WW II veteran William Dempsey guest of honor at Solemn Memorial Day ceremony

By Tara Vocino

MALDEN – World War II veteran William Dempsey was the guest of honor during Monday’s Memorial Day ceremony at Forestdale Cemetery.

“Bill Dempsey and his Rainbow Division fought their way from Marseille, France, to the Battle of the Bulge in Belgium and then into Germany, where he captured a German squad of soldiers – singlehandedly – trying to capture a bridge to thwart the advance of American forces into the heartland of Germany,” Veterans Services Director Kevin Jarvis said at the podium. “After being awarded the Bronze Star for Extraordinary Valor, Bill and his unit advanced into Bavaria, where they came upon the Dachau Concentration Camp, where the most horrific example of genocide and man’s inhumanity to man was taking place before their eyes.”

Dempsey and his fellow soldiers rammed their tanks through the gates of Dachau, where German soldiers were executing helpless mostly Jewish victims, who looked like walking skeletons. Dempsey’s soldiers fought off the guards, killing most of them, and provided weapons to some of the detainees, who also fought the rest of the Germans in the camp. There were still 30,000 poor souls in Dachau awaiting execution to include 1,000 anti-Nazi Catholic priests when Dempsey and the Rainbow Division liberated them.

Dempsey came back to Malden and graduated from Boston College. He and his wife were both educators and Dempsey was the principal at Linden School for 26 years. Dempsey has helped many students over the years and many still visit him at Forestdale Park Assisted Living, where he currently resides.

Last Veterans Day, the City of Malden dedicated a Memorial Square to Bill Dempsey in Linden Square, and they plan to paint photos of Dempsey over the years on the switchbox there to honor his service to Malden and America. In three months at the end of August, the City of Malden will celebrate Dempsey’s 100th birthday to honor his selfless service and dedication to his family, friends, country, the Malden community and thousands of students and many others over the years.

Also recognized during the ceremony was Gilberto Tercetti, known as Junior, who recently joined the Malden Chamber of Commerce. He was born in Italy and raised in Brazil and served for a year and a half in the Brazilian Army before transferring to the Military Police, where he served for an additional two and a half years. He then worked as a Police Detective for some years, gaining significant experience in one of the world’s most dangerous countries. Tercetti moved to the United States 31 years ago and adapted to life in his new home, starting a car repair business in Somerville 26 years ago. Despite his new career, Junior never forgot his time in the military and as a law enforcement officer in Brazil, which instilled in him a deep appreciation for veterans, military personnel, police officers, firefighters and EMTs.

Recently, Tercetti moved his business to Malden, remodeling Junior Auto Body on Whitman Street to reflect his values. Upon joining the Chamber, he shared his desire to give back to the community. In partnership with AutoZone, Tercetti has committed to offering 30 free oil changes to each of the following groups at Junior’s Autobody in Malden: 30 to veterans, 30 to police officers, 30 to firefighters and 30 to EMTs. Tercetti looks forward to the year ahead and hopes to continue giving back to the Malden community in meaningful ways.

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