Jessica Carranza Pino| El Defensor Chieftain
Retired Air Force Veteran Marcia Ann Thornton displays information on PFC John Henry Foard, who served in the U.S. Army during World War II during her presentation in Magdalena.

Magdalena Public Library hosted a presentation by Marcia Ann Thornton, retired Air Force, on World War II veterans from Magdalena and surrounding areas on Saturday. With about 25 in attendance, Thornton shared a compilation of stories she has collected over the years of the brave young veterans.

Yvonne Magener, Magdalena Public Library director, said she was glad to see so many people attend.

“We need to know what Veterans Day means, it’s not just another great shopping day, it’s honoring people’s sacrifices and commitment to freedom.” Magener said.

One of the stories Thornton shared was from a relative of Walter Thayer Brunson Jr., who said that Brunson was in the South Pacific on his Navy ship. Thronton explained that when a Navy ship is leaving port or coming into port everyone is wearing their uniform and standing along the edge proudly. As Brunson’s ship was coming into port, he could see another ship coming in at the same time. According to the story, Brunson notices a man on the ship and says, “That guy is so bowlegged, I bet that is my friend Bill Nutter!” When his ship docked, he walked over to the other ship and there was Edward “Bill Nutter” Duffy Ned Fuller from Magdalena.

“They met halfway across the world, can you imagine? Now those are the stories that make it interesting.” Thornton said.

Thornton encouraged the audience to reach out and contact her if they had any other information or photos about local veterans that could be added to the books.

“I really want to put together a book about our veterans in Magdalena for each of the wars and for peace time,” Thornton said “and include as much information as possible because these are folks we owe our freedom to, even those who were in the military during our peace time they helped. I feel very strongly that I want to do this for our community and especially for our kids; for me this is a mission.”

Her presentation included 13 Magdalena veterans who gave their lives in World War II. Their names are on a plaque at the Magdalena Schools. They include:
Hoy Clyde Bonnett, Jr. First Lieutenant, Army Air Forces born in Magdalena, New Mexico (1918-1944)
Henry Dale Boone Private First Class, U.S. Army born in Missouri, moved to Luna, New Mexico (1923-1945)
Robert Edward Evans First Lieutenant, U.S. Army born in Texas, lived on a ranch in Catron County (1920-1944)
Edward Duffy “Ned” Fuller First Lieutenant, U.S. Army Air Forces born in Magdalena, New Mexico (1918-1943)
Manuel Lopez “Tony” Garcia Private, U.S. Army. Born in Magdalena, New Mexico (1917-1944).
Jerry Oscar Gonzales Captain, U. S. Army, born in Arizona moved to Magdalena New Mexico at an early age (1903-1942)
Otto Thomas Hill Private First Class, U.S. Army. Born in Monticello, New Mexico, moved to Magdalena at a young age (1912-1944)
Edward Eugene “Gene” Nutt Private First Class, U.S. Army. Born in Arkansas, attended Magdalena High School (1925-1945)
Frank J. Sanchez Corporal, U. S. Army. Born in Peralta, New Mexico (1919-1944)
Albert Daniel Smith Private First Class, U. S. Army. Born in Texas and moved to Magdalena for work (1909-1944)
Jose Enriques Turrieta Private, U. S. Army. Born is Los Padillas, New Mexico and moved to Magdalena to attend school (1923-1945)
Vicente Turrieta Private, U. S. Army. Born in Los Padillas, New Mexico (1920-1942)
Tedd Edwin Zavilla Second Lieutenant, U. S. Army. Born in Colorado and moved to Magdalena with his family (1922-1945)

Thornton shared stories about the World War II Veterans who made it home after the war, including:

Charlie Bernal Apache Private, U. S. Army of Field, New Mexico (1918-1973)
Jimmie Apache Private First Class, U.S. Marine Corps of Puertocito and Alamo (1922-1946)
Billy Apachito Private, U.S. Army of Alamo, New Mexico (1911-1945)
Daneah Apachito Private First Class, U. S. Army of Puertocito and Alamo (1921-1946)
Denny Yazzie Apachito, Private First Class, U.S. Army of Field and Alamo (1918-1999)
Joe Henry Baca, Seaman First Class, U.S. Navy of Magdalena (1925-1969)
Justiniano “Justin” Baca, Private First Class, U.S. Army of Magdalena (1925-2015)
William Oscar Bamburger, Corporal, U.S. Army Air Forces of Magdalena (1920-1998)
Emory Laurel “Si” Benjamin, Seaman Second Class, U.S. Navy of Magdalena (1911-1994)
Walter Thayer Brunson Jr., Chief Motor Machinist’s Mate, U.S. Navy of Magdalena (1914-1985)
Robert Joe Chamberlin, Technical Grade Four, U.S. Army, of Magdalena (1920-2000)
Euna Cuvillier Torres, Seaman First Class, U.S. Navy of Magdalena and Socorro (Born in 1923 and lives in Socorro)
Kenneth Lee Erwin, First Lieutenant, U.S. Marine Corps of Magdalena (1924-1971)
George Wesley “Pete” Evens III, First Lieutenant, U.S. Army of Catron County (1917-2006)
John Henry Foard, Private First Class, U.S. Army of Magdalena (1924-2012)
José Abran Garcia, Captain, U.S. Army Aire Forces of Magdalena (1919-2022)
Edwardo Gomez Jr., Seaman First Class, U.S. Navy of Magdalena (1924-2003)
Joe J. Gomez, Private First Class, U.S. Army of Magdalena (1918-1998)
Wilson Guerrero, Corporal, U.S. Army of Field (1919-2003)
Cecil Vernon “Punch” Harris, Corporal, U.S. Army Air Forces, of Magdalena (1917-1992)
James LeRoy Haslam, Lieutenant Junior Grade, U.S. Navy of Magdalena (1924-2004)
Ray Lee Henderson, Private First Class, U.S. Army of Magdalena and Socorro (1926-1987)
Fred Harry Innerbichler, Jr., Sergeant, U.S. Army of Magdalena (1919-2005)
Reese Langfor Johnston, Technician Grade Five U.S. Army Forces of Magdalena (1918-1992)
George Arthur Kalberg, Seaman First Class, U.S. Navy of Magdalena (1926-1985)
James Francis “Jim” Kelly Sergeant U.S. Army Air Forces of Magdalena and Water Canyon (1924-2010)
Thomas Edwin “Tom” Kelly Technician Grade Five U.S. Army of Magdalena and Water Canyon (1925-2019)
Frank Nelson “Powder” Knoblock Private First Class, U.S. Army of Magdalena (1923-1999)
Ernest Emanuel Landavazo Corporal, U.S. Army Air Forces of Magdalena (1922-2001)
Frank Holling Landavazo Corporal, U.S. Army of Magdalena (1913-1993)
Edward E. Lopez, Private First Class, U.S. Army of Magdalena (1911-1966)
José Monico Lopez, Technician Grade Five, U.S. Army of Magdalena, Field and Riley. (1919-1993)
Reynaldo Benselado Lopez, Private, U.S. Army of Magdalena (1925-2007)
Celso Minitrez, Radarman Third Class, U.S. Navy of Magdalena (1925-1997)
Pat Monte, Private First Class, U.S. Army of Alamo (1918-1999)
Bennie Adolfo Montoya, Technician Grade Four, U.S. Army of Magdalena (1921-2001)
Bernardo José “Bernie” Montoya, Staff Sergeant, U.S. Army of Magdalena (1918-2010)
Fidel Arthur Montoya, Sergeant, U.S. Army Air Forces of Magdalena (1923-1999)
José Trinidad Montoya, Technical Sergeant, U.S. Army of Magdalena (1922-1979)
William Luther “Bill” Nutter, Gunners Mate Third Class, U.S. Navy of Magdalena (1923-1990)
Frank Leonard “Lucky” Oliver, Sonarman Third Class, U.S. Navy of Magdalena and Alamogordo (1926-2012)
Antionio “Tony” Otero, Private First Class, U.S. Army of Magdalena (1925-1997)
Henry Lee Papa, Corporal, U.S. Army Air Forces of Magdalena (1921-1985)
Sero “Sedo” Papa, Corporal, U.S. Army Air Forces of Magdalena (1920-1978)
Rudolfo Hernandez “Rudy” Pina, Technical Sergeant, U.S. Marine Corps of Magdalena (1918-2012)
Ernest Trujillo Pino, Technician Grade Five, U.S. Army of Magdalena (1922-1967)
Eugene Emilio “Gene” Torres, Staff Sergeant, U.S. Army Air Forces of Magdalena (1921-1995)
Grover Claude Wallace, Jr., Seaman First Class, U.S. Navy of Magdalena (1926-2015)
To contact Marcia for questions or to share information please contact her at: [email protected]

 

Jessica Carranza Pino, Editor