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| History of the Caddy Detachment In 1946 local Marines from Quincy, some members from the Old South Shore Detachment located in Hingham, Ma. Got together and in their discussions they came up with the idea of starting a detachment in Quincy. In their talks they decided that they would name the detachment after P.F.C. William R. Caddy of Quincy who attended No. Quincy High School. P.F.C. Caddy left high school and joined the Marines at the age of 19 years. He was assigned to Company I Third Battalion 26th Marines Fifth Marine Division and was awarded the Medal of Honor posthumously for his actions against Japanese Forces on Iwo Jima on March 3, 1945. (Citation below) The President of the United States takes pride in presenting the MEDAL OF HONOR posthumously to PRIVATE FIRST CLASS WILLIAM R. CADDY UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS RESERVE For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while serving as a Rifleman with Company I, Third Battalion, Twenty-sixth Marines, Fifth Marine Division, in action against enemy Japanese forces during the seizure of Iwo Jima in the Volcano Islands, 3 March 1945. Consistently aggressive, Private First Class Caddy boldly defied shattering Japanese machine-gun and small-arms fire to move forward with his platoon leader and another Marine during a determined advance of his company through an isolated sector and, gaining the comparative safety of a shell hole, took temporary cover with his comrades. Immediately pinned down by deadly sniper fire from a well-concealed position, he made several unsuccessful attempts to again move forward and then, joined by his platoon leader, engaged the enemy in a fierce exchange of hand grenades until a Japanese grenade fell in the shell hole. Fearlessly disregarding all personal danger, Private First Class Caddy instantly threw himself upon the deadly missile, absorbing the exploding charge in his own body and protecting the others from serious injury. Stouthearted and indomitable, he unhesitatingly yielded his own life that his fellow Marines might carry on the relentless battle against a fanatic enemy. His dauntless courage and valiant spirit of self-sacrifice in the face of certain death reflects the highest credit upon Private First Class Caddy and the United States Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life for his country. Harry S. Truman President In October 1946 the detachment received its charter and the members held their meetings at the home of Mr. Caddy until they moved to the Old Walter Scott Hall located at 66 Franklin St in Quincy, which they shared with other Veterans Organizations. The first Commandant of the newly formed William R. Caddy Detachment Marine Corps League was George Lander. The detachment had about 100 members that included 12 women. The members put on plays, held suppers and marched in the local parades, the uniform of the day was the old greens just like we where back in the corps. When the Korean War broke out we lost about two- thirds of our memberships as they got called back to service. The detachment kept running thanks to the remaining members. The detachment finally got its own quarters located at 356 Centre St. also located in Quincy. The quarters needed some painting done so P.C. John Laukkanen took it upon himself to paint life size murals on the walls of Marine’s from the Revolutionary War to World War II and under each mural he had the words “ Back in the Old Corps “ . We had Friday night suppers and we also put together a softball team “Caddy Marines “ who played every Sunday morning and both teams would retire to the quarters after the games. In the 60’s member James R. McIntyre a state representative was instrumental in getting a law passed that would rename Treasure Island, a park on Quincy Shore Drive in Quincy to P.F.C. William R. Caddy Memorial Park. In October of 1963 the park was dedicated, in one of the largest parades ever held in the city of Quincy which included 15 musical bands, 125 reservist dressed in greens, 50 Marines in dress blues of the U.S.S.Boston, 125 Marines in dress blues stationed in Charlestown, 40 recruiters in blues stationed throughout the state, and the Commanding General of the 5th Marine Division from Iwo Jima. Needless to say it was a proud day for the Caddy Family the City of Quincy, and the detachment. In 1967 we started our relationship, which continues today with the Brockton V.A. Hospital. Four to Five times a year the members hold parties for the patients and at Christmas we make sure every patient gets a gift from Santa. The year 1976 was once again a time to move as we lost our lease at Centre St. The city let us use a room at the Fore River Clubhouse for our meetings on Wednesday nights. The members of the club let us use the big hall for our Kids Christmas party and our Friday night suppers and it was also used for those late night card games after the meetings and the winner would have to take all the players out for breakfast. In 1992 we signed a ten-year lease to use the Knights of Columbus building at 25 Foster St. our membership has now grown to 300 members and it was nice to know that we had a home for the next ten years. The building needed work and thanks to the membership we accomplished it. We had a small bar, kitchen, member’s lounge, and a meeting room upstairs. The year is now 2001 and the Knights have decided to sell the building, our lease was up and we had no place to go. Past Commandant Cardarelli made a appointment to see Mayor Sheets after four to five months the Mayor offered us a building at 111 Newbury Ave, which used to be the Quarters for the D.A.V. and before that it used to be a Police Station and Fire Station Jail cells are still in the basement with a date of 1869 on the doors. The building was in such bad condition that the city was going to condemn it. Thanks to donations from local businesses and the hard work of the membership in particular Dennis Flaherty we turned this building into our new quarters. There was still one problem with this building; we only had a three-year lease. P.C. Cardarelli went to see the Mayor once again and in their talks the Mayor proposed a home rule petition that would give us a fifty-year lease. Thanks to the Mayor and the State Reps and Senators this petition was passed and signed by the Governor. I look back to the old days at Centre Street the nights we had with our 35 members we had the O’Brien’s, Speranzo, Varasso, Parkers, Hanarahans, Cardarelli, Gauthier, Flaherty’s, Digiamos, Pustaeris, Dunderdales, Pennors, Callaghan’s, Daley’s, Desmonds, Scotts, and Nortons. We would all like to go back to those nights, but time to pick up our packs and march in step to our future. “ Semper Fidelis “ Leo Cardarelli P.C. | |||||||||||||||||||||
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