Happy #VeteransDay
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AVANGRID is home to hundreds who served in the Armed Forces or are Reservists. In year’s past, we’ve told their stories. This year, AVANGRID asked employees to honor a loved one who has served. Please take the time to read some of the amazing stories we received – that stretch from World War I to current day. Happy Veterans Day!
JOSEPH NOCE
On Veteran’s Day, I (Kathleen) would like to honor my father, Joseph Noce. He was a Private First Class and fought in the battles of the Invasion of Normandy, Northern France, the Rhineland, Battle of the Bulge and Central Europe during World War II. He was awarded the Purple Heart in April 1945 after getting wounded while guarding the Elbe Bridge against floating mines the German’s were sending down the river. My father shot a mine floating by that was less than 5 feet from where he stood, it exploded and he was knocked down by the concussion. His actions saved the bridge that was vital to their mission. He was also awarded the Silver & Bronze Star. My father never liked to talk about his experiences in the military although on occasion he would share a story with my brother-in-law. During his life he graduated from college and then went to school part-time at night to get his Master’s Degree, all while working full time and taking care of our family. He was a very hard working man and I owe my work ethic to the great example he provided as I was growing up. Many thanks to him and all the others who have fought and continue to fight so we can lead the lives we do.#veteransday
JOHN L. MIRABILE
The photo dates from 1942 and shows my (Gerry) father, John Lawrence Mirabile, with his father Baldassare Mirabile and his mother Christina (Badalamenti) Mirabile. The photo was taken on a rooftop in Manhattan, where they lived. Baldassare emigrated from Sicily, Italy to the US in 1910. Christina emigrated from Naples, Italy to the US in 1913. They met, wed, and had my father, John, in 1920.
My father joined the US Navy shortly after Pearl Harbor and served as a Lieutenant during World War II. He participated in the Invasion of Sicily (his father’s homeland!) as well as other WW II Pacific campaigns. After the war ended, he returned to civilian life, attended Harvard Law School, met his future wife Mary Ryan at a dance in Cambridge, Massachusetts, had a long and successful career as an attorney in downstate New York, with my mom raised and educated 9 children, played the violin and mandolin expertly, had a strong faith in God, and loved his family.
Dad was a good man, and a renaissance man with great curiosity and many interests and talents. Dad often said that his time in the Navy was the best time of his life, and recounted that after WW II, everything else seemed pretty easy. Dad always had an American flag decal on the rear window of his cars.
Late in his life I took dad to a doctor’s appointment at a Veterans Administration hospital in Florida; he greeted each veteran we passed along the way, and told me as we entered the hospital that they all felt like brothers to him. Dad died on September 11, 2008, age 87
DUANE T. ROOD
My sister, Kristina Ray and I (Rosemarie) would like to honor our grandfather, Duane T Rood who served as a Staff Sergeant, Left Waist Gunner on the 467th Bomb Group during WWII. The 467th Bomb Group, or the “Rackheath Aggies” as they came to be known, flew B-24 Liberators on missions starting in April 1944. Its air crews became known for their accuracy and the Group had the best overall standing for accuracy within the Eighth Air Force. They bombed strategic targets in Germany and later, supported the ground invasion of the Continent by bombing enemy installations at Cherbourg in support of the Normandy landings and concentrations of enemy troops and supplies at Montreuil as Allied soldiers moved east across France.
Our grandfather’s plane, “Six Bits” was interned along with the Lt. E. F. Rudowski crew in neutral Sweden after Mission 60 to Genshagen, Berlin, on June 21, 1944. The Missing Air Crew Report (MACR 6234) dated 24th June states “A review of the crew interrogations on the Genshagen mission 21st June 1944, Indicates that A/C 52525-G with Lt. E.F. Rudowski and crew of eight men was last heard from over VHF radio, approximately 10:20 hours from 541ON-0925E indicating that his fuel tanks were punctured and he would try to make Sweden on the 200 to 300 gallons of gas remaining.” Richard Ford, the crew’s Engineer, wrote in the 2nd AD Journal in September 1977 “the ship made a belly landing at Malmo, Sweden, with no casualties”. The nine-man crew were subsequently interned.
Our grandfather spent five months in Sweden until he was released and flown back to the US where he was to visit his wife, newborn son and parents. He was then hospitalized in Kentucky for “nerves” which would be known as PTSD today. While he was being held in Sweden, our grandmother gave birth to their first child back in Michigan not knowing if our grandfather was going to make it back home. It is a miracle that the whole crew survived and were able to make it to a neutral country otherwise, Tina and I would not be here today. God bless all our veterans, thank you for your service.
On Veterans Day, I (Caroline) honor all veterans, but especially my dad, whom I miss dearly. He enlisted in the Army Air Corps during World War II as a Second Lieutenant and served as a B24 Liberator bomber pilot, flying missions over Germany and Austria. His plane was shot down over the Brenner Pass in December of 1944. My dad was held as a prisoner of war at the Luckenwalde prison camp (Stalag III-A) until May of 1945. He was promoted to the rank of First Lieutenant and decorated with the Purple Heart and Air Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster for his service in World War II. www.450thbg.com/real/crews/sleepytimegal.shtml
For Veteran’s Day my sister, Linda, and I (Sandy) would like to honor our brothers Scott and Sean Ball. Sean joined the US Air Force in 1994, and Scott joined in 1995. Over a period of 20 years Scott was a Tactical Air Control Party (TACP) member at numerous Army posts including Hawaii and Germany. During his career he deployed three times: his first to Afghanistan with Special Forces Teams from the 19th and 20th Groups; his second and third deployments were both to Iraq. In 2003 Scott was selected as a member of the Air Force Association Team of the Year (third from right). This was quite an accomplishment and warranted a visit to the Pentagon in Washington, D.C., to attend the ceremony and receive his award. After 22 years, Scott retired as a Chief Master Sergeant (CMSgt). He said it was the best job he ever had and was privileged to serve some of the best people he would ever know. Scott was able to transition his AF experience into the next chapter of his life and is now a defense contractor at Hancock Field in Syracuse, NY. As a Joint Terminal Attack Controller Team Lead, he helps train Air Force MQ-9 Reaper drone crews on various missions and specifically on Close Air Support (CAS).
Sean started as an Enlisted Terminal Attack Controller and was responsible for calling in CAS within close proximity to friendly forces. Although he was in the Air Force, he was stationed on Army bases including Fort Drum in NY and Fort Campbell in KY. During his career he had several deployments to Camp Doha in Kuwait. Sean served the US Air Force for 7 years and concluded his enlistment as a Senior Airman in 2001. We are very proud of the service both Sean and Scott have provided along with all other Veterans!
For Veteran’s Day 11/11/19, I (Patricia) would like to honor my big brother, SSG Robert Jayne. He has served in the Gulf War, Operation Iraqui Freedom, and Operation Enduring Freedom. He has also been deployed to areas such as Germany and GITMO which continue to take him away from his children. He loves this country with more passion and commitment than anyone I have ever known. He reminds me everyday how lucky we are to call this place home and how we have the bravest men and women protecting us at every moment.
Some of his achievements are:
- 1. Army Commendation Medal
- 2. Joint Service Achievement Medal
- 3. Army Achievement Medal
- Army Good Conduct Medal
- Army Reserve Component Achievement Medal (X2)
- National Defense Service Medal (X2)
- Global War On Terrorism Expeditionary Medal
- Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
- Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal
- Armed Forces Reserve Medal with Mobilization Device
- Non Commissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon
- NYS Humanitarian Service Medal (X2)
- NYS Defense of Liberty Medal
- NYS Medal for Merit
- Army Meritorious Unit Commendation
- Joint Meritorious Unit Award
He is now a recruiter for the Pennsylvania National Guard and lives in York, PA. I am very proud to call him my brother and am forever thankful for every American soldier
For Veterans Day, I (Nathan) would like to honor several members of my mother’s family. The photos are of my grandfather, grandmother, and great grandfather.
- My great grandfather (Gerald W. Durkee) served in France during World War I.
- My grandfather (Douglas W. Durkee) served during World War II and had just completed bombardier-navigator training for the Army Air Corp when peace was declared.
- My grandmother (Barbara R. Durkee) while not in the military served in World War II as part of the Army Air Force Aircraft Warning Service as a spotter in
