World War II, In Memoriam

In 1945, The Acton Beacon, which had started that year as a bi-weekly paper for service people,  memorialized eleven Acton men who died while serving their country:

Robert F. Britt
Francis John Conroy
Peter J. Duggan
Theodore H. Ehrhardt  (not an Acton native, but Principal at West Acton Elementary School)
David L. Jenks
Robert McAllaster
Ansel Rice Smart
Herbert E. Sprague
Robert B. Taylor
Robert Thatcher
Robert Townsend

John M. Nichols was recorded as missing in action

Those newspaper pages are reproduced below. 

See also: World War II Roll of Honor, as published in The Acton Beacon, and "World War II Roll of Honor" via the Acton Historical Society website.

 

In Memoriam, The Acton Beacon, May, 25, 1945.

Lieutenant Theodore H. Ehrhardt
Corporal Robert L. Townsend
Robert Thatcher, Machinists Mate, USN
Technical Sergeant Herbert E. Sprague

 

In Memoriam, The Acton Beacon, May, 25, 1945.

Technical Sergeant Robert McAllaster
Private David L. Jenks
Private Robert F. Britt
Staff Sergeant Peter J. Duggan

 

In Memoriam, The Acton Beacon, May 25, 1945
Peter J. Duggan, continued.

 

In Memoriam, The Acton Beacon, July 17, 1945.

Staff Sergeant Robert B. Taylor

 

In Memoriam, The Acton Beacon, December 11, 1945.

Francis John Conroy, USN
Corporal Ansel Rice Smart, USAAF

 

Ansel Rice Smart, The Acton Beacon, Dec. 11, 1945, continued.

 

John M. Nichols, Aviation Machinist's Mate First Class, USNR

John Nichols was reported missing in action in the June 26, 1945 issue of The Acton Beacon. 
John Marshall Nichols, born April 19, 1921 in Acton, was the son of Orla E. and Mary O. (Briggs) Nichols* and the husband of Mrs. Vieno Elizabeth Nichols.**
His name is recorded on the Missing in Action or Buried at Sea Tablets of the Missing at Manila American Cemetery Manila, Philippines. Death date 16 Jan. 1946. Service number 6061296. Awards: Distinguished Flying Cross, Air Medal with 2 Gold Stars, Purple Heart.***

* 1921 Town of Acton Annual Report, p. 40.
** State Summary of War Casualties from World War II for Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard Personnel from Massachusetts, 1946, in Fold3 (database).
*** American Battle Monuments Commission, in Fold3 (database).