Introduction
William J. Cleary was born in Philadelphia on August 23, 1908. William J. Cleary was appointed to the Camden Fire Department on September 29, 1940. On October 15, 1940 he was assigned to Engine Company 3 at 1813 Broadway as a hoseman. Single at the time, his career with the Fire Department was interrupted when he was drafted into the United States Army on February 18, 1941.
He returned to Camden and was reassigned to Engine Company 3 on Monday, December 1, 1941. The Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor the following Sunday, and on January 23, 1942 William Cleary was recalled to active duty with the United States Army. He did not return to the Fire Department until he was discharged on October 5, 1945. Still unmarried, William Cleary was making his home at the Young Men’s Christian Association building, 614 Federal Street as late as 1947. He later moved to 2012 Wayne Avenue in Cramer Hill.
William Cleary once again returned to Engine Company 3. He was promoted to Captain on June 15, 1951 and was assigned to Engine Company 9, quartered at the East Camden firehouse at North 27th Street and Federal Street. He served with Engine Company 9 until his retirement on July 1, 1973.
William Cleary passed away on February 23, 1975.
Mrs. Kobus to Ask More Cops, Firemen for City Next Year
Camden Courier-Post —
New Appointment Return Forces to 1938 Status; Defense Increases Need
Appointment of 22 patrolmen and 10 firemen by City Commissioner Mary W. Kobus during the past three months has brought the personnel of the public safety department to figures comparable to 1938.
That announcement was made yesterday by Commissioner Kobus, who expressed the hope the city could afford additional members of both departments in the near future “as a safety measure and because of the great national, State and local defense programs, in which we must participate.”
Appointments Listed
The new policemen appointed by Commissioner Kobus were:
Joseph Caputi, 332 Mt. Vernon street; Joseph M. Carroll, 427 Lansdowne avenue; Roland Comerford, 2931 Cramer street; Vincent Conley, 423 Beideman avenue; James Eskridge, 716 North Seventh street; Joseph Hooven, 501 Beideman avenue; Julius Kaunacki, 1183 Sheridan street; William E. Kelly, 55 State street; William F. Large, 729 Mickle street; William H. Neale, 773 Line street; Francis J. Nelson, 720 Penn street; John E. Opfer, 323 North Second street; Cecil H. Picou, 1127 Cooper street; Earl Quinton, 687 Jefferson avenue; Edw. W. Tatem, 565 Mt. Vernon street; Harry Tracy, 2003 Federal street; Harold I. Vecander, 1039 North Twenty-sixth street; John H. Watkins, 2902 Constitution road; Edward Watson, 1048 Haddon avenue; Donald R. Watson, 841 Lois avenue; George T. Weber, 1231 North Thirtieth street; Stanley Zuckowicz, 1157 Thurman street.
The new appointees to the fire department are:
Philip H. Farrow, 529 Newton avenue; Anthony W. Bretschneider, 1621 Louis street; John Gryckiewicz, 810 North Front street; Thomas Winstanley, 329 Bailey street; William Palese, 900 South Fourth street; Anthony Dzinski, 1230 Atlantic avenue; Joseph R. Guarino, 25 Morse street; Martin B. Nelson, 561 Spruce street; William Cleary, 614 Federal street; and Otto Kaiser, 904 North Twenty-sixth street.
Camden Fire Department Personnel Record
Named: William J. Cleary, Born Philadelphia, Pa., August 23, 1908, Appointed September 29, 1940, Hoseman; Captain, Pension: July 1, 1973, Died: February 23, 1975. Assignments: Oct. 15, 1940, Engine Co. 3, Hoseman; U.S. Army, Feb. 18, 1941, Dec. 1, 1941; Dec. 1, 1941, Jan. 23, 1942, Engine Co. 3, Hoseman; Jan. 23, 1942, Oct. 5, 1945, U.S. Army; Oct. 5, 1945, and Engine Co. 3, Hoseman; Promoted to Captain June 15, 1951; Assigned to Engine Co. 9, June 16, 1951..