Barrington honors its veterans

Special tribute offered for five veterans of World War I

Posted 11/13/18

Solemn and celebratory — that was how Lt. Col. Paul Dulchinos (U.S. Army Retired) described this year's Veterans' Day ceremony in Barrington. 

"Solemn because we remember those …

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Barrington honors its veterans

Special tribute offered for five veterans of World War I

Posted

Solemn and celebratory — that was how Lt. Col. Paul Dulchinos (U.S. Army Retired) described this year's Veterans' Day ceremony in Barrington. 

"Solemn because we remember those veterans no longer with us but also celebratory as we are gathered here to honor of their memories," he said.

In front of a crowd approximately 60 people, keynote speaker Lt. Col. Dulchinos shared the stories of five service members from Barrington who gave their lives in the service of the United States during World War I. Mr. Dulchinos chose World War I as this Sunday, Nov. 11, marked the 100-year anniversary of the end of World War I. 

Mr. Dulchinos spoke about veterans Delfino Broni, Iver Johnson, Robert Hall, Robert Hawkes, and Jeramiah O’Neil, as well as Dwight T. Colley, who was a Barrington resident who served in both World War I and World War II and received the Distinguished Service Cross in both conflicts.

"…never before, have so few done so much for so many," said Lt. Col. Dulchinos. "We as fellow veterans must constantly advocate for them and keep the torch burning. We owe it to those whose voices have been silenced far too early. Their deaths will never be in vain until their memories are forgotten."

Lt. Col Dulchino's full speech:

As a fellow veteran and resident of Barrington, I am honored to have this opportunity to speak to you all in front of this beautiful memorial on this solemn and celebratory occasion – Solemn because we remember those veterans no longer with us but also celebratory as we are gathered here to honor of their memories.  

Veterans Day traces its roots to Armistice Day which marked the official end the First World War and accordingly we observe Veterans’ Day on the date of the original signing of this Armistice:  on the eleventh hour on the eleventh day of the eleventh month.  Today is extra special as it commemorates the 100th anniversary of this event.  

So it is only appropriate that the corner stone of our veterans’ memorial contains a plaque with the names of those patriots that answered our nation’s call during the War to End all Wars.  Upon the United States’ entry into WWI, these 156 individuals represented around 4% of the town’s total population.  

Ultimately five of these service members identified on this plaque made the supreme sacrifice giving their lives in the service of our country.  

As today commemorates the centennial of the end of WWI, my speech today will focus on the remembering the lives and sacrifices of the following sons and adopted sons of Barrington:  Delfino Broni, Iver Johnson, Robert Hall, Robert Hawkes, Jeramiah O’Neil, and Dwight T. Colley.  Most of them were just ordinary men with ordinary lives; however, they all sacrificed for our freedoms and served with honor and distinction.  We will remember them today to keep their memories and spirits alive.  To quote British author George Eliot, “Our dead are never dead to us, until we have forgotten them”.

First, I would like to talk about Delfino Broni.  He was born on July 2, 1893 in Rome, Italy and as a young single man in search of a better life, he immigrated to the United States through Ellis Island in May 1910.  He was sponsored by his Uncle Luigi Gasparro, and took up residence on Maple Ave.  According to his draft registration card dated June 1918, he worked as a Brick Cutter for the Barrington Steam Brick Company.  Although my research could not find which unit he served with or the causes of his death, I was able to discern a possible motive for his service – “citizenship”.  While at Fort Meade, Maryland awaiting deployment overseas, he like so many other legal aliens, applied for expedited naturalization based on military service.  According to military records he received his US Citizenship on November 1, 1918, just ten days prior to the end of hostilities; however, based on his name being enshrined on our plaque, it would appear that he never fully enjoyed the fruits of his newly attained nationality.  

The next name on our plaque is Iver Waldemar Johnson.  He was a first generation Swedish American born on February 12, 1897 in Pontiac, RI (A Village of Warwick).  He later moved with his family to Barrington and entered the service from his parents’ residence at 18 County Road.  Prior to enlisting in the US Navy on May 28, 1918, he had been employed by the Warren Manufacturing Company (Now the former American Tourister Mill).  While stationed in Newport, RI, Seaman 2nd Class Johnson came down with influenza and succumbed to the disease on September 16, 1918 at the Chelsea Naval Hospital.  The Flu Pandemic would eventually claim the lives of over 45,000 service members or nearly 40% of all WW1 fatalities.  His body was returned to his family and is currently interned in the South Burial Grounds in Warren.  

Next, I would like to honor the memory of Robert Hall.  He was born in Tyrone County in Northern Ireland on September 9, 1894.  He immigrated through Ellis Island in 1911 and found his way to Clarke Rd in Barrington, RI to work as a gardener for Mr. W. E. Colley.   Despite having registered for the US Draft in June 1917, Robert Hall was obliged to serve in the military of his country of origin, the United Kingdom.  He would travel to Toronto, Canada and enlist in the Canadian Expeditionary Force’s Machine Gun Corps in September 1917.  Private Hall was killed in action on 4 February 1918 and his body was returned and interned in Saint John’s Norway Cemetery in Toronto, Ontario.  He would never see Barrington or his family in Five Mile Town, Northern Ireland again.  

Robert Hawkes’s tale is somewhat similar to that of his fellow countryman, Robert Hall.  He was also born in Tyrone County, Northern Ireland on October 22, 1890.  He immigrated to the United States in 1909 and also set up shop as gardener, working for Frederick Ballou at his Residence located on Nayatt Road in Barrignton.  While employed by Ballou, Hawkes resided with his brother-in-law, George Hamilton of Rumstick Road.   His British citizenship also led him to Canada, where he enlisted in the 116th Infantry Battalion, later reassigned to the 9th Infantry Brigade of the 3rd Canadian Division (CEF) in France.  During the first day of the 2nd Battle for Arras on 27 August 1918, Hawkes would lose his life in combat.  Private Robert Hawkes’ remains were interned in the Canadian War Cemetery in Vimy, France along with 11,000 other Canadian soldiers who lost their lives during the same campaign.  He left behind a new Bride Mary Hawkes in New Grafton, Nova Scotia, a sister Elizabeth Hawkes in Westerly, RI and the remainder of his family back in Tyrone, Northern Ireland.   

The last individual listed on our plaque to pay the ultimate price in the service of his nation was Jeremiah O’Neil.  He was born in County Cork, Ireland on February 22, 1888.  When he was just eight years old his family immigrated to the United States and eventually settled in West Barrington.  According to his draft registration card, he was employed by the O'Bannon Corporation Mill (once the nation’s largest manufacturer of imitation leather and now the Barrington Cove Apartments) and resided on Lake Ave in West Barrington.  He enlisted in the US Army and served with A Company of the 7th Battalion of the United States Guards.  The US Guards’ mission was to provide state side security of critical US Military Installations, like Fort Adams and the Watertown Arsenal.  On November 25, 1918, Private O’Neill was killed in the line of duty after sustaining skull and spinal fractures.  His body was turned over to his family and was interned at Mount Saint Mary’s Cemetery in Pawtucket, RI.  He left behind a son, Jeremiah O’Neill Jr.     

In addition, to honoring those that gave all, I would be remiss if I did not mention the honorable service of one of Barrington’s most decorated service members, Colonel Dwight T. Colley.  

He was born in Barrington on December 16, 1882 and was the son of Mr. W. E. Colley, the aforementioned employer of Pvt. Robert Hall.  He would serve in both WWI and WWII and received our nation’s second highest award for valor (after the Medal of Honor), the Distinguished Service Cross in both conflicts.  He was assigned to the 104th Infantry Regiment of the 26th “Yankee” Infantry Division in both WWI and WWII and finished his career as the unit’s Regimental Commander.  To give you an appreciation for the characterization of his WWI service, I will read you his first DSC citation. 

“The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross to Captain (Infantry) Dwight T. Colley, United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with 104th Infantry Regiment, 26th Division, A.E.F., near Bois d'Haumont, France, on 16 October 1918.  On October 16th, Captain Colley, then a second lieutenant, led his company to the enemy's trenches despite the failure of supporting tanks to advance.  After the order to withdraw had been given, he remained on the field, personally superintending the removal of every wounded man. He crawled along the ground for a long distance, under the close range fire of enemy machine guns, in order to make sure that no wounded men had been left behind.”

In closing, never before, have so few done so much for so many.  We as fellow veterans must constantly advocate for them and keep the torch burning.  We owe it to those whose voices have been silenced far too early.   Their deaths will never be in vain until their memories are forgotten.

Thank You and God Bless our Service Members, our Veterans, & America

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A lifelong Portsmouth resident, Jim graduated from Portsmouth High School in 1982 and earned a journalism degree from the University of Rhode Island in 1986. He's worked two different stints at East Bay Newspapers, for a total of 18 years with the company so far. When not running all over town bringing you the news from Portsmouth, Jim listens to lots and lots and lots of music, watches obscure silent films from the '20s and usually has three books going at once. He also loves to cook crazy New Orleans dishes for his wife of 25 years, Michelle, and their two sons, Jake and Max.