Sheriff's Office Names Patrol Boats after 4 Putnam County War Heroes

Four Sheriff’s Office patrol boats have been named in commemoration of four Putnam County war heroes.

The patrol boats were christened at a sunset ceremony at the Putnam County Veterans’ Memorial Park May 14.

The event was attended by a number of local, county, and state government officials, and by an audience of dozens of military veterans and police officers and their supporters.

The four heroes for whom boats were named were all Putnam County residents. They represent four different branches of the military services and several different wars and military actions.

• U.S. Navy Lieutenant Commander John C. McCloy was the recipient of two Medals of Honor—being one of only 19 individuals ever to receive the Medal twice—and The Navy Cross. He is listed among the Top Fifty Highest Decorated Members of the Armed Forces of the United States of America. His campaigns and actions included the Boxer Rebellion in China in 1900, the Mexican Campaign at Vera Cruz in 1914, and Hazardous Duty in the North Sea clearing mine-fields at the end of World War I. He hailed from Brewster.
• U.S. Marine Corps Staff Sergeant Albert L. Ireland was awarded the Purple Heart Medal nine (9) times for wounds received in action, the most Purple Hearts ever awarded to a single member of the Armed Forces of the United States. He was wounded five times while fighting in the Pacific Theater during World War II and four times while in action in Korea. He was a resident of Nelsonville.
• U.S. Army Major General Gouverner K. Warren is best known as “The Hero of Little Round Top” for his organizing of a hasty last-minute defense of that tactically important hilltop at the Civil War battle of Gettysburg. His action in fortifying and holding the hill against the opposing forces is credited with preventing a Confederate victory at Gettysburg and stopping the Confederate advance on Washington, D.C. Wounded twice during the Civil War, he refused to leave the field of battle and to relinquish his command. He was a graduate of West Point and lived in Cold Spring.
• U.S. Air Force Master Sergeant William A. Todd was just 22 years old on March 29, 1972, when his plane went missing over Vietnam. Listed as missing in action for some 14 years, he was confirmed as being killed in action in 1986. He resided in the Hamlet of Mahopac in the Town of Carmel.

At the event, veterans Pete Pennelle, Harry Sherblom, Charles J. Moore and Karl Rohde read citations recounting the military service rendered by the four honorees. Reverend Larry Maxwell offered an invocation and benediction and led the assembly in patriotic songs.

The ceremony also included remarks by Sheriff Donald Smith, County Executive MaryEllen Odell, Veterans Council Chairman Art Hanley and State Senator Terrence Murphy.

Odell read a Putnam County proclamation on behalf of her office and the Putnam County Legislature recognizing Charles J. Moore, a veteran and former sheriff’s deputy, for his leadership in chairing the Veterans Honoree Selection Committee. She praised the service of all veterans, noting that their service extended even beyond their time on active duty.

“Our veterans continue to serve our community right here at home in so many different and wonderful ways,” she told the crowd.