Shrewsbury
Historical Society
Established 1898
Mario - Fats - Caruso
1928 - 1993
Mario - Fats - Caruso
1928 - 1993
Veterans' Squares
Town squares are named for individuals - veterans and volunteers - who have served our country and protected our freedom. In our town there are 31 squares, spanning six wars. Below we share the stories of four veterans followed by a complete list of the town squares, their locations and service details for each dedication.
Corporal Lloyd Evan Hill
Lloyd Evan Hill joined the United States Marine Corps in 1948 and by January 1951 was serving in Korea with the 1st Marines. He saw combat in Wonju, Korea in late February and later advanced to Chuncheon near the North Korean border by March 28th. On April 10th, while in combat, Lloyd was injured and taken to Ward E of the Medical Battalion with the 7th Marine Division. On July 10th, Lloyd was awarded his first Purple Heart.
April 13th marked the 43rd consecutive day his Division had served on the front line – setting a record at that point in the war. It was also on April 13th that Lloyd was promoted to Corporal. On April 17th, he was released to Division Casual Company.
After a brief recovery, Lloyd was transferred back to the 3rd Battalion and assigned to the 35th Rocket Squadron as an Ammo Carrier. His Division advanced to the region known as the Punch Bowl in Yanggu County, Gangwon Province.
Starting on August 18, a ground combat battle, known as the Battle of Bloody Ridge, began as an attempt by UN forces to seize a ridge of hills which they believed were being used as observation posts. On August 31st Lloyd’s unit was advancing along the eastern front, north of Inje County. They were facing relentless enemy attacks of gun and mortar fire. It was during this engagement that Corporal Lloyd Hill was mortally wounded.
His body was transferred to the United Nations Memorial Cemetery in Tanggok, Korea on September 5th, 1951, Plot WW, Row 4, Grave # 6368. Hill Square, located at the intersection of Walnut Street and Floral Street, is named in his honor. (1)
Staff Sergeant Charles J. Murphy Jr.
Charles Murphy enlisted with the United States Army and was assigned to the 101st Airborne Division, 2nd Battalion, 327th Infantry, Headquarters Company. (2) Initially stationed in Germany, he was promoted to Staff Sergeant. On December 31, 1965 he started his tour in Vietnam with the 1st Brigade, 101st Airborne Division. (3)
The 101st Airborne Division, known as the “Screaming Eagles”, is a light infantry group trained for air assault operations. From 1965 to 1967, the 1st Brigade operated independently as sort of a fire brigade and earned the reputation and title, "Nomads of Vietnam." They were joined by the rest of the division in late 1967.
The 101st Airborne Division was so feared by the North Vietnamese that enemy commanders are said to have warned their men to avoid engagement at all costs. (4)
On April 14, 1966, Charles died from gunshot wounds during combat in the Phuoc Tuy province of South Vietnam. The Charles J. Murphy Veterans of Foreign Wars Post #10278 at 11 Plainfield Avenue is named in recognition of his service and he is listed on the Vietnam Veteran's Memorial (Panel 06e, Line 113) in Washington DC. (5)
Sergeant First Class Raymond Stone
Raymond Stone registered for the draft on June 5, 1917 and enlisted on August 16, 1917 at Fort Slocum, New York. (6) On September 26, 1917 he was promoted to Sergeant First Class and was transferred with the 67th Aero Squadron in November to Kelly Field, San Antonio, Texas.
On February 14, 1918, Raymond moved to the 328th Aero Squadron and on July 22, 1918 to the 280th Aero Squadron. The Aero Squadrons were organized as aviation units of the US Army and consisted of combat flying, training, ground support, construction, and other components of the Air Service.
Raymond was trained in instructional flying, construction, aviation general supply and service. In November 1918, he was assigned to the Flying School Detachment at Rich Field, Waco, Texas. (7) Flight cadets earned their flying wings during the 6-week course at Rich Field, and were then sent to schools in England and France for advanced training in pursuit, observation and bomber aircraft.
One month later, while still in training at Rich Field, Raymond contracted the Spanish Influenza and died of lobar pneumonia and influenza on December 3, 1918. (9) The 1918-1919 flu pandemic killed approximately 675,000 Americans. Young healthy adults were the most vulnerable. (10) Raymond Avenue and the Ray Stone American Legion Post #238 at the corner of Main Street and School Street are named in his honor.
Lieutenant Colonel Walter John Paton
On August 8, 1945, the 12-year-old son of Lieutenant Colonel Walter J. Paton accepted a posthumous tribute to his father. He was awarded the Silver Star, “for gallantry in action in connection with military operations against the enemy on December 18-19, 1944 in Belgium. Paton was commanding a field artillery battalion, and displayed exceptional gallantry in successfully organizing and maintaining the defense of a vital highway for many hours after the unit he was to reinforce had withdrawn”. The actions of Lieutenant Colonel Paton, “allowing time for organizing the defense of Bastogne were of inestimable value. They reflected great credit on him and exemplify the finest traditions of the armed forces”. (11)
Lieutenant Colonel Walter J. Paton served in the 3rd Army under Lieutenant General George S. Patton as the commander of the 58th Field Artillery Armored Division. While serving in Sicily, he was wounded in September 1944 and returned to service in November 1944. In total, he had been in overseas service for 29 months during which time he was promoted to major and then lieutenant colonel on the battlefield. (12)
Walter J. Paton died in Prum, Germany on March 4, 1945, when his vehicle hit a mine. (13) A memorial square located next to Beal School, where he taught mathematics for 11 years, Paton Road and Walter J. Paton Elementary School are named in his honor.
Avery Square
World War II
US Army - Captain
Troop C
8th Calvary Regiment
Benedict Square
World War I
US Army - Private First Class
8th Replacement Group,
Medical Department Camp
Conlon Square
Duke Square
Fipphen Square
World War I
US Army - Private
Bakery Company 352,
Quartermaster Corps
World War II
US Army Air Force - Corporal
46 Bomb Squadron,
79 Bomb Group
World War II
US Army - Private First Class
Troop B, 88 Cavalry Reconnaissance,
8th Armored Division
Fyrbeck Square
Gage Square
Hapgood Square
Harrington Square
Hickey Square
World War II
US Army - Sergeant
Company A, Head Quarter
150th Engineer Combat Battalion
World War I
Volunteer
American Field Ambulance Service
1917 - 1919
World War I
US Army - Private First Class
Company A,
58th Massachusetts Infantry
Revolutionary War
Continental Army - Captain
6th Worcester County Regiment,
Massachusetts Militia
World War I
US Army - Private First Class
American Expeditionary Forces,
Ordnance Depot 4, Company 280
Hill Square
Johnson Square
Johnson Square
Kaiser Square
Korean War
US Marine Corps Reserve - Corporal
Company I, 3rd Battalion,
7th Marines, 1st Marine Division
World War II
US Army - Private First Class
Company C, 275th Infantry,
70th Division
World War II
US Army - Staff Sergeant
7th Squadron,
2nd Combat Cargo Group
World War II
US Army - Sergeant
29th Bomb Group,
52nd Bomb Squadron
Kramek Square
Maguire Square
Maguire Square
World War II
US Army - Technician 5th Grade
Company C,
865th Engineers Battalion Aviation
World War I
US Army - Private First Class
324th Supply Company
Quartermaster Corps
World War II
US Army - Private First Class
Company C, 44th Armored Infantry
Battalion, 6th Armored Division
Marston Square
McGarry Square
Moquin Square
Murphy Square
World War I
US Army - Sergeant
479th Aero Squadron
World War II
US Army - Tech Sergeant
Top Turret Gunner, 548th Bomber
Squadron, 385th Bomber Group
U.S. War in Afghanistan
US Army - Private First Class
A Troop, 3rd Squadron, 71st Cavalry
Regiment, 10th Mountain Division
Vietnam War
US Army - Staff Sergeant
101st Airborne Division,
2nd Battalion, 327th Infantry
O'Donnell Square
Paton Square
Quaranta Square
Salvatore Square
World War II
US Air Corps - 2nd Lieutenant
468th Bomb Squadron,
333rd Bomb Group
World War II
US Army - Lieutenant Colonel
58th Field Artillery
Armored Division
World War II
US Army - Staff Sergeant
Infantry, Armored,
Mechanized Units
World War II
US Marine Corps - Private First Class
Company B, 4th Division,
22nd Marines
Schouler Square
Sheehan Square
Stone Square
Stone Square
Vassar Square
World War I
US Army - Private First Class
328th Infantry
American Expeditionary Forces
World War II
US Army - Private First Class
Company M, 116th Infantry,
29th Division
World War I
US Army - Private First Class
Company I, 60th Infantry Regiment,
5th Division
World War I
US Army - Sergeant First Class
Aviation Branch,
280th Aero Squadron
World War II
US Army - Private First Class
85th Infantry Regiment,
10th Mountain Division
Wysocki Square
World War II
US Army - Staff Sergeant
Company L, 47th Infantry,
66th Division
Content was researched and written by Paul Brueggemann.
Special thanks to Donald Gray for his guidance and recommendations.
(1) Jon T. Kniskern, Lloyd Evan Hill, (USN HM-2 and nephew of Lloyd Evan Hill, 2020)
(2) Charles J. Murphy (Ancestry.com - Find A Grave) www.findagrave.com
(3)(5) Charles J. Murphy, (Worcester Telegram - April 16, 1966)
(4) 101st combat record in Vietnam 'unmatched' (Commentary, Fortcampbellcourier.com. - January 2010)
(6) U.S., World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918 (Ancestry.com – Operations, Inc., 2005)
(7) Eben Putnam, Editor, The Gold Star Record of Massachusetts (The Commonwealth of Massachusetts, 1929)
(8) A Short History of Rich Field, (Texas Military Collection, Baylor University)
(9) Texas, Death Certificates, 1903-1982 (Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2013)
(10) John M. Barry, The Great Influenza, (Penguin Books, 2004)
(11) (13) Fitchburg Sentinel, (Newspaper.com, Fitchburg, Massachusetts – August 9, 1945)
(12) Fitchburg Sentinel, (Newspaper.com, Fitchburg, Massachusetts – March 15, 1945)
For additional information about the Veterans' Squares there is a presentation at the Shrewsbury Historical Society produced by Eagle Scout Patrick Kelland. (Patrick's Eagle Scout Project was to restore all of the veterans' plaques in Shrewsbury.)