Brothers in arms

Arlington salutes family with 7 sons sent to war

Born on Veterans Day, Gerard "Jerry" Corbett grew up in a patriotic family - one that sent seven of its sons to war.

As he turns 86 today, the World War II mechanic who worked on the South Pacific base that launched the Enola Gay - the plane that helped end the war against Japan - will accept a special honor for his family.

At the end of today's annual parade to salute local veterans, Arlington officials plan to gather at Park and Wollaston avenues to dedicate the intersection to the family. There will be a sign naming the area Corbett Square and a plaque with the sons' names.

"We always used to call it Corbett Square, anyway - so this is terrific that they're making it official," said Corbett, whose family lived nearby and who has fond memories of meeting friends, picking apples, and tobogganing in the area. "It's something I never thought would have ever happened. This is great."

Bill McCarthy, the town's director of veterans services, said Arlington decided to name the square in honor of the family after Corbett's son Dennis, a Vietnam veteran who has served as a local police officer for 34 years, sought the honor from town officials. Dennis Corbett will serve as the parade's grand marshal.

"This is recognition of a family who gave so much," McCarthy said. "The parents had six sons at war at the same time. That must have been quite a thing for them to endure. We're honoring their sacrifice."

The Corbetts - who had 15 children in all - were luckier than many families. The six who served in World War II and another son who fought in Korea all returned home safely.

Gerard Corbett, one of only two of the brothers still living, served in what was then the US Army Air Forces from January 1943 to February 1946 with the 2021st Ordinance Maintenance Company. He served on Tinian Island, where the Enola Gay was based before dropping the atomic bomb over Hiroshima. He helped repair trucks and other automobiles as a Tech 5 mechanic, skills he had learned at the Somerville Trade School and the old Russell Burnette dealership in Somerville.

Before returning home and raising four children, Corbett received the Good Conduct Medal, American Theater Campaign Ribbon, Asiatic Pacific Theater Campaign Ribbon, and the Victory Medal.

Donal "Stubby" Corbett, 84, served as a second-class petty officer on one of the Navy's patrol torpedo boats stationed in England and France from 1943 to 1945. He was in the English Channel on D-Day and redeployed to the Philippines from 1945 to 1946, when he was discharged. After the war, Donal raised six children and spent 40 years in the Arlington Fire Department, as captain and acting deputy chief.

"Uncle Donal doesn't want the attention," said Joyce Corbett, one of his nieces. "Today, there are 61 Corbett cousins. We are proud of our fathers, our uncles, not only for their sacrifice and service to country but for the sacrifice and love of family."

The other brothers included Charles Derwood Corbett, who served in the Army and died in 1993; Kevin "Whitey" Corbett, who earned the Bronze Star for his service in the Pacific and died in 2002; John Corbett, who enlisted in the Army just as the war was ending and died in 1997; James O'Connor Corbett, who lied about his age to enlist in the Army and died in October; and Niall Patrick "Nipper Packy" Corbett, who served in Korea with the Air Force and died in 2003.

"This is a tremendous honor for us," Dennis Corbett said, "but it's really to honor all families who gave so much."