Remembering Local World War II Heroes: Arthur R. LaBrack, Carl F. Salo, Paul A. Taylor

ASHBURNHAM — The W.F. Whitney Co. chair manufacturer of South Ashburnham was one of the town’s biggest employers dating back to the latter part of the 19th century.

Founded by Wilbur F. Whitney, in its formative years, the Whitney Co. made only one pattern, a scroll-arm Boston rocker that was turned out in three sizes.

As the business began to prosper in the 1880s, a new factory in South Ashburnham was built near the Boston & Maine railroad station on Pleasant Street. Despite a plant-razing fire in 1920, a new modern factory was built at the same location containing 14,500 square feet of floor space.

What was even more unique to that workplace was that during World War II, six of the 13 young men from the town who were claimed in the war had worked in the chair factory.

Previously mentioned soldiers such as Emile Cote, Thomas Duval and Donald Hebert had been employed there prior to their enlistment in the service.

Today, we will look at the profiles of three more individuals from the town who worked at W.F. Whitney Co. prior to losing their lives in service to their country.

This is the continuation of the series Remembering Local World War II Heroes.

Lt. Arthur R. LaBrack (1918-1945)

Arthur Raymond LaBrack was born on March 19, 1918, in Ashburnham to Elmer D. and Anna Belle (Goodale) LaBrack and grew up there on Center Street with his brother, Donald.

He worked at the W.F. Whitney, Co. and was also a member of the Massachusetts National Guard, Company M, 181st Infantry Regiment. He was inducted into the armed forces on Jan. 16, 1941, and for two years was a cook at the Camp Edwards joint base on Cape Cod and in Hingham.

He was transferred to Kelly Airfield in Texas where he received his preflight training. Later, he was one of a group of men picked for special training at Perrin Field, Texas, becoming a ferry pilot while he was a second lieutenant. After undergoing training at Roanoke, Va., and Memphis, Tenn., he was commissioned a first lieutenant at Ashville, Tenn. He was sent overseas to India in October of 1944 as a pilot in the ferrying service command.

On Feb. 21, 1945, his parents received a telegram from the War Department stating that the 26-year-old LaBrack had been killed in an airplane crash somewhere in China on Feb. 13. 1945.

He was returned to Ashburnham for burial in New Cemetery on Nov. 4, 1947.

Pfc. Carl F. Salo (1920-1944)

Carl Frederick Salo was born on Dec. 14, 1920, in Ashburnham to Arvid and Hilma (Salminen) Salo. He lived on Central Street with his parents, who were both born in Finland, as well as two brothers, Wesley and Harvey Salo.

He finished one year of high school before taking a job as a woodworker at the W.F. Whitney Co. chair shop in South Ashburnham.

Salo enlisted in the Army on Oct. 6, 1942, at Fort Devens, serving with Company E, 321st Infantry Regiment, 81st Infantry Division.

Salo was killed in action on Oct. 16, 1944, during the Battle of Angaur in the Palau Islands, a major battle of the Pacific campaign, at the age of 23.

He was later buried in New Cemetery in Ashburnham in 1949.

Pfc. Paul A. Taylor (1923-1943)

Paul Andrew Taylor was born in Ashburnham on July 26, 1923, to Thomas Jr. and Dorilla C. (LaFreniere) Taylor.

He lived on Main Street in South Ashburnham where he attended local public schools and later graduated from Fitchburg High School in 1941. He was employed at W.F. Whitney Co.

Taylor registered for the service on June 30, 1942, and enlisted in the Marine Corps in Boston where he was sworn in on Sept. 14, 1942.

He received his training at Parris Island, S.C., and was stationed at New River, N.C., and later in San Diego, Calif., before being sent overseas in December of 1942. The family had not seen him since he entered the service.

On Dec. 23, 1943, his parents received a telegram from Marine Corps headquarters in Washington informing them that their 20-year-old son had been killed in action.

It was believed he was killed while serving with the 3rd Marine Corps, 3rd Division, on Nov. 22, 1943, in the Southwest Pacific war area, although the telegram did not state specifically where or when he died.

In addition to his parents, he was survived by his sister, Mrs. Loretta Caouette. He was also the cousin of Pvt. Thomas W. Duval of Ashburnham who was killed in Italy on Oct. 26, 1943.

Taylor was first buried on Bougainville Island in the Pacific, but his body was returned to the U.S. in 1948 and he was buried in his family plot at Calvary Cemetery in Winchendon.

In 2012, Taylor’s first cousin, Neil Bouchard, was contacted by a friend and fellow Marine of Taylor’s, Joseph Goddard, who had actually seen Taylor get struck in the neck by a sniper’s bullet and die instantly.

Goddard shed some light on this battle, enclosing a photo of five Marines of the 3rd Corps, 3rd Division, plodding through a swampy area of the jungle. Taylor was in the photo.

Comments and suggestions for Remembering Local World War II Heroes can be sent to Mike Richard at mikerichard0725@gmail.com or in writing to Mike Richard, 92 Boardley Road, Sandwich, MA 02563.

This article originally appeared on Gardner News: Local World War II Heroes: Arthur LaBrack, Carl Salo, Paul Taylor