BU’s World War II Heroes

I was deeply moved by the article in the Winter–Spring 2025 edition of Bostonia, “Tracking Down BU’s Fallen World War II Heroes.” The work of both Michael Tozeski [Pardee’25] and Professor John Woodward is long overdue. I applaud what they are doing. Frankly, this is personal for me and the countless children of World War II vets who were lucky enough to have moms and dads who came home. 

Arriving on the BU campus in 1967, I was surrounded by countless children of veterans of the war. These men and, yes, women came home and got to the business of raising their families. And for a lucky few, they sent us to Boston University. On the day I graduated, May 23, 1971, I walked up to my dad, handed him my diploma, and thanked him for the opportunity to attend Boston University. I wonder if he thought about the long road from a battlefield in Normandy to a sidewalk on Commonwealth Avenue in Boston?

Barbara Strauss Neuerman (CAS’71)
Marietta, Ga.

Just finished reading this very interesting article regarding the research being done to identify the many alumni and students from BU who died while serving our nation during WWII.  

I wanted to inform the researchers that if they are not aware of it, they can request veteran records from the National Archives for the 223 veterans who gave the ultimate sacrifice.   

As a retired Army colonel and Purple Heart medal recipient, I have helped other veterans to obtain their awards and decorations that were missed during and after their military service, especially awards such as the Purple Heart. To help, either I or a family member requests the records of the service member to help with the process.

I hope this information is of some value to the research team. I am happy to provide any support too.

Gordon Sumner (Wheelock’82)
Springfield, Va.

I read with great interest the recent Bostonia article about BU’s World War II heroes by Amy Laskowski. I transferred to BU from Union College in 1969, having already been drafted and having spent a year as an infantry soldier in the First Cavalry in South Vietnam from March 1967 to March 1968. I was amazed and frankly a bit disgusted that there were no tributes or memorials to those alumni who served, and more especially those who died, on campus. I didn’t know about the plaque in the College of Arts & Sciences Room 402. 

More than once when I was in a fight in Vietnam, I thought back to a memorial plaque at my old prep school, which listed war dead alumni back through the Civil War, and wondered if my name would wind up on that plaque. It was not comfortable to be a combat veteran of Vietnam at BU in 1969 and ’70, but I kept my mouth shut and persevered.

I tip my hat to Michael Tozeski and his efforts. I hope that this results in a handsome plaque in the Chapel. Then I hope that the effort expands to researching other wars. With the history and heritage of BU, there could be many other alumni who gave their lives in service to their country. If someone is going to raise a purse to fund an effort like this, I would be pleased to contribute what I can to the effort.

Keep us posted on this cause.

John Herrick (CAS’70)
Portland, Maine

Remembering Walter Lubars

Glad to see Bostonia’s Winter–Spring 2025 issue published a full-page tribute to the late COM professor Walter Lubars (“An Inspiration to a Generation of Advertising Students”). During my SPC days, he was a special fusion of fair, fervor, and funny.

Mark Thompson (COM’75)
Kensington, Md.

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