SMALL WORLD: Imagine a Bradford get-together halfway around the
globe.

Here’s the story from the Rev. Richard Pytcher. It was on May 8,
1954, when he pitched a no-hit, no-run game against the U.S. Air
Force. Rev. Pytcher, pastor of the Lafayette and Kushequa churches,
was on the mound for the 29th Infantry Regiment and this was on the
Island of Okinawa.

Rev. Pytcher reports, “At this time, Gen. Faye Uptegrove of
Bradford was guiding the bombing from Kandera Air Base. The general
saw the headlines in the Island paper, ‘Pytcher Stops Eagles.'”

The general noticed the “y” in Pytcher and felt he knew only one
person who spelled his name that way – David A. Pytcher, father of
the Rev. Pytcher.

He called Rev. Pytcher’s Company and arranged a supper at his
residence. He talked about the days in 1921-1922 where the general
ran track with David Pytcher at Bradford High School. Also
attending the supper was then- Sgt. Bruce Sherwin of Bradford.

Rev. Pytcher reports, “A good time was had by all.”

Rev. Pytcher tells us he pitched for the Petersburg, Va.,
Generals. Among his teammates was John Petroti, his first baseman,
who played with the Bradford Blue Wings in 1954.

DEC. 1944: Every December, Elmer DeLucia can’t help but think
about the Battle of the Bulge when 19,000 American soldiers were
killed and some 61,000 wounded in this largest of land battles
which raged for six weeks across the Ardennes hills of southern
Belgium and Luxembourg.

“It was bitter cold, snow covered the ground, and was buffeted
by wind. Von Rundestedt, in all-out attack, struck on Dec. 16. Only
the courage of the American troops like the 101st Airborne, 9th and
10th Armored stopped the German steamroller in the Ardennes,” Elmer
says.

The front was held by only two divisions, and artillery
ammunition was low. “Our 4.2 mortars were called upon for the bulk
of the fire missions. People think it is cold here. Stay outside in
foxholes.”

“Our A Company spent 313 days in combat, same clothes on for two
months. The cold winter was the bad time, some of my best friends
were killed.”

Elmer adds: “I support the troops over there. They should be
brought home soon. Over 4,000 killed, 26,000 wounded.”