Person Page - 1352

SOUSA -- Gailey, in Somerville, Oct 11, Carmen F. (Nobriga), beloved wife of Joseph and devoted mother of Harold L. Gailey, William S., Robert M. and Mrs. Carmen S. Adams.

Funeral from the A. Struzziero and Sons Funeral Home, 493 Somerville av., Friday, Oct. 14 at 8 a.m. High Mass of Requiem in St. Anthony's Church at 9 a.m. Relatives and friends respectfully invited to attend. Visiting hours Wednesday 7-10, Thursday 2-4 and 7-10.⁵

MANSFIELD, David F. Jr. 78, of West Bridgewater, formerly of Hanson, died January 26th at his home after a brief period of failing health. He was the husband of the late Nancy (Smith) Mansfield.

Born December 7, 1931, in Melrose, he was a son of the late David and Mary (Bezanson) Mansfield of Brockton. Following graduation from Brockton High School, Dave served as a medic in Detroit and Texas during the Korean War. He was a skilled craftsman and businessman, former owner and president of Imperia Kitchen Cabinet Corporation of Hanson and Taunton. Dave also served on several boards of directors including East Bridgewater Savings Bank. A skilled pianist, he frequently treated family and friends to many enjoyable evenings filled with his tunes. Upon retirement, Dave took pride in taking meticulous care of his home and property.

Dave is survived by his sons, Gary Mansfield of Milford, Connecticut, Scott Mansfield of Marathon, Florida, his daughter Kimberly (Mansfield) Carney of Duxbury; his grandchildren Avery and Sydney Mansfield of Connecticut, Samantha Carney of Duxbury; his sisters Mary Dilgard of Middleboro, Rita Donovan of Whitman, Patricia Mansfield of Hanson, and Anne Flynn of Marshfield, and the late Margaret Straffin of Brockton; his life long friend and brother-in-law Vernon Straffin of Brockton, and also a close neighbor and friend Dottie English of West Bridgewater. Many nieces & nephews also survive Dave.

A Memorial Mass will be celebrated at 9 a.m. Saturday in St. Ann's Church, West Bridgewater. Visiting hours will be omitted. Following donation of his body to the U. Mass Anatomical Gifts Program, Dave's ashes will be buried in the Massachusetts National Cemetery in Bourne. The family wishes to thank the health care workers from the Brockton Hospital, Home Instead, & especially Old Colony Hospice.²

LUBEC - On May 15th, 2020, James Henry Bezanson Jr., 95 of Lubec Maine, beloved husband of Lois J. Bezanson passed away peacefully into the presence of our Lord Jesus at Togus Veterans Hospital, Augusta Maine.

James H. Bezanson Jr. was born March 16th, 1925 in Melrose Massachusetts, the son of James H. and Mary(O'Conner) Bezanson. On February 15, 1943, James was drafted into the United States Navy. Jim was listed in the muster of the USS Intrepid. The Intrepid provided cover for the invasion of Okinawa. The USS Curtiss twice, and later in the war on the USS Yorktown (CV-10).

Jim was aboard the USS Yorktown (CV-10) as a dive bomber on an SB-2C, assigned to the bombing of Tokyo preparing for the invasion of Japan. After the Tokyo mission in July and refueling, the Yorktown waited in the waters off Honshu, August 16-23 1945 while surrender terms were negotiated.

Once hostilities ended, the Yorktown planes flew food-drops into the POW camps in which American and allied troops faced starvation.

After the war, James moved to Eastport Maine. where he married Norma Lewis. He managed one of the last sardine factories operating in Eastport. After leaving the sardine factory, Jim joined the US Customs and Immigration Service which took him to Aroostook County and then to Lubec where he retired as Port Director with Customs and Immigration Service in 1990.

Jim's intellectual capacity harbored many interests and talents. An extensive reader, he loved to study and research. He participated and joined many organizations in both Eastport and Lubec. He was president of the Eastport Rotary Club, active in the VFW, Knights of Columbus, Historical Societies, Lubec Medical Center BOD, and numerous community-sponsored events. Jim was artistically talented, known for his great singing voice, quick wit, creativity, and humor. Jim's life, manner, and contributions made many friends and acquaintances over the years, which he enjoyed.

Jim's interest in music brought him to meet Lois March, a well-known music teacher in Lubec and they married in 1995, sharing a wonderful life together.

Surviving is his wife, Lois Bezanson of Lubec, Joseph, and Donna Lewis, Eastport ME; Sarah Kastagir, Seal Beach, CA; David and Mary Heffley, Denver PA; Linda Till, Jamestown, NC; and Thomas Heffley, Lebanon, PA; 11 step-grandchildren, 24 great-step grandchildren.

A Celebration of Life will be held at the Lubec Congregational Church, Lubec Maine on August 22, 2020, at 2 pm for family and invited friends. Donations in memory of Jim can be made to Community Health & Counseling, or any charity of your choice

The family wants to thank the doctors, nurses, healthcare personnel, Jolene Shults, Craig McCaslin, and all the supporting friends he was blessed with.

A Brief Look at the WW11 Service History of James H. Bezanson of Lubec, Maine

March 16, 1925 Melrose Massachusetts. - May 15,2020 Togus V.A. Med. Center, Maine.

On February 15, 1942. soon after our nation became involved in WWII, James H. Bezanson Jr. was drafted into the United States Navy. At that time, the young 18-year old was living in Melrose, Massachusetts, and employed by New England Manufacturing Company.

Jim was listed in the muster of the USS Intrepid, USS Curtiss twice, and later in the war on the USS Yorktown (CV-10). While on these vessels he was a member of the famed 88th Bomber Squadron. The 88th received distinguished battle stars for its major role in bringing the war to a positive conclusion.

The USS Curtiss (AV-4) was a seaplane tender and part of the battle group including the USS Intrepid. The Curtiss received seven battle stars for its wartime role. Although hit and damaged by Japanese airplanes in the infamous sneak attack while in Pearl Harbor. It was expeditiously repaired and entered the offensive in the Far East.

In May 1945 Jim was aboard the USS Curtiss in waters off Okinawa when a kamikaze plunged into the vessel killing 35 crew members and wounding 21 others. At the time of the kamikaze attack, there was a crew of 1035 enlisted men and approximately 100 officers.

Prior to Jim's assignment to the tender ship (USS Curtiss), he was serving aboard the Aircraft Carrier USS Intrepid. The Intrepid was an Essex class aircraft carrier known as The Fighting "1". Jim's name was found on the Intrepid muster on February 20, 1945, after repairs to the ship were completed, damaged from an earlier attack.

Jim was aboard when a bomber from the Intrepid deck hit and eliminated the famed Japanese warship Kuro. Later, planes from the Intrepid provided cover for the invasion of Okinawa. Then the unthinkable happened. On April 16 of the same year, multiple Kamikaze planes plunged into the deck killing 270 crew members and severely crippling the carrier.

Jim's final duty, according to the Department of the Navy records, now a seasoned veteran of two horrendous kamikaze attacks on the USS Intrepid and the USS Curtiss, was aboard the USS Yorktown (CV-10) as a dive bomber on an SB-2C, assigned to the bombing of Tokyo preparing for the invasion of Japan. After the Tokyo mission in July and refueling, the Yorktown waited in the waters off Honshu, August 16-23 1945 while surrender terms were negotiated.

Once hostilities ended, the Yorktown planes flew food-drops into the POW camps in which American and allied troops faced starvation.

James H. Bezanson returned to his home country and commenced a lifetime of public service and caring for others. Like many of our American heroes, Jim had a deep and abiding love of country. Jim was never known to talk much about the experiences of his time of service. His last watch ended May 15, 2020, in the hospice care at Togus V.A. Medical Center, Maine.¹