VINCENT A. GALFRE KILLED IN ACTION IN FRANCE

.............(This article was published in the Middleboro Gazette
.......................REMEMBER THE FALLEN

..............In June of 1942, Middleboro served as District 101 of the Selective Service, which drafted names of individuals, who were to be called into the military service. The Friday, June 12, 1942 edition of the Gazette reported that one of the largest quotas of Middleboro area men were to be inducted on Monday, June 15, 1042.

......There were 48 men called for that draft, according to the newspaper. Among the men was Vincent A. Galfre, 37, a native of Middleboro, who was employed at the state’s Lakeville sanatorium. He was living on Precinct Street in Lakeville at the time of his induction.

......Vincent, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Bartholomew Galfre of Centre Street, Middleboro, was born on July 4, 1906. He was married to Eleanor E. Dill on May 28, 1938, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Ralph U. Dill of Precinct Street, Lakeville, with whom the couple were living prior to Vincent entering the United States Army.

......While Vincent was overseas, he and Eleanor became parents to a daughter born on February 1, 1943. He never got to see his baby.

......Private First Class Galfre participated in the landing at Casablanca, following the invasion of North Africa in February 1943. He was involved in the fighting in North Africa and later in the invasions Sicily, Italy and Southern France.

......He was serving with the First Battalion Headquarters Company of the 7th Infantry, which was part of General Patch’s Third Division 7th Army, when he lost his life.
Mrs. Galfre learned of his death through a military telegram on Saturday, October 21, 1944, which was sent by Adjutant General J. A. Julio of Washington. The General advised her that PFC Vincent A. Galfre, 37, had been killed in action on September 29th in France.

......Survivors included his wife and daughter and his parents; one brother, Dante of 12 Everett Street; and, four sisters, Mrs. Roger W. Shurtleff, Center Street; Mrs. Basil W. Bartlett of Cherry Street; Mrs. Howard C. Gardner of Cross Street, all of Middleboro, and, Mrs. Ilario Gola of Lakeville.

......On Sunday, November 5, a memorial service was held at the Central Methodist Church for PFC Galfre with the Reverend William H. Bath officiating. Vincent’s body was returned to Middleboro and was interned in Central Cemetery.

......He is remembered in Middleboro by is engraved name in the WW2 section of the Central Casualty stone in Middleboro’s Veterans Memorial Park. Also, a bridge on Miller Street over Route 495, which was dedicated in his name by a special act, Chapter325 of the State Legislature, and approved by Governor John A. Volpe on April 9, 1962.

......A committee comprised of Post 2188 VFW officials, Lucien Grenier and Melvin Thomas and Harold Tower and John Rockwell of Post 64 American Legion were involved in the naming process.
.........(Posted by Bob Lessard Post 64 Historian