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...working on this story for years
Monday, January 17, 2022- Story Behind the Story podcast is an audio version of Saturday’s column on World War II hero Joseph A. Bucci of Amsterdam. Monday Podcast "6 Minutes"
Schoharie Crossing
Nice picture, add about 5 inches of snow, so far, but think May
The Go Fund Me numbers changed last night...Thank You
Please help us reach our 2022 Historians Podcast fund drive goal of $6,000! So far we’ve raised $50. If we raise $500 this month we will be well on our way. For more information or to donate online click here, https://www.gofundme.com/f/the-historians-podcast-2022 Or send a check made out to Bob Cudmore to 125 Horstman Drive, Scotia, NY 12302. Keep history alive by donating to The Historians Podcast—where we are working on Episode 406.
#406-Laddie Sanford, a 1940 Northville fire and a newspaper contest from the early 1900s
Tomorrow, Tuesday, January 18, 2022- From the Archives of Focus on History in the Daily Gazette-Singer Tim Buckley’s Amsterdam roots
Focus on History
Daily Gazette and Amsterdam Recorded
Amsterdam man survived bloody battles on Guadalcanal
By Bob Cudmore
Joseph A. Bucci was an Amsterdam man who fought heroically with the U.S. Marines in World War II.
Bucci was the son of Charles and Mary Bucci who lived at 12 Lark Street in the East End. Charles Bucci was a veteran of World War I. Joseph Bucci’s brother Anthony served in the Army Air Corps in World War II.
Born in 1913, Joseph Bucci graduated from St. Mary’s Institute and earned a degree in journalism at Notre Dame in 1933. He worked for John Hancock insurance and later was in sales for the Curtiss Candy Company.
Just over a month after the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor, Bucci enlisted as a private in the Marines.
By October 1942 he was fighting the Japanese on Guadalcanal Island in the Pacific and found himself and six others pinned down by Japanese artillery fire in the Battle of Matanikau River. The small band had missed orders to move from their foxholes to another position.
Through one long night and the next day the seven endured an artillery barrage and attack. The seven Marines were credited with killing 175 to 200 Japanese soldiers. Then Bucci and his comrades came under American artillery fire in a Marine counter attack. Ultimately the seven Marines were reunited with their unit.
Intense fighting on Guadalcanal in the Solomon Islands lasted six months, from August 1942 to February 1943.
In November 1942 Bucci was wounded by three pieces of shrapnel. He contracted malaria and was shipped to a military hospital in San Diego, California.
It was there that he learned he was to receive the Purple Heart and Silver Star for his actions on Guadalcanal. He was promoted to Sergeant.
Bucci was home on leave in July 1943 when the Recorder printed an account of his actions on Guadalcanal written by Marine private Eddie Lyon, who had interviewed Bucci at the San Diego hospital. Bucci and his parents went to the Recorder offices to get their first look at the news story and to have their picture taken.
In December 1943, Bucci was still at home, assigned to the Scotia Naval Depot on Route 5, today an industrial park. He had applied for Officer Candidate School.
That month Knights of Columbus Council 209 in Amsterdam honored Bucci at a dinner at the then Amsterdam Hotel on East Main Street and presented him with a special ring.
“When I was in the South Pacific, I dreamed of getting home,” Bucci told the Knights of Columbus. “Just at the present I wish I were down there again.”
He also said, “It is my fond wish and hope that this international mess will soon be over and that all of us can come back to the good old American way of life. However, I expect to be shoving off again soon and in whatever part of the world I am I will have this ring with me, a reminder of your thoughtfulness and I will be thoughtful for you.”
Bucci went to Officer Candidates School and became a second lieutenant. He was promoted to captain in the Marine Corps reserve.
He attended Albany Law School after the war and in 1948 became head of the new Montgomery County Probation Department. He and Louanne Wilkes of Albany married in 1953 and moved to California where Bucci worked in the Ventura County Probation Department.
In their later years Bucci and his wife moved to Virginia to be near one of their two sons. Bucci died in 2010 at age 96 at Lovingston Health Care Center in Arrington, Virginia. Inurnment was at Arlington National Cemetery.
The Rome Historical Society will present “Airplane Tales,” a virtual program with Jim Coulthart set for this Wednesday January 19, 2022
Jim Coulthart, a local amateur military aviation historian and enthusiast will discuss his most recent research. Using stories of some military aircraft in Central New York and historic photographs from Rome Historical Society’s collection, “Airplane Tales” will explore a collection of WWII aircraft anecdotes, incidents, and accidents with ties to Central New York. The stories involve aircraft named “Getaway Gertie,” “Hot Stuff,” “Pistol Ball,” “Genevieve,” “Old Hellcat” and a few others.
This program will begin at 5:30 pm and will be held via Zoom. Registration is required-call (315) 336-5870 or visit the Rome Historical Society website https://romehistoricalsociety.org/
Mohawk Valley Weather, Monday, January 17, 2022
...WINTER STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 10 PM EST THIS
EVENING...
* WHAT...Moderate to heavy snow this morning will mix with sleet
and freezing rain. Additional snow accumulations of 2 to 6
inches with the highest amounts along the east facing slopes of
the eastern Catskills, Helderbergs, Berkshires and southern
Adirondacks. Ice accumulations of a light glaze. Winds gusting
as high as 50 mph.
* WHERE...The eastern Catskills, Helderbergs, southern
Adirondacks, Fulton County, the Lake George Saratoga Region,
Southern Herkimer, Montgomery and Schoharie Counties in
eastern New York, northern Litchfield County in northwestern
Connecticut, and western Massachusetts.
* WHEN...Until 10 PM EST Monday.
* IMPACTS...Travel could be very difficult to impossible. Gusty
winds could bring down tree branches and isolated trees.
* ADDITIONAL DETAILS...Snowfall rates of 1 to 2 inches per hour
are possible at times this morning before changing to a wintry
mix. The southern Adirondacks will likely remain all snow.
Strong winds may result in isolated power outages.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If you must travel, keep an extra flashlight, food, and water in
your vehicle in case of an emergency.
Mohawk Valley News Headlines, Monday, January 17, 2022
Daily Gazette
Photographer:Stan Hudy
Johnstown Police find decomposing bodies, cremated remains at funeral home
JOHNSTOWN — City police said they discovered human remains at an unregistered North Williams Street funeral whose funeral director was…
by Jason Subik
Saratoga Race Course’s ‘Wilson Chute’ will be used for one-mile races this summer
SARATOGA SPRINGS – The historic “Wilson Chute” at Saratoga Race Course will be reconstructed and in use this summer for…
https://dailygazette.com/
Amsterdam Recorder
Winter Storm Warning for Montgomery, Fulton counties Sunday-Monday; 6 to 14 inches possible
ALBANY – A Winter Storm Warning is set to take effect Sunday night and continue through the...
https://www.recordernews.com/
Leader Herald
Traditional contest showcases evolving views
by Jason Subik
https://www.leaderherald.com/
View all episodes
By Bob Cudmore...working on this story for years
Monday, January 17, 2022- Story Behind the Story podcast is an audio version of Saturday’s column on World War II hero Joseph A. Bucci of Amsterdam. Monday Podcast "6 Minutes"
Schoharie Crossing
Nice picture, add about 5 inches of snow, so far, but think May
The Go Fund Me numbers changed last night...Thank You
Please help us reach our 2022 Historians Podcast fund drive goal of $6,000! So far we’ve raised $50. If we raise $500 this month we will be well on our way. For more information or to donate online click here, https://www.gofundme.com/f/the-historians-podcast-2022 Or send a check made out to Bob Cudmore to 125 Horstman Drive, Scotia, NY 12302. Keep history alive by donating to The Historians Podcast—where we are working on Episode 406.
#406-Laddie Sanford, a 1940 Northville fire and a newspaper contest from the early 1900s
Tomorrow, Tuesday, January 18, 2022- From the Archives of Focus on History in the Daily Gazette-Singer Tim Buckley’s Amsterdam roots
Focus on History
Daily Gazette and Amsterdam Recorded
Amsterdam man survived bloody battles on Guadalcanal
By Bob Cudmore
Joseph A. Bucci was an Amsterdam man who fought heroically with the U.S. Marines in World War II.
Bucci was the son of Charles and Mary Bucci who lived at 12 Lark Street in the East End. Charles Bucci was a veteran of World War I. Joseph Bucci’s brother Anthony served in the Army Air Corps in World War II.
Born in 1913, Joseph Bucci graduated from St. Mary’s Institute and earned a degree in journalism at Notre Dame in 1933. He worked for John Hancock insurance and later was in sales for the Curtiss Candy Company.
Just over a month after the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor, Bucci enlisted as a private in the Marines.
By October 1942 he was fighting the Japanese on Guadalcanal Island in the Pacific and found himself and six others pinned down by Japanese artillery fire in the Battle of Matanikau River. The small band had missed orders to move from their foxholes to another position.
Through one long night and the next day the seven endured an artillery barrage and attack. The seven Marines were credited with killing 175 to 200 Japanese soldiers. Then Bucci and his comrades came under American artillery fire in a Marine counter attack. Ultimately the seven Marines were reunited with their unit.
Intense fighting on Guadalcanal in the Solomon Islands lasted six months, from August 1942 to February 1943.
In November 1942 Bucci was wounded by three pieces of shrapnel. He contracted malaria and was shipped to a military hospital in San Diego, California.
It was there that he learned he was to receive the Purple Heart and Silver Star for his actions on Guadalcanal. He was promoted to Sergeant.
Bucci was home on leave in July 1943 when the Recorder printed an account of his actions on Guadalcanal written by Marine private Eddie Lyon, who had interviewed Bucci at the San Diego hospital. Bucci and his parents went to the Recorder offices to get their first look at the news story and to have their picture taken.
In December 1943, Bucci was still at home, assigned to the Scotia Naval Depot on Route 5, today an industrial park. He had applied for Officer Candidate School.
That month Knights of Columbus Council 209 in Amsterdam honored Bucci at a dinner at the then Amsterdam Hotel on East Main Street and presented him with a special ring.
“When I was in the South Pacific, I dreamed of getting home,” Bucci told the Knights of Columbus. “Just at the present I wish I were down there again.”
He also said, “It is my fond wish and hope that this international mess will soon be over and that all of us can come back to the good old American way of life. However, I expect to be shoving off again soon and in whatever part of the world I am I will have this ring with me, a reminder of your thoughtfulness and I will be thoughtful for you.”
Bucci went to Officer Candidates School and became a second lieutenant. He was promoted to captain in the Marine Corps reserve.
He attended Albany Law School after the war and in 1948 became head of the new Montgomery County Probation Department. He and Louanne Wilkes of Albany married in 1953 and moved to California where Bucci worked in the Ventura County Probation Department.
In their later years Bucci and his wife moved to Virginia to be near one of their two sons. Bucci died in 2010 at age 96 at Lovingston Health Care Center in Arrington, Virginia. Inurnment was at Arlington National Cemetery.
The Rome Historical Society will present “Airplane Tales,” a virtual program with Jim Coulthart set for this Wednesday January 19, 2022
Jim Coulthart, a local amateur military aviation historian and enthusiast will discuss his most recent research. Using stories of some military aircraft in Central New York and historic photographs from Rome Historical Society’s collection, “Airplane Tales” will explore a collection of WWII aircraft anecdotes, incidents, and accidents with ties to Central New York. The stories involve aircraft named “Getaway Gertie,” “Hot Stuff,” “Pistol Ball,” “Genevieve,” “Old Hellcat” and a few others.
This program will begin at 5:30 pm and will be held via Zoom. Registration is required-call (315) 336-5870 or visit the Rome Historical Society website https://romehistoricalsociety.org/
Mohawk Valley Weather, Monday, January 17, 2022
...WINTER STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 10 PM EST THIS
EVENING...
* WHAT...Moderate to heavy snow this morning will mix with sleet
and freezing rain. Additional snow accumulations of 2 to 6
inches with the highest amounts along the east facing slopes of
the eastern Catskills, Helderbergs, Berkshires and southern
Adirondacks. Ice accumulations of a light glaze. Winds gusting
as high as 50 mph.
* WHERE...The eastern Catskills, Helderbergs, southern
Adirondacks, Fulton County, the Lake George Saratoga Region,
Southern Herkimer, Montgomery and Schoharie Counties in
eastern New York, northern Litchfield County in northwestern
Connecticut, and western Massachusetts.
* WHEN...Until 10 PM EST Monday.
* IMPACTS...Travel could be very difficult to impossible. Gusty
winds could bring down tree branches and isolated trees.
* ADDITIONAL DETAILS...Snowfall rates of 1 to 2 inches per hour
are possible at times this morning before changing to a wintry
mix. The southern Adirondacks will likely remain all snow.
Strong winds may result in isolated power outages.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If you must travel, keep an extra flashlight, food, and water in
your vehicle in case of an emergency.
Mohawk Valley News Headlines, Monday, January 17, 2022
Daily Gazette
Photographer:Stan Hudy
Johnstown Police find decomposing bodies, cremated remains at funeral home
JOHNSTOWN — City police said they discovered human remains at an unregistered North Williams Street funeral whose funeral director was…
by Jason Subik
Saratoga Race Course’s ‘Wilson Chute’ will be used for one-mile races this summer
SARATOGA SPRINGS – The historic “Wilson Chute” at Saratoga Race Course will be reconstructed and in use this summer for…
https://dailygazette.com/
Amsterdam Recorder
Winter Storm Warning for Montgomery, Fulton counties Sunday-Monday; 6 to 14 inches possible
ALBANY – A Winter Storm Warning is set to take effect Sunday night and continue through the...
https://www.recordernews.com/
Leader Herald
Traditional contest showcases evolving views
by Jason Subik
https://www.leaderherald.com/