The Antique Veterans of Meriden World Post #1 was formed in 1996 and meets weekly each Thursday morning at 9:30 AM in the Max. E. Muravnick Meriden Senior Center, 22 West Main St., Meriden, CT 06451. With 230 members as of 5/4/10, the local “antiques” have been performing the solemn duty and privilege of honoring deceased veterans by providing a fitting burial ceremony of which every vet would be proud. The honor squad on detail includes a rifle squad, two buglers, flag folders with flag presentation to the family, a color guard, and musical selections appropriate for each service branch. This is a great tribute to the departed veteran and a source of comfort and support to those left behind.

The Antiques are in high demand – well over 1,000 military burials have been accorded by these honorable Americans. They also perform at social and education functions, schools and ceremonies. New members are always welcome and the meetings are open to any honorably discharged veteran, male or female, of any branch of the United States Armed Forces.
 
Information: contact Richard Egan (Commander) at 203-634-0474 or Kenneth Dow (Executive Officer) at 203-235-2120.
Funeral Coordinator: contact Jack O'Neill at 203-949-0040
Donations: check payable to "Antique Veterans", mail to Meriden Senior Center, 22 West Main St., Meriden CT 06451.

Throughout these years, Mark was a tractor-trailer operator, hauling bulldozers, bridge parts and front-end loaders, as well as maintaining and painting his vehicle and assisting mechanics in the motor pool. During this Vietnam War era, he assisted in experimentation of fast-moving drops of cargoes (fuel, water, food, ammo, etc.) from low-flying cargo planes (20-30 feet off the ground). And he put his lifeguard experience to good use as a water safety instructor, teaching Green Berets headed overseas how to swim.

Mark was married to Sharon Clementel in 1976 and had four wonderful children: Steven, Saralyn, Michelle and Shaina. He currently has five grandchildren: Hunter, Logan, Dominic, Savanah and Mason. Following his service time, he moved back to Meriden and became a Meriden Firefighter, with 31 years served as of July 2010.

Mark has been married to Renee Dewey for the past six years, and is an avid hunter and fisherman. He states," I'm one of the youngest Antique Vets and hope to recruit some more vets from my era to join."

Joe Borriello
Joe Borriello was born and raised in Meriden and graduated high school in June 1942. In September 1942, he enlisted in the Army and was sent to Camp Croft, SC for basic and specialist (Communications) training. After finishing his training, he was sent to Fort Dix, NJ in February 1943 and was deployed from there to Casablanca, Morocco, North Africa where he joined the 3rd Infantry Division and was assigned to the 10th Combat Engineer Battalion.

Joe’s travels with the 3rd Division took him from Morocco through Algeria to Tunisia. He participated in the amphibious assault on Sicily where his division captured Palermo and Messina. From there came the landing in Salerno, Italy. The fighting up the Italian boot up to Monte Casino was quite fierce. His division was taken off of the Casino front to make an end run, behind enemy lines, to Anzio. There he endured four months of hell. The division broke out of the Anzio beachhead on May 25th, 1944 and captured Rome on June 4th. This feat was overshadowed two days later by the landing on Normandy. In August, the division assaulted the beaches of Southern France and began the drive through Europe. The move through France was fairly rapid until the division ended up in the Colmar Pocket in Alsace. After crossing the Rhine River into Germany, the division was instrumental in capturing Nuremberg, Munich and Augsburg in Germany and then Salzburg and Berchtesgaden in Austria. The 3rd Division spent more days in combat (531) than any other division, had most killed in action, most wounded and the most Medals of Honor (37). Joe missed the first three days of combat but was with the division for the other 528 days. He was awarded nine battle stars for Tunisia, Sicily, Naples/Foggia, Anzio, Rome/Arno, Southern France, Ardennes/Alsace, Rhineland and Central Europe. He was finally shipped to the United States in October 1945 and was honorably discharged in November 1945 with the rank of Sergeant.

In January 1946, Joe entered Teachers’ College of Connecticut and graduated in June 1949. One week after graduation, Joe married Evie Charest and started teaching at Samuel Huntington School (King Street). During the Korean War in 1950, he was recalled to active duty and received a direct commission as Lieutenant in the 43rd Infantry Division and in 1951, he was sent to Augsburg, Germany until May of 1952. He was released from active duty in June of 1952 with the rank of First Lieutenant. He went back to teaching in September 1952 at Israel Putnam school for two years and then Hanover School for two years. In 1956, he was appointed Principal of Eli Whitney School, in 1958 he became Principal of Trumbull School, 1959 Benjamin Franklin School, 1963 Thomas Hooker School, 1965 Washington Junior High School, 1970 Samuel Huntington School and in 1972 Casimir Pulaski School. He graduated from Hillyer College in 1956 with a Master of Education Degree and from University of Hartford in 1964 with an Advanced Graduate Studies Degree (6th year). He retired in 1989.

Joe and Evie are the parents of William Borriello of Meriden and JoAnne Picard of Marlborough. They have four grandchildren; Brandon and Nathalie Borriello and Neil and Wendy Picard, and one great-grandchild, Brianna Herdic.

Joe Catala
Joe is a native of Wallingford. He left high school in 1944 at age 17 to join the Navy, serving in the Seabees ("construction battalions") in the Pacific Theater where he took part in the last battle of WW II in Okinawa. He was trained in Geneva NY and Oakland CA, and then underwent training in jungle and village fighting in Hawaii.

He went on to Saipan and then Okinawa where he landed with the Marines, facing hostile fire while armed only with a carbine. During his duty there, Joe and his battalion (1100 men) were building docks and a seaplane base, and he also did guard duty because of snipers in the area. Kamikaze attacks were also common.

Joe recalls with sorrow the death, due to a truck rollover, of a Japanese prisoner who worked for him; he was surprised that he felt sadness at the time even though this prisoner may have been shooting at him only three weeks earlier.

After his return to civilian life in 1946, he married his wife Jean in 1949; they had eight children and 14 grandchildren. Joe followed the family business and became a barber, but then went to work at Wallingford Steel as a roller for the next 34 years. And today, you're likely to catch him playing basketball with Wallingford "Silver Bullets" who play twice a week.

Charles "Chip" Clarke (deceased)
"I was drafted into the Army in November 1942 and discharged in February 1946. During this period I had training in Field Artillery, Chemical Corps. Air Cadets and Mechanized Cavalry. My European combat experience was as a scout in the 33rd Cavalry with the 20th Armored Division. I operated in a jeep or an 8-ton armored car. One jeep had a 30-cal machine gun plus a 2-way radio while the other jeep carried a 60-mm mortar. The armored car had 30 and 50-cal machine guns, a 37-mm cannon, plus two 2-way radios.

Let me tell you about three of my combat experiences. On one occasion, my troop was ordered to quickly secure a section on the Rhine River. We traveled all night in complete blackout to move into position. I had three 30-cal machine gun nests set up on my section of the riverbank. I was ordered to prepare a patrol to reconnoiter across the river after dark. I knew that crossing the swift Rhine would not be easy in our inflatable boats. This small team was not large enough to fight. All that we could do was look and not be seen. The river crossing patrol was cancelled when the 101st Airborne relieved us in late afternoon. We pulled out under cover of darkness.

One day as my platoon was advancing on a road leading to a city, an Artillery Spotter Plane flew overhead with the pilot shouting to us. We could not hear what he was saying so he landed his light plane in a clear field alongside the road. He said that the next town was well defended. He would have the Artillery blast it if we stayed clear. About that time, P-51’s sloped down spraying the town with 50-cal machine guns and dropping their bombs. Then the Task Force caught up with us. The Cavalry was ordered to bivouac in nearby woods while the Task Force took the town. We continued the advance the next morning, passing through the peaceful, occupied town.

Another time, my platoon was ordered to leave the Task Force and advance quickly through a forest to capture a bridge on the autobahn leading to Munich. Our mission was to capture this bridge before the Germans could destroy it. Headquarters was radioed that the bridge was blown up when we arrived. About that time, 4 Sherman tanks appeared led by a Lt. Col. in a jeep. He led a single tank to an overpass next to the destroyed bridge. Then the tank exploded into flames as it was hit by a panzerfaust fired from bushes across the river. I ordered my armored car gunner to spray the bushes with 30-cal machine gun fire. We then moved the armored car to a better location to cover the assistant tank driver who was blown out of his open tank hatch. The Lt. Col. jumped out of the jeep seeking ground cover while the jeep driver backed up to recover the injured tanker. The Task Force arrived with Medics. The injured tanker was brought alongside my armored car for cover. He was bandaged, given a shot of morphine and carried away. In mid July, we returned to the States for redeployment in Japan, but we only got as far as California."

"Chip" was born in Lakeland, FL. He married his wife Betty in 1944 and had two children, Lynn and Laurie. He enjoyed his career as a chemical engineer, working with companies such as Celanese. He spent much of his life in Texas, at one point residing in the same neighborhood as astronauts Buzz Aldrin and Alan Bean who became good friends.

Ken Cowing
In December 1942, I attempted to enlist in the Army, but was rejected due to poor eyesight. In January 1943, I was inducted into the Army with a limited service classification due to eyesight, and received basic training at Ft. Benjamin Harrison, IN. I served as a corporal in the cadre of Infantry Basic Training. In May 1944, the limited service classification was waived and I joined a Military Government Unit, which was sent to the United Kingdom traveling aboard HMS Andes. This ship was later sunk in Liverpool.

I landed on Utah Beach in July 1944 with 5 extra pairs of glasses. From the beach, the unit followed the 3rd Army through Northern France. My unit was stationed in Rennes, Vannes, and Reims where we were assigned to the 18th Corps, headquarters for the 82nd, 101st and 17th Airborne Divisions. I survived the Battle of the Bulge after being surrounded at Soissons, which was a large railroad center with huge ammunition depots. My weight increased from 120 to 145 pounds by eating K rations and all the other goodies they fed me.

The explosion of a V2 missile in London left me with a few cuts and bruises but I did not go to the first aid station to get a Purple Heart. Medals awarded are American Service Medal, Good Conduct Medal, European African Middle Eastern Medal (2 battle stars), and World War Victory Medal. I was discharged at Ft. Dix, NJ in December 1945 with a very unusual education.

Ken pursued a career in banking at Home Bank for 47 years, eventually becoming Asst. Vice President. He married his wife Louise in 1955 and they now have three children and three grandchildren. Ken has an avid interest in the history of Meriden, and has previously been President of the Meriden Historical Society for numerous years.

David Davis
Born in Newington CT, David Davis initially enlisted in the Army Field Artillery in 1942, but was then reassigned to the Air Force. He was first sent to Radio School in Sioux Falls, SD and then to Gunnery School in Texas. After then being transferred to Utah, further training in Florida led to assignment as a flight instructor in Boise ID, and then back to Utah where he joined the 494th Air Group (four squadrons, each with 12 B-24 Liberators). Then on to Hawaii (for training in LORAN), Guam and Kwajalein. His orders taking him to Anguar in the Mariana Islands in 1944 were unsealed during this flight, but he already knew this information by listening to the Tokyo Rose broadcasts.

During the next eight months, Davis flew in 40 missions in his B-24 named "Sitting Pretty" as radioman and port waist gunner, with his plane taking the lead position in actions mainly over the Philippines. On a memorable mission on Christmas Day in 1944 to bomb Clark Air Base, 22 of the 24 bombers flying that day returned with shrapnel holes from Japanese Zeros and antiaircraft flak.

After return to base following a mission, the plane's 10-man crew had to guard the aircraft overnight in black clothing while armed with machine guns, since Japanese soldiers in the surrounding jungle were an ever-present threat, sometimes calling out "Hey Joe" to try to elicit a return call or gunfire so that enemy snipers had a target.

Return to civilian life led to a degree in electronic engineering from the University of Chicago and a career as an electronics engineer. Davis is married to Marguerite, and has four children and two great-grandchildren. For his service to this country, he received four Battle Stars, the Air Medal with seven oak clusters, and the Distinguished Flying Cross.

Don Deming
Six months out of high school at age 18, Don and a friend joined the Navy in 1973 at Naval Station Great Lakes in Illinois. His grandfather was in the Navy during WWII and his father in the Navy during WWII and Korea. After six months training as an Aviation Electrician's Mate 3rd Class in Jacksonville Florida, he was transferred to Naval Air Station North Island in California. During the bulk of his four year enlistment, he was stationed in the West Pacific, primarily in Japan but also in Hong Kong, Australia and Taiwan, working both in electrical maintenance and as a crew member (vertical replenishment crewman) on H-46 helicopters (six-rotor heavy lift aircraft with a range of about 300 miles which can transport 30 troops or 6000 lbs. of cargo).

Flying a total of 800 hours (about 400 sorties), many of his flights were to supply aircraft carriers (which were launching missions into Vietnam), providing food and other provisions, and occasionally transporting personnel and ordinance (1000 lb. bombs). Dropping or recovering cargo from destroyers pitching and rolling in heavy seas was a special challenge,  requiring continuous critical directions from the vertical replenishment crewman to the pilot as they hovered just off the deck. His aircraft also flew humanitarian missions during emergencies such as typhoon destruction in Mauritius and the Philippines. During his time, Don's aircraft had two emergency set downs and once had their rotors clip some apple trees while landing at a soccer field in the Philippines.

After discharge from the Navy in 1977, Don rejoined Allegheny Ludlum Corp. in Wallingford (where he worked briefly before enlistment) and now has worked there for 38 years, planning to retire soon. His family includes his wife Linda, a son Jeff and a granddaughter "who absolutely has me twisted around her little finger."

Kenneth Dow
Two weeks before graduating from high school in 1941, Ken Dow decided to join the Navy (dad said yes, mom said no since his brother was already in the 8th Air Force). Since he had experience as an automobile mechanic, he trained as a motor machinist in Illinois, but was suddenly told he would be in the Naval Air Force due to his mechanical knowledge. He was then transferred to a Combat Aircraft Service Unit in San Francisco to help take care of carrier planes, then sent to gunnery school, and then to B-24 School in San Diego as an aviation mechanic.

Following Marine combat training, he was shipped to Hawaii and in 1944 to Saipan (in the Marianas) in Combat Service Unit 48 to support anti-submarine patrols, where he remained until the War in the Pacific ended. While there, he saw the heavily guarded B-29 Enola Gay about one week prior to its famous mission over Hiroshima. His group serviced PBM Mariners and PBY Catalinas which were performing anti-submarine patrols as well as air/sea rescues of downed airmen. Dow himself flew on missions about once a month as a gunner "because I got extra pay for doing this." Daily strafing attacks by Japanese planes were the norm until the Battle of Iwo Jima.

Following the war, he joined Pratt & Whitney in East Hartford, rising from helper to general foreman during the next 35 years, testing high altitude aircraft engines at the time of his retirement. He married his wife Margaret in 1948, and today they have three children, three grandchildren and one great-grandson.

Richard Egan
Born in Waterbury in 1924, Richard Egan came to Meriden when he was 5 years old. He attended Roger Sherman, Old South Meriden, King Street, and Meriden High School. In 1941, he received “GREETINGS” from Uncle Sam. The 1st Army Engineers found him in Mississippi and then Europe. Richard served at Omaha Beach and the Battle of the Bulge. He was a reconnaissance driver and there are pictures of him in his Jeep that make him smile. On a more serious note, he can tell of the bitter cold and the deep snow and being in Aukum, Germany after it was “bombed flat”. He picked up a little German and some French in Europe. Richard was the company Bugler and learned the calls that would signal the times and events of the day.

Rurning home after four years in the military, Richard met and married the late Dorothy Markham. They had two children, Donna and Donald. His family and a job with CL&P company were his focus. He dabbled in owning and selling old Hudson cars and a 1940 Buick (with a story to tell) and a Jeep. The American Legion wanted to sponsor a drum and bugle corps and Richard was a big part of their success as one of their original members. He played the horn with the Yankee Pedlars and brought much acclaim to himself through music for 56 years.

In 1996, Richard and two other veterans formed the Antique Vets. There are approximately 250 members—no rules and no dues. They play and march and present the Colors at schools, ceremonies, and burials. When in uniform, Richard will modestly identify his Good Conduct Ribbon, Battle of Berlin, European Theatre, Five Battle Stars, and the Berlin Occupation. These days, “Grandpa Egan” is enjoying his two adopted granddaughters from the Ukraine.

Russell A. Eick
Russ entered the army in January 8, 1942 at Ft. Devens, Mass. He received basic training with the 486th Coast Artillery Antiaircraft Automatic weapons Battalion (Mobile half-tracks) at Camp Davis, NC. This unit participated in maneuvers at Camp Polk, LA, and advanced training at Camp Hulen, CA for 50-cal and 37- mm firing training. On November 12, 1943, his unit traveled by rail to Camp Shank, NY where it loaded on the Queen Mary, passing by the Grand Old Lady on December 3rd to begin its 6-day journey to England.

After more training in England, Russ was transported to Normandy on an LST ship. His unit joined the 3d Armored Division as part of the XIX "Tomahawk" Corp in the First Army. They were in five battle campaigns including the "Battle of the Bulge" as they fought all the way to the Elbe River in Germany where they met the Russians. He served on occupation duty in Germany, and was separated from the service on December 7, 1945.

Of many engagements, he especially recalls the D-Day landing on Omaha Beach, with a mission to capture St. Lo to rescue American paratroopers. And in 1944, Russ shot down an attacking German FW-190 dive-bombing on his unit, using his half-track's four 50 cal. antiaircraft machine guns; this made him the first Allied combatant to shoot down a German warplane from German soil.

Russ was married to his wife Rita from 1952 until her death in 2007. They have four children (three boys, one girl) and one grandchild. He worked during his life as a self-employed carpenter, cabinet maker and draftsman.

Lou Francesco
Lou volunteered for the U.S. Navy from New York City on August 1942. After boot camp at Newport, RI, he volunteered for Patrol Boat duty and completed diesel school at Richmond VA before being sent to the South Pacific as a motor machinist.

He was first stationed on PT-136 in New Guinea, where for about six months, his boat made nighttime patrols every other night, each time successfully sinking one or two Japanese barges which were trying to supply the Japanese ground troops. His PT Squadron received the Navy Unit Citation for their effectiveness in stopping Japanese supplies getting to their troops in the front line areas. On one occasion, his boat ran aground in Japanese controlled waters; they had to destroy the boat and were rescued by another PT boat.

He was then stationed in the Philippines and Borneo on PT-130, performing the same tasks for about four months. While stationed in Leyte, their boat and two others were sent out to scout for a large Japanese naval force approaching the area. What they found was a Japanese task force consisting of a battleship, a cruiser and several destroyers. The Japanese fired a star shell to illuminate the area and then hit all three PT boats; Lou's boat was fortunate that a shell hit one of their torpedoes and ricocheted into the sea. All three PT boats made it back after radioing the location of the Japanese force.

Lou was discharged in Dec. 1945, and then spent a 25-year career as a firefighter with the New York Fire Dept. He married his wife Louise in 1949; they have two children and two grandchildren.

Wally Fulton
Wally was born on April 14, 1923 in Meriden, CT. He graduated from Meriden High in June 1941 and on January 26, 1943, he reported to Fort Devens, MA in the U.S. Army. On January 30, 1943, he was transferred to Aberdeen Proving Grounds, Maryland and later was shipped to the West Coast and sailed from San Francisco on June 13, 1943. Wally subsequently, had duty on New Caledonia, Fiji, New Hebrides and the Philippine Islands.

During his 2½ war years, he worked in Port Ordinance, receiving and shipping ammunition, vehicles (jeeps, trucks, ducks) and artillery pieces. Several times his positions were attacked by Japanese ground forces. Wally was born with 20/200 vision in his right eye, corrected by glasses, but he broke his glasses early in his deployment and could never get them replaced. Despite his poor vision in his "shooting" eye, he was given a submachine gun and had to use it on occasion.

He sailed for California arriving in San Padre, CA on January 16, 1946 and was discharged on January 26, 1946 from Fort Devens, MA. With all of this, he had no basic training and spent 86 days on five or six different troop ships.

Wally married his wife Jane in 1950, and they had two daughters and two grandchildren. He worked as a millwright for American Refractories, and has also enjoyed playing the snare drum with several fife and drum corps.

Bill Godburn
I entered the service on February 6, 1943 and had my basic training in Atlantic City, NJ. After basic, I went to an Army Air Corp school at the University of Southern MS. Service followed at an air base in Dyersburg, TN and Brooklyn Field, Mobile, AL.

I went overseas to Scotland/England via the Queen Mary in October 1943 and was stationed outside Cambridge, England at Watsford Hert, England. I was a member of the Eighth Army Air Corp, 1st Bombardment Division (H),where I drafted air missions (including dummy missions designed to draw enemy fighters away from the actual air missions) I was then sent to Blackpool, England where I was trained for 50-cal. air gunnery.

I received battle stars for the Air Offensive over Europe, Normandy, and the Rhineland. Our unit also received the Presidential Citation for our air raid on the German aircraft factory located in Oschersleben, Germany.

I was then transferred to the 9th U.S. Army Air Corp, 716 Air Squadron, 474th Air Group. This group moved gasoline via C-47’s from Nancy, France to forward areas. We carried 14 fifty-gallon drums (700 gallons) at a time; these were tied and secured in the center of the C-47’s up forward in the plane. At the war’s end, we then flew POWs of all nationalities out of Germany.

Bill married his wife Mary in 1943, and they have three children (Gerald, Peter and David) and three grandchildren (Kevin, Lauren and Ryan). He worked for the Meriden Fire Department 1954-1982, with the position of Fire Marshall from 1960 until his retirement. Bill is also an accomplished artist.

Joseph Guerra
Joe was born on March 25,1933 in North Bergen NJ. He attended St. Peter's Preparatory School and then attended St. Peter's College in Jersey City NJ. Joe was enjoying a college ROTC student deferment status when he decided to leave the program to enlist in the Marine Corps on the condition that they send him to Korea.

He entered the Marine Corps on October 8, 1953.  During the 14 months that he spent in Korea, he spent 10 months in a bunker as a forward observer for a 4.2-inch mortar unit in the DMZ.  His last few months in the Corps were spent in Camp Pendleton, CA where he was discharged on October 8, 1955.

Following discharge, he completed his college education at St. Peter's, receiving a B.S. degree in Business Management. He then worked for AT&T for the next 35 years, and now has three children and two grandchildren.

Paul Hanson
Paul was born in Bristol CT in 1931, but has lived in Meriden since he was one year old. At age sixteen in 1947, Paul joined the Connecticut National Guard Co. L 102nd Reg. 43rd Infantry Division. When the Korean Conflict broke out, the 43rd Division was activated for active duty. He was stationed at Camp Picket VA. as a squad leader on a 60mm mortar in the weapons platoon.

After basic training, he was sent to leadership school at Camp Breckenridge KY with the l0lst Airborne. From there went to Camp Irwin CA with the tankers and infantry for more training. While on the return trip back to Camp Picket, he stopped in the Carolinas and went on maneuvers with the 82nd Airborne. Upon returning to VA after one year and twelve days of active duty, he was eligible for discharge with a total of four years and twelve days, and was discharged with the rank of SFC on Sept. 17 1951.

Since discharge, he was married to Dorothy for 15 years and to Theresa for 40 years. Paul has four children (three boys and one girl) and six grandchildren. He worked for Connecticut Light & Power for 36 years, first as a cable splicer and eventually as a line foreman.
Al Jarvis
I was born in Derby, CT but then moved to New Haven and was educated in the New Haven school system. I left high school at age 17 to join the Merchant Marine Service. After basic training at Sheepshead Bay  NY, I was sent to San Francisco. I signed on to the Paducah Victory as a wiper and we left with a mixed cargo, consisting of barrels of aviation gas, torpedoes and heavy lumber covering our decks. We off-loaded at anchor onto barges and Ducks at Tacloban in the Philippines.

Returning to San Francisco, I took the Coast Guard tests for fireman/water tender and signed on in this position for my second voyage, again with a mixed cargo of mostly food and trucks which were secured on the deck and hatch covers. However, during our voyage back to Tacloban, the war ended and we were diverted to Yokohama, Japan. Upon returning to the States, I went home but having turned 18 while in Japan, I enlisted in the Regular Army as I knew I would be drafted.

I took basic training in New Orleans in the Transportation Corps and was sent to San Juan, Puerto Rico. I transferred into the Troop B 18th Mecx. Cav. Recon. Squadron at Losey Field near Ponce, but was then sent back to the States to Fort Knox, KY for radio repair school. Upon completion, I was returned to Losey Field and spent 22 months there as a radio repairman. I had to learn to drive all vehicles with two-way radios; armored cars (M-8), half-tracks and jeeps. My vehicle when moving in convoy was a Half-Track, as this was the maintenance vehicle.

While stationed at Losey Field, I met my future wife Rosa and we were married five years later; she had moved to New Jersey but I found her after I was discharged and we have now been married for 58 years. I worked at Talon Mfg. (zippers) in Hamden and then used the G.I. Bill to go to the Culinary Institute. This didn't work out so I went to High Standard in Hamden CT, test firing rifles, shotguns and pistols. Three years later, I went to Pratt & Whitney Aircraft in North Haven, where I progressed from First Piece inspector to General foreman in the Master Mechanics section until I retired after 33 years in 1987.

Henry Muszynski
The 88th Glider Infantry Regiment had its origin in the 88th Airborne Infantry Battalion, the Army's first air landing unit, activated Oct. 10, 1941 at Fort Benning, GA. During two years, it trained the 11th, 17th, 82nd and 101st Airborne Divisions in air transportability and later did so for the 84th and 103rd Infantry Divisions in preparation for their joining in the massive airborne assault on Berlin by the Allied Airborne Army.

In mid 1944, the 13th suffered a disheartening loss of all privates and many officers.. They were rushed to Europe to replace combat losses in the 17th, 82nd and 101st Airborne Divisions. After months of training of replacements, the 13th finally embarked for France in January, 1945, months after first scheduled. On arrival, it was assigned the XVIlIth Airborne Corps and went into assembly areas at Sens, Joigny and Auxerre. Soon the 88th was deactivated and its personnel transferred to the 326th Glider Infantry, which was then increased from two to three battalions. On March 1, 1945, the battle seasoned 517th Parachute Infantry Combat Team, which had fought with distinction in Italy, Southern
France, Belgium and Germany, joined the 13th at Joigny, France.

Assignments to combat missions came quickly but with frustrating results. Alerted along with the 17th Airborne Division for an assault against the Nazis at Wesel, Germany, the 13th participation was cancelled for lack of enough aircraft to airlift both divisions. Next, the division geared up for Operation "Choker," the landing across the Rhine at Worms. The day before the division was to take off, the 13th's paratroopers and glider troops again moved out of the barbed wire enclosed assembly areas. Paratroopers marched to the airfield, found the C 47's, climbed in the ones they were assigned to, and secured drop loads. Glidermen loaded and lashed ammunition, packed howitzers, jeeps and trailers into the gliders ready to take off at dawn. They woke up the next morning to the news the mission had been cancelled while they slept. General Patton had captured Worms while they were loading up the day before!

Next came operation "Effective," which was to deny part of the Alps to the Nazis to prevent them establishing a last ditch stronghold there. New intelligence, however, indicated that this operation was no longer necessary, and it was cancelled. Finally, as the days of the Third Reich were drawing to a close, elements of the 13th were scheduled to land at Copenhagen, Denmark, on a classified mission. It, also, was cancelled. Shortly thereafter, Allied Airborne Army Headquarters announced that the Division would be redeployed to the Pacific to participate in the invasion of Japan after a stopover in the United States. The Division arrived at the New York Port of Embarkation on August 23, 194S and moved to Fort Bragg, N.C. Shortly thereafter, Japan surrendered.

Henry married Jeanette in 1946 and they have two sons, two daughters and six grandchildren. He worked 24 years as a drop-hammer operator for Wallace Silversmiths, and 12 years as a rewinder for Alegheny Ludlum.

John "Jack" O'Neill
Jack first enlisted in the Navy on November 1942 on his 17th birthday. He was sent to Farragut Naval Training Station in Idaho where he failed to pass the eye test and was given a medical discharge and sent home. After a couple of months at home he was able to talk his way back into the Navy and he completed Boot Camp at Sampson, NY.

Upon his assignment on the U.S.S. Nicholas DD 449, he was put on lookout watch in spite of his weak eyes. First loader for a 40-mm antiaircraft gun was his battle station. Admiral Halsey personally ordered the U.S.S. Nicholas to escort the U.S.S. Missouri into Tokyo Bay on the day of the Japanese surrender. His ship carried 87 U.S. and Allied representatives to the Missouri for the signing of the surrender. Some of these dignitaries were General Jimmy Doolittle and General Jonathan Wainwright.

During his service he was awarded medals for the American Theater, Pacific Theater, Asiatic Pacific with 9 Battle Stars, Philippine Liberation with 2 Stars, Philippine Presidential Citation, Japanese Occupation, Combat Action, and Victory Medal. He was discharged on March 7, 1946.

His naval connections made it possible to be aboard the U.S.S. Constitution on July 1997 when she sailed for the first time in 116 years.

Joseph Paoli
I was born in New York City on November 14th, 1929. All of my schooling took place in Manhattan, N.Y.  I graduated from a Maritime School in1948; however, prior to graduating, I went to sea during my summer vacation and came back in September after going to four different countries dropping off Ammonium Nitrate. If you remember, a ship loaded with Ammonium Nitrate earlier blew Texas City off the map.

I sailed for six years for different steamship companies until 1953 as a quartermaster or Boson’s mate, going around the world delivering various Petroleum A products such as aviation gasoline to Korea. I sailed mostly on tankers while working for Standard Oil. I served on 10 different ships during my Maritime Service. During my sailing days, I went to a Maritime School at Sheepshead Bay for upgrading my rating.

Korea was still on when I was drafted into the U.S. Army in 1953; actually I was exempt but I did not use my job to avoid the draft and was sent to Fort Dix for basic training and to Fort Eustis VA Transportation Center for small boat training . I also went to Little Creek Amphibious Base for Landing Craft handling and beach protocol. At the time, the Army had many boats and no qualified service personnel to run them. I was promoted to a Coxswain and assigned to an Experimental LCM 8. It was too big and heavy to be transported by mother ships (AKA or APA). The rest of my Army career was spent on rescue missions and delivering personnel and equipment up and down the James River in Virginia as well as many joint maneuvers with the Marines.

I was discharged in 1955, after which I worked in Operations for various steamship lines and was transferred up to Connecticut in 1972. I have been married 55 years to my wife Eva and have three grown children and seven grandchildren. I am very proud to be part of the Antique Veterans and a Past State President of the Connecticut Elks.

Sterling Richardson
Sterling was drafted on February 7, 1951 for the Korean War. His basic training was at Ft. Rucker, AL. He served with the 136th Infantry Regiment in the 47th Infantry Division. While in Korea he was in the Eight Army 826th Infantry Regiment and also Headquarters EUSAK Eight US Army.

During his year of service in Korea, he alternated between serving as a combatant (initially using M-1 rifles and later M-16 rifles) and serving as one of the three or four administrative aides to Commanding Officer General Van Fleet, a four-star General. His combat experience carried him from Inchon to Seoul to the Chinese border and back, much of it in the frigid cold weather that Korea is known for.

He was discharged from active duty on February 3rd, 1953 and immediately he joined the USA Reserve with the 1117th USA Garrison. He was later assigned to the 1031 USA Reserve Forces School in W. Hartford doing duty as Administration Technician. He retired from the USAR on July 18, 1988 after 36 years service with the rank of Sergeant Major. He retired from Civil Service in January 1993 with a total of 42 years total military and Civil Service duty.

Sterling married his wife Vicki in 1951 and they have three children and six grandchildren.

Harold Rochette
Harold I. Rochette was born in Middletown, Connecticut and graduated from Woodrow Wilson High School in 1938. He worked at odd jobs and then worked at Pratt and Whitney. He decided he wanted to fly planes, not just work on them. More schooling in trigonometry and other areas of math was needed before he could enter Aviation Cadets in 1943. When asked about his love of planes, Harold recalled that when he was ten years old, he and his cousin would carve B-17’s out of soft pine and sell them for .75 cents.

Harold had married his high school sweetheart before going into the service and he said he wrote to her every day so she would know that he was okay. After much training, Harold became a pilot and flew a B-17 Flying Fortress. He had much combat experience. Harold’s Air Force Uniform is very impressive with honors and decorations ranging from ribbons including the air medal four times, and the European Theatre Operation twice, among others. He is very modest about being honored but is most proud of his Distinguished Flying Cross.

Lt. Colonel Rochette belonged to the 8th Air Force, was stationed in England and flew over France, Germany, and Poland in some 31 missions. His many varied war memories include:
>> A mission flown at an altitude of 25,000 feet at 30-50 degrees below zero, with no heat. The oxygen masks had to be checked every ten minutes because your breath could freeze in the mask and death would occur.
>> A big storm in Iceland with terrible visibility, wind and fog—they threw things overboard—all but personal possessions.
>> In one mission, 15 planes went out and only 9 made it—others lost at sea. There were some rough times.
>> Gasoline was always too heavy, weighing six lbs. per gallon and sometimes weighing as much as two freight cars.
>> Harold indicated that skill (and pointing toward heaven) got him home.

Harold’s total years of service in the United States Air Force are 28. When the service was over, he had a business, where they made cement blocks. Following the business, he went to work for Connecticut Light and Power Company (CL&P) as a lineman, because he wanted to work outdoors. Ten to twelve years ago, a friend from CL&P asked him to become a member of the Antique Veterans. Harold, Hal as most friends call him, joined and he really enjoys marching with the Vets. His duty is to present the American Flag to the next of kin of an Air Force service man or woman at their burial. Hal belongs to #585 V.F.W., where he is Vice Commander, and the Air Force Round Table where they gather to hear speakers and share stories. Harold Rochette has written a book. The title is 8th Air Force Lottery. Interestingly, Tom Brokaw encouraged him to write. On a personal note, Harold has a sister in Middletown, a son in Wisconsin, a daughter in Colorado, and grandchildren that make him proud. Harold would love to visit Australia!

Bud Ryan
Willard "Bud" Ryan enlisted in the Army at White Plains, NY on April 18, 1951 during the Korean War. He was processed at Ft. Devens, MA as a private and received basic infantry training at Schofield Barracks, Hawaii-USARPAC. He then completed Officer Candidate Course at Ft. Monmouth, NJ (Camp Woods) on July 31, 1952.

In Uijogbu Korea, he served nine months with the 51st Signal Battalion, Company B in the Ist Corp., providing communications with the Army, Marines and Turkish troops to help them hold the front lines against Chinese and North Korean soldiers. Morale was pretty good as Allied forces had reversed the Chinese push into South Korea.

Armed with M-16s for protection and working from a tent, Bud led his platoon of 28 members in providing communications to front line troops by hard-wire telephone (wireless radio communications were just starting to be developed). Weather conditions were harsh in this mountainous area with severe cold conditions (many American troops lost limbs due to frostbite).

On March 18, 1957, he was discharged as a 1st Lt. in the Signal Corps. He married his present wife Barbara in 1994, and he has five children and nine grandchildren. After separation from the Service, he worked in the telecommunications business, first as a helper, then wireman, then installer, then central office foreman, then head of IBM networks across the country (while working for AT&T) and finally as an engineer with N.Y. Telephone. And he spent some quality time fishing and hunting along the way.

George Tamburri
George Tamburri enlisted in the Navy in October l943 at the age of 16. He received basic training at Sampson Naval Training Base.

After basic training, he was shipped to ATB and UDT Amphibious and under water demolition training. Then he went to Naval Special Force Training at Fort Emery. This led him to the Mediterranean where he picked up a LSM Flotilla, which went to the Pacific Command. He was refitted to a LSMR in Honolulu.

This Flotilla was in the Eniwetok atoll invasion followed by Guam, Saipan, Tinian, Philippines, Mindoro, Batangas, Manila, Luzon and Subic Bay. They were also engaged in a operation in China. They were amphibious backup force at Iwo Jima and make assault landings on Okinawa. Finally they secured Yokohama Bay and the city of Yokohama. During his service he was an Operations Specialist serving on the following ships: LCVP, LCT, LCI, LSM, and LSMP. He was discharged at Lido Beach, NY.

Joseph Wysocki
In 1943, I joined the Maritime Service, took admission test and was accepted to the United States Merchant Marine Academy. I took basic schooling at San Mateo, CA. After completing basic schooling, I served my second year aboard ship. I was part of the academy’s Cadet Corp that lost 150 midshipman during WWII.

In my first trip, we supplied torpedoes for submarines at Freemantle, Australia. Later, We supplied army needs for the Burma Campaign, and later in Calcutta, India. My next trip was with the Marines in the invasion of Iwo Jima. I subsequently went back to the academy at Great Neck, Long Island for my last years. I graduated from the academy as a 3rd engineer officer, and received my commission as an Ensign in the Naval Reserve.

For one year, I sailed (1947) in the Atlantic Ocean for the Army Transport Service. Some of the ports were: Bremenhaven, Germany, Southhampton, England and Liverno, Italy. My service was with many military services: Merchant Marine, Submariners, Marines, Army and Naval Services. After the war, I served at reserve stations at Cromwell and New Haven.

Among the many naval schools I attended were: ABC atomic biological and chemical; activation and deactivation of submarines; command school; mobilization, as well as many other naval schools. I was also a commanding officer of a surface division. I later retired in 1970 after 27 years of naval service.

Joseph married his wife Florence in 1943. They have two children, a son and a daughter. He worked for International Silver Co. as a tool & die maker, machinist and foreman.

Raymond Zakszewski
After leaving Meriden High School in 1943, I joined the U.S. Maritime Service and served from January 1945 to January 1946.  While in the maritime service, I served on ships that delivered engineering materials from New York to various Mediterranean countries, maintaining and repairing merchant ship boilers. After leaving the maritime service,

I was drafted into the Army and received basic training at Camp Crowder, MO.  I then attended the Signal Corps School in Ft. Monmouth, NJ and was assigned to 9201st TSU TC Post Headquarters at Camp Kilmer, NJ.  While there, I worked in the Signal Corps as a Central Office repairman, testing, repairing and maintaining telephone and telegraph equipment. I then transferred to the Army Reserves in April 1947 and served for 3 years. I earned the WW II Victory Medal and the American Campaign Medal.

My civilian employment was closely associated with the Army, Navy and Air Force as I was a communications inspector.  I became a J-57 engine mechanical inspector for Pratt and Whitney.  My 30 year career at Pratt and Whitney was followed by work with Raymond Engineering, developing modern technology such as: Outer Space Vehicles, black boxes, tape recording, oil drilling equipment, missiles and arming devices. 

I have been married for 62 years to my wife Palma, and we have two children, James and Raelene. We have enjoyed travelling (23 cruises to much of the world) and I have enjoyed hunting, fishing and carpentry (which let me to build the house that I now live in).