Citizens of Chicopee Remember World War II

Citizens of Chicopee Remember World War II. . , Top , This monument dedicated by the citizens of Chicopee in honor of all who served in the armed forces of the United States during World War Two. This emblem with the spread eagle was awarded to all honorably discharged service personnel. The small lapel pin was proudly worn by all veterans. It was and is still called "The Ruptured Duck" by all World War Two veterans., Pedestal around the globe , Let us keep forever living the freedom for which they served, Panel 1 , U.S. Army , PACIFIC THEATRE , Pearl Harbor Philippine Island Dec. 08-1941 , China-Burma-India Aleutian, Gilbert Marshall , Islands Leyte Okinawa Guadalcanal , Sailing to invade Japan 1945, EUROPEAN THEATRE , Algeria-French Morocco Nov. 08-1942 Tunisia , Sicily Naples-Foggia Italy Surrendered Sept. 08-1943 , Salerno Anzio Monte Cassino Rome Normandy , D-Day June 06-1044 Battle of the Bulge Paris , Rhineland Berlin Germany Surrendered May 08-1945 , End of world war two in Europe , Soldiers 8,267,958 Lost 234,874 109 from Chicopee. , Panel 2 , U.S. WOMEN'S ARMY , AUXILIARY CORPS , (WAAC) 05-1942 Became Women's Army Corps (WAC) , 07-01-1943 150,000 enlisted 8,000 served in Europe , 5,500 in the Pacific , Became part of Regular Army 10-20-1978 , U.S. ARMY , NURSE CORPS , 60,000+ served in every theatre of war , Landed in North Africa and Europe , 200+ lost their lives. , Panel 3 , U.S. MARINE CORPS , MAJOR EVENTS , Pearl Harbor Wake Island Bataan Corregidor , Guadalcanal Makin Raid New Georgia Choiseul Raid , Bougainville Tarawa Cape Gloucester Roi Namur , Eniwetok Talasea Emirau Saipan Guam Tinian , Peleliu Philippines Iwo Jima Okinawa , Occupied Japan 08-30-1945 and China 09-30-1945 , Served 475,604 Lost 24,511 8 from Chicopee. , Panel 4 , U.S. MARINE CORPS , WOMEN'S RESERVE , Established 06-30-1942 20,000 served , State Side and Hawaii , Demoblized 09-01-1946. , Panel 5 , U.S. NAVY , Patrol Atlantic Ocean Sept. 1939-May 1945 , Pearl Harbor Dec. 07-1941 Coral Sea , Aleutian Islands Midway Philippine Sea Leyte , Took part in every invasion in all theatres , of war. world war two ended when Japan signed surrender , papers aboard the U.S.S. Missouri Sept. 02 1945 , Sailors 3,380,817 served Lost 157 ships and 36,950 men , 45 from Chicopee , U.S. Merchant Marine lost 866 ships and 6,895 men , 2 from Chicopee. , Panel 6 , U.S. NAVY , WAVES , Pres. Franklin D. Roosevelt signed an order , on 07-30-1942 creating the Women Accepted , for Volunteer Service - WAVES - serving , at all naval stations in the USA and in Hawaii , more than 100,000 served, U.S. NAVY , NURSE CORPS , 14,000 served state side and the Pacific islands , Bataan Corregidor Iwo Jima Okinawa, . Panel 7 , U.S. COAST GUARD , Activated 11-01-1941 Became part of the Navy , Took part in every European and Pacific invasion - , Manned 351 Navy ships 288 Army vessels , 802 cutters , 231,000 served with 1918 casualties 2 from Chicopee , Returned to the Treasury Dept. 01-01-1946, . Panel 8 , U.S. COAST GUARD , WOMEN'S RESERVE CORPS (SPARS) , More than 10,000 served state side. , & in Alaska and Hawaii , Organized 11-23-1942 Demobilized 06-30-1946. , Panel 9 , UNITED STATES ARMY , AIR FORCE , Created June 20, 1941 by Gen. George C. Marshall , Divided into 16 numbered Air Forces , Stationed around the world , 5 continental USA 7 Pacific 4 Europe , Flew missions in every theatre of war , Dropped men, equipment and supplies in all invasions , B-29 dropped the "A" bombs Aug. 6-9, 1945 , on Hiroshima and Nagasaki ending World War II, . Panel 10 , WOMEN'S AIR FORCE , SERVICE PILOTS (WASPS) , Formed 08-1943 , Other women groups in Air Force , Women's Aux Ferrying Squadron (WAFS) , Formed 09-1942 , U.S.A.A.F AIRWAC'S 07-01-1943 , 1,074 women ferried new planes , & flew target planes , 38 lost their lives. . This historical marker was erected in 1995. It is in Chicopee in Hampden County Massachusetts