Division
PVT. P.R. CROSBY CAMP PICKET VA. 77th Infantry Division
PVT. DAVID ? LEWIS FORT MEADE MD. IRTC Infantry Replacement Training Center
ROW 5:
? 11th Armored Division
P.F.C. DAK FACCIOLLI CAMP SHELBY MISS. 31st Infantry Division
PVT. L. FADDIS AMARILLO TEXAS Army Air Force
COL. P.R. DWYER UMNAK ALASKA 6th Infantry Division
? Army Service Forces
PVT. W.F. DEENEY FORT MONROE LA. 1st Army Artillery
ROW 1:
LT. W.J. TURKINGTON PRISONER OF WAR GERMANY Army Air Force
CPL. HARRY WOODS CAMP MAXEY TEXAS 3rd Army
P.F.C. J.M. WILLIAMSON CAMP MAXEY TEXAS 99th Infantry Division
CPL. SPUDS BRUNO CAMP SARASOTA FLA. 3rd Army Air Force
PVT. J.B.DUNNING PROVIDENCE R.I. Specialized Training Program
SGT. WM. H. KATES CAMP STEWART GA. Antiaircraft Command
ROW 2:
CPL. W. PRATT ABERDEEN MD. Army Service Forces
CPL. D. HEMPTON CAMP MAXEY TEXAS 8th Service Command
SGT. T.A. HERRON CAPE CHARLES VA. 3rd Coastal Artillery Dist.
PVT. FRANK BRUNO BOWMARE FIELD KY. Army Air Force
CPL. PAUL MCKRACKEN CAMP SWIFT TEXAS Tank Destroyer
CPL. A.J. CARACIALO FORT BENNING GA. 81st Infantry Division
ROW 3:
CPL. C.S. TOULSON CAMP CAMPEL KY. 14th Armored Division
PVT. JOHN REED CAMP VAN DORN MISS. 63rd Infantry Division
CPL. HARRY M WOODS FORT RILEY KAN. 1st Cavalry Division
SGT. THOMAS DAWSON NEW CALEDONIA China Burma India
CPL. LOUIS CLOSE CAMP CHAFFIE ARK. 6th Armored Division
ROW 4:
CPL. A.T. CARACIALO FORT BENNING GA. 26th Infantry Division
CPL. JAMES JOHN CAMP LIVINGSTON LA. Ground Forces
LT. ZIMMERMAN S.O.S. CHICAGO ILL. 5th Service Command
CPL. A.E. KUNSELMAN FORT ? VA. Antiaircraft Command
CAPT. PETE JOHNSON GREENVILLE S.C. 3rd Army Air Force
PVT. WM. BARRY U OF P. PHILA. PA. 3rd Service Command
ROW 5:
T/SGT. RICHARD HALEY CAMP HAAN CALIF. Antiaircraft Command
CAPT. R. PARK 3RD CAMP HOOD TEXAS Tank Destroyer
P.F.C. A.M. RALSTON FORT GEO, MEADE MD. Western AA Command
CAPT. G.E. MCDONALD WASHINGTON DC Army Service Forces
CAPT. H. SHANE MARSHALL TEXAS 4th Army Corps
CAPT. R.C. MC.? WRIGHT FIELD DAYTON Army Air Force
ROW 1:
LT. WENRICH FORT KNOX KY. 7th Armored Division
PVT. H. GREEN FORT MEADE MD. 3rd Service Command
LT. E.E. JOHNSON WEST CHESTER PA. Army Service Forces
CPL. A.J. CARACIALO FORT LEWIS WASHINGTON 44th Infantry Division
PVT. R. TAYLOR AIR BASE NEW MEXICO Army Air Force
PVT. L.M. SIMMLER NORTH CAMP POLK LA. 8th Armored Division
ROW 2:
LT. J.T. GROFF CAMP J.T. ROBINSON ARK. Ground Forces
LT. JOHN H. ZELL CAMP MCCOY WIS. 11th Army Corps
CPL. H.H. PIERCE CAMP BLANDLEY FLORIDA 99th Infantry Division
P.F.C. D. DALE CAMP DAVIS N.C. Antiaircraft Command
LT. W. WILLIAMS FORT WASHINGTON D.C. District of Washington
PVT. E. TERRY STATE COLLEGE N. MEXICO Specialized Training Program
ROW 3:
PVT. F.A. TAYLOR CAMP BUTNER N.C. 78th Infantry Division
P.F.C. H.G. HICKMAN CAMP PHILLIPS KAN. 94th Infantry Division
CAPT. G.D. WHITCRAFT CRARILLY POINT VA. Army Air Force
PVT. DAN FACCIOLLI CAMP CLAYBOURNE LA. 38th Infantry Division
SGT. W.A. WOODWARD CAMP FANNIN TEXAS Replacement & School Command
LT. E,J, GALLEN POSTAL SCHOOLW.C.PA. Army Service Forces
ROW 4:
P.F.C. H.M. NICHOLS FORT LEWIS WASH. Western AA Command
P.F.C. H.M. FE?? CAM SHELBY ISS. 69th Infantry Division
SGT. G.V. NESBITT FORT JACKSON S.C. 12th Army Corps
P.F.C. D. DALE CAMP DAVIS N.C. General HQ Reserve
S/SGT. R.C. BONE JR. NORHT CAMP HOOD TEXAS Tank Destroyer
SGT. P. FRANK CAMP PHILLIPS KAN. 80th Infantry Division
ROW 5:
P.F.C. D.W. SMITH CAMP GORDON GA. 10th Armored Division
COL. P.R. DWYER UMNAK ALASKA Alaska Defense
PVT. E.R. SMITH SOME WHERE IN SICILY 82nd Airborne
PVT. JOHN FINEGAN CHANUTE FIELD ILL. Air Force GHQ
LT. A.M. PETERSON MORRISON FIELD FLA. Army Air Force
PVT. G.W. HARE FORT KNOX KY. Armored School