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The Vietnam War was the longest war in UnitedStates History; with commitments to thegovernment of South Vietnam to prevent acommunist takeover, which started in the TrumanAdministration and continued through the term ofLyndon Johnson.

Even with decades of financial and militarysupport and the loss of 60,000 American lives,and many more injuries (One out of every 10Americans who served was a casualty.), ourobjectives were never resolved. Why? The enemywas hard to identify. The Viet Cong did not fight ina conventional manner; attacks came day andnight, in jungles and rice paddies with an enemythat blended into the village population. Anotherreason was that most of our soldiers were young,with an average age of nineteen, andinexperienced in the ways of war. As you readsome of our veterans’ stories, you will realize thatthe Vietnam War was fought on many fronts. Forthat reason, Communism was contained. Withoutour involvement, the Asian nations might havefallen and the free world would have lost animportant strategic area.

Was it worth all the time, money, and livesexpended? It depends on to whom you talk. Inretrospect, many think that “restraining themilitary in Vietnam probably prevented a nuclearwar with China or Russia. The Vietnam War wasshortly after China got involved in the Korean War,the time of the Cuban Missile Crises, Sovietaggression in Eastern Europe and theproliferation of nuclear bombs. It was a veryscary time for our country.”

A peace agreement was signed in Paris on January27, 1973. The last troops left in their entirety onMarch 29, 1973. The fall of Saigon occurred twoyears later on April 30, 1975. It was a war thatdivided American citizens and influenced foreignpolicy into the 21st century.

About this Tribute Cover PhotosTop left:In January 1968, sighting the enemy, the doorgunner aboard a Huey helicopter opens fire ona target below in the Mekong Delta.

Top right:The Navy's Patrol Air Cushion Vehicle (PACV)was introduced during the Vietnam War. It wasused for assault missions, search and rescue,high-speed troop transportation and logisticsupport.

Bottom:USS Forrestal. A fire on a United States Navycarrier stationed off the coast of Vietnam kills134 service members on July 29, 1967. Thedeadly fire on the USS Forrestal began with theaccidental launch of a rocket.

During the Vietnam War, the USS Forrestal wasoften stationed off the coast of North Vietnam,conducting combat operations. On themorning of July 29, the ship was preparing toattack when a rocket from one of its own F-4Phantom jet fighters was accidentallylaunched. The rocket streaked across the deckand hit a parked A-4 Skyhawk jet. TheSkyhawk, which was waiting to take off, waspiloted by John McCain, the future senatorfrom Arizona.

Acknowledgements

This Tribute Booklet is a publication of the SpringmillCommunications Committee.

A sincere thank you goes to: June Stemmle for conceiving of this project. She

spent many hours writing the stories and gatheringphotos and other supporting material.

Dick Rausch did the design and layout. Joan Grossassisted with the proofreading.

Enid Wallace-Simms. Senior Public Affairs Manager& Tara Williams of DelMarva Power and Light who

coordinated the printing which was graciouslydonated as a public service.

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About this Tribute 2Cover Photos 2Acknowledgements 2Poetry Inspired by Vietnam 4Herbert (Herb) Abrams * 5Richard Baggs 5Frank Basler 5Richard (Dick) Bengermino 6Nicholas Ciranni 6Ralph Y. Clair 7Ernest Cole 7Charles (Sam) Corkadel 8Joseph DiGiacinto 9William (Bill) Farquhar 9Herman Feinberg 10Marvin Fisher 10Robert Flynn 11Richard Foley 11Herb Frank 12Jerry Geftman 12Mel Geiger 12William Herbster 13Robert Hill 14Robert Jackson 14Richard Jewett 14Waldo Jones 15John Kish 16Peter Kurych 17

George Latsko 17 Joel (Skip) Leeson 17Steven LeShay 18Richard (Dick) Lyons 19Alfred Maloney 19Richard Mullen 20Roy Peters 21Thomas Porter 21Richard (Dick) Rausch 22Clinton D. Robertson 22Fred Robinson 23Raymond (Ray) Rouiller 23James Rutolo 24John Rutt 24Gerard (Jerry) Ryan 26Robert Saul 26 Robert Schreckengost 27Michael Scott 27Joseph Speno 28Joe Tomassetti 28William (Bill) Uranko 29Mark Verni 29Marvin Walthall 30Fred Wendt 31Vietnam Memorial 32

* Deceased

In MemoriamWe would like to recognize the following Springmill Vietnamera war veterans who passed away during the preparation

of this tribute.

Herbert (Herb) Abrams (January 2016)Emil Savoia (December 2015)

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Poetry Inspired by The Vietnam War

Welcome Home (It’s Never Too Late)by Lachlan Irvine

To all the unsung heroesWho deserve their special day

Welcome HomeThough many years have passed

I hope it's not too late to sayWelcome Home

You went to war believingThat you had a job to doAnd though it wasn't easy

I'm so glad you made it throughAnd I think it's time we told you all

How proud we are of youWelcome Home

Though memories can be painfulAnd some wounds are slow to heal

Welcome HomeYour people now are ready

To tell you how we feelWelcome Home

In the footsteps of your fathersWho fought in Freedom's name

And your grandfathers before themWho played War's deadly game

You followed their exampleDid your duty just the same

Welcome Home

I hope we've gained the wisdom nowTo understand the cost

Welcome HomeAnd though it won't relieve the pain

Of good friends you have lostWelcome Home

As we take a quiet momentTo remember those who fell

In the jungles and the paddiesOn the battlefields of Hell

We give thanks for the survivorsAnd we raise our voice to yell

WELCOME HOME

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Herb Abrams (deceased February 2016),enlisted in 1957 to serve in the Air Force afterthe Korean War, but before Vietnam Waryears. At the time he was residing in DrexelHill, Pennsylvania. He found his first few daysof service very difficult because he missedbeing home. Herb was an only child, so living ina barrack with somany other menwas very different.He had also juststarted dating aspecial gal and wasvery interested ingetting to know herbetter.

In 1958, Herb wasstationed overseas.Since he was assigned to work in his chosenprofession, as a pharmacist in a hospital, hewas never involved in combat and was neverinjured. The hospital did have sufficientequipment and supplies.

Herb stayed in touch with family through lettersand phone calls. He was happy to receiveitems from home, including food, because whilethe food was OK, it wasn’t what he was used to.While in the service, Herb received an “awardfor length of service” in the Air Force. He alsoshared that while he made friends during hisenlistment, he didn’t stay in touch with any ofthem. He had the opportunity, while inCalifornia, to pass the pharmacy boards, withthe hopes of moving there after the service. Itnever came to pass. Herb returned home onJuly 22, 1959 and returned to civilian life as apharmacist in a drug store. As far as hisexperience as a whole, he said, “It was not likeanything I ever did before.”

Herb did join a veteran’s organization, theJewish War Veterans in Delaware. He is a lifemember of the Jewish War Veterans, and roseto the rank of State Commander, serving in thatposition for seven years.

Richard Baggs, of 27 Springmill Drive,enlisted in the Marine Corps in June of 1965at age 18.

Richard did hisbasic training atParris Island,South Carolina.Parris Island hasbeen the site ofMarine Corpsrecruit trainingsince November 1,1915.

After boot camp, the recruits go through infantrytraining, combat training, and find out aboutmilitary occupational specialties. In Richard’scase, he did eventually go overseas to Vietnam.His tour in Vietnam included service in Chu Lai,Hill 244 and An Hoa. He served with the 1stMarine Division Hq Battalion and 2nd Battalion5 Marines.

Richard was discharged in June of 1968. Oncehome, he went to school on the G.I. Bill.

Frank Basler, of 608 Poet’s Way, was draftedinto the Army on October 1956. He had hisbasic training in Fort Hood, Texas, followed byadvanced trainingat Signal Schoolin Fort GordonGeorgia. (TheUnited StatesArmy SignalCorps developstests, provides,and managescommunicationsand informationsystems supportfor the command and control of combined armsforces. Over its history, it had the initialresponsibility for a number of functions and newtechnologies that are currently managed by other

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Richard Bengermino, of 317 Daylilly Way, wasliving in Upper Darby, Pennsylvania, when hewas drafted into the United States Army on May11, 1956.

After basic training, Richard was sent toGermany foreighteen months.For the next twoyears, hisassignment was“on the IronCurtain” watchingthe Russians.

Richard wastrained as a fieldwireman, whichentailed maintaining communications andsetting up new communications. “Not allcommunications in the field is via radio.Sometimes it is helpful to lay wire for telephone-like exchanges, which are not easily subject tojamming and are economical. Field wiremencan also lay and repair wire networks to link thebattle line to key outposts, command posts andheadquarters.” Basically, Richard kept theartillery batteries (units of guns, mortars,rockets or missiles aimed at enemy guns) intouch with each other.

While in Germany, Richard bought a little carthat allowed him to drive up and downEurope…even to Italy, during any free time.After fourteen months, Richard was promotedto Corporal. Between his basic training and histime in Germany, his service added up to twoyears. He was discharged and returned homeon May 5, 1958. Once in civilian life, he wasemployed as a warehouse superintendent.

organizations including military intelligence, weatherforecasting and aviation.)

Frank served with the 143 Signal Company, 3rd

Armored Division in Frankfurt and Hanau,Germany from April 1957 to September 1958. Hewas discharged in October 1958. He then served inthe Army Reserve with the 393rd Army FieldHospital from October 1958 to October 1960.

Nick CiranniNick Ciranni made service to his country a lifelongpursuit. As with many in the same position, his partner inmarriage and life took on the same obligations. So weincluded their Air Force journey, as a couple and aservice family, as part of Nick’s narrative.

Nick enlisted in the United States Air Force in January1950. The story of them as a couple started while he wasstationed in Green Bay,Wisconsin; he and Phyllismet in an elevator. At thetime, Phyllis was amember of the GroundObserver Corps. Thiswas in the early 50’swhen the country wasworried about theRussians mounting abombing attack over theNorth Pole. As things gotserious between thecouple, Phyllis’s parents were concerned that if she andNick married, she would leave Green Bay (They wereright.), and so the scheduled wedding was called off!Nothing kept this military Romeo and his Juliet apart,however. With the help of a parish priest, they weremarried in the nun’s convent on August 4, 1956. Theyeven managed a reception in a friend’s house. Needlessto say this strained relations with his new in-laws for thefirst year.

Well, first came love, and then marriage, and then…thekids. Nick, Jr. was born in Green Bay. Soon after theymoved to Michigan where their second child, Kathleen,was born in a nasty snow storm. At this point Nick wassent to Iceland and Phyllis and the children shuttledbetween her family in WI and his family in NY. When hefinally got home, their next assignment was in Nebraska,where their third child, Patricia, was born. An assignmentin Louisiana followed, and then a four-year stint in Spain.Getting back to the U.S. saw them on the move again toNebraska and then Alabama. Nick finished his timeabroad (and Phyllis saw an end to packing up) when theywere sent to Guam for two years. Then, finally, it wasback home to Dover AFB in Delaware and the end ofthirty-one years of service. “We moved so many timesthat only our youngest, Patricia, actually started andfinished her education in the same high school. We wereeven in DE long enough for her to complete three years ofcollege.” (I’m sure at this point Phyllis could have had acareer with the moving company of her choice…or a travelagency.) Nick was discharged in January, 1971. Duringhis time in the service he received numerous awards.

The next chapter of this pair’s life was in the civilian sector.Nick became an off-duty education manager with the AirForce. The moves this time were to Georgia, Colorado, andVirginia. At this point, the Cirannis’ retired for the second timeand settled into life in one place.

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Ralph Clair was drafted in October, 1963 tofight in Vietnam. At the time he was living inLong Island, NY. He served from 1964-1966. Itwas one month before President Kennedy wasassassinated. Ralph said that his “first days inthe service were frightening; mostly becauserumors abounded,and he didn’t knowwhere he would bestationed. He wasnever assignedoverseas andnever saw combat.

Ralph spent mostof his time in theservice as a clerktypist in TroopCommand. In thatcapacity, he was responsible for assigningtroops overseas. The personnel in the officewere a clerk typist, a Master Sergeant, aCaptain, a Major, and a Lt. Colonel. He alwayshad enough equipment and supplies to do hisjob.

During his time in the service, Ralph had avariety of experiences; for the two months heworked on courier duty and delivered top secretdocuments all over the country…had to travelby plane, train and car.

Ralph primarily kept in touch with family throughletters and occasionally by phone. He washappy when his mother sent a “care package.”Any free time was spent playing pool or pingpong in the Day Room. He never kept a journalor took photos while in the service. He didmake a couple of good friends with whom hegets in touch once a year. He also received aGood Conduct medal. He didn’t join anyveteran’s organizations.Ralph remembers the day he got home. Whatstands out in his mind is that his parents andfriends greeted him with hugs and saying “welldone.” He was just happy to be a civilianagain…his “freedom was so much moreappreciated than before serving.”

Ernest Cole, of 238 Patience Way, was draftedand entered service in June of 1966. He wasliving in Wayne, New Jersey at the time. Afterbasic training he was stationed at Fort Benning,Georgia and then assigned in Vung Tau, Vietnamfrom June 1967 to June 1968. His primary jobwas in general support maintenance andhelicopter power train repair.

Ernest didencounter combatduring the 1968 TetOffensive; exposureto Agent Orangeduring his time inVietnam caused himto developParkinson’sdisease. While hedidn’t sustain anyinjuries, he didexperience PTSD due to his participation in thewar. On the positive side, he said, “I found theVietnamese people to be friendly and caring.”

Ernest kept in touch with his family via letterwriting and he received many packages ofgoodies from family members while he was inVietnam. Overall, he thought the food was OK,but there were some shortages of supplies.

During any free time, Ernest enjoyed playing dartsand chess. He didn’t keep a journal, but he didtake some pictures, which he has since givenaway. He did develop some friendships, but hasnot kept in touch with his service friends.

The awards he received during his service werethe National Defense Service Medal, VietnamCampaign Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, and aGood Conduct Medal.

Upon returning home, Ernest attended MontclairState College and became a teacher of vocationaleducation for special education students. He alsoearned a Doctoral Degree in Education at RutgersUniversity and became Executive Director of theCerebral Palsy League of New Jersey.

He is a member of the VFW. As far as commentingon his experiences in Vietnam, he has “nothing tosay except that they were life changing.”

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Sam Corkadel, of 556 Whispering Trail, enlisted in theUnited States Air Force on October 24, 1960, at age 18.He was living in Avondale, Pennsylvania at the time. Hedid his basic training at Lackland Air Force Base inTexas. After basic training, he went to school atSheppard AFB in Wichita Falls, Texas. Havingcompleted school, he was sent to Olmsted AFB inMiddletown, PA to the 2861st GEEIA Squadron (GroundElectronic EngineeringInstallation Agency).This was a TDY(temporary duty) outfit,so he got to travel to,and work on, many AirForce bases and AirForce stations fromMaryland toNewfoundland, Canada.

After one year, Sam wasreassigned to the 1stMobile Communications Group, Clark AB, P.I, known tomembers as the 1st Mob. His primary job while in theservice was in communications, supporting combatoperations. After a few weeks to familiarize himself withthe communication equipment he would be operation,repairing and/or replacing, he was sent TDY to TakhliAB, Thailand. Where he was stationed, it seemed henever had enough equipment or supplies. His originaltwo month deployment became three months and thenwas booted up to six months. This shortened hiseighteen month overseas tour to fifteen months.

During Sam’s early time in Thailand, he lived in squadtents. Then, before Christmas, they were moved to anabandoned Thai Air Force barracks. They ate “C”rations out of mess kits served in an outdoor messkitchen. He shared, “C and K rations really weren’t thatbad considering you had no other choice, and was onthem for half a year. The base was considered hardduty; it wasn’t a pleasant environment. The big joke wasthat they had three kinds of weather; hot and dry, hotand wet, and hot and hot. This was a high security baserun by USAF and Air American, which was involved inthe “secret” Laotian War. If you never heard of it, thenyou probably never heard of the other conflicts that weregoing on at this time. In Southeast Asia from 1962 to1963, Vietnam activity was actually fighting in five areasof Asia at the same time.”

After Takhli, Sam was sent to Don Muang. AB Thailandand traveled to many other bases and mountain radiorelay sites in Thailand. In his time there, he alsotraveled to Da Nang and Tan Son Nhut, Vietnam. Hewas shipped out of Tan Son Nhut back to Clark AirBase, P.I for reassignment back to the States. Duringhis time overseas, Sam kept in touch with family throughthe mail.

Sam commented that during his time in Asia, there reallywasn’t time for “fun.” They did play baseball once in awhile. He did take pictures while in the service andshared some of them during our conversation.Getting home in December of 1963, Sam wasreassigned to 862nd Communications Squadron SAC,Minot AFB, Minot, North Dakota. At Minot, his squadronworked base communications and also worked on theMinuteman Missile flights. He got to go into the missilesilos many times. He often wondered how the crewssurvived being locked in them for their shifts…it tookextraordinary airmen. Sam said, “Minot was the coldestplace he had ever been to; it’s much colder thanNewfoundland, Canada.

Sam was separated from the Air Force on October 24,1964 and was assigned to the Air Force Reserve, fromwhich he was discharged on October 23, 1966, havingserved four years in the regular Air Force and two yearson active reserves.Sam guessed that many who served in Southeast Asiamay have something medically wrong with them thatmight not have shown up until years later. His bigproblem was a waterborne parasitic lung infection whichdidn’t show up until the early or mid-1970’s. The VA’sanswer to that was that, “If it didn’t show up on his lastAir Force medical, it didn’t happen.” He continued, “Itwas the same thing with Agent Orange, even though itwas sprayed in Thailand and Vietnam from the early60’s. If you weren’t in Air Force base security units, youweren’t eligible for help. Sam left a lot out of hisSoutheast Asia experience because it was such ahostile environment both in terms of weather and otherways.

When asked about awards, at first Sam commentedthat he “got some ribbons.” As it turns out, he got quitea few awards; a Presidential Unit Citation, Air Force UnitCitation, Good Conduct, Armed Forced ExpeditionaryRibbon, Vietnam Ribbons, Training Ribbons, and aMinute Man Missile Pin (for working on Minute ManMissiles flights at Minot AFB).

On returning home he went to work for the Burroughs’sCorporation in Downingtown, PA building the mainconsoles for ABM systems, also traveling to Boston, MAto work on the same system. He spent some time withBell Labs in New Jersey, and with RaytheonCorporation. He got tired of all the travel and took a jobwith the United Postal Service; first in Newark, DE andthen in West Grove, PA. Eventually he stated his ownconstruction business.

Sam is a lifetime member of the Disabled War Veteransand a lifetime member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars.He was an active member of the American Legion fortwenty-three years and a Post Commander for eightyears. When asked about his Air Force experience as awhole, he said, “It wasn’t good or bad, it was just a job.”

Charles (Sam) Corkadel

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Joseph V. DiGiacinto was born May 19, 1935 inBrooklyn, NY. He attended Brooklyn Technical HighSchool, received a Bachelor of Science degree fromthe University of Dayton, and a Master of ScienceDegree from the University of Wisconsin.

Joe was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant fromROTC and enteredactive duty with theArmy on September19, 1958. Afterattending the InfantryOfficer Basic Course,he was assigned to the25th Infantry Division inHawaii, where heserved as a platoonleader in the 21stInfantry, and then asAssistant Chemicalofficer with the USArmy. Then, from1964 to 1966, he was assigned tothe US Army Biological Laboratory in Fort Detrick, MD.

In 1966, Joe volunteered for duty in Vietnam and wasassigned to the 2nd Brigade, 1st Infantry division inVietnam as the brigade chemical officer and assistantS-3. While in Vietnam he was involved in numerousbattles, the biggest of which was Operation Junction City;later to be called the April Fool’s Day Massacre. He wasalso involved in the extensive use of Agent Orange.

After some R&R in Hong Kong, Joe returned to theU.S. and attended the Command and General StaffCollege at Ft. Leavenworth, Kansas. Upongraduation, he was ordered to Washington, DC andserved first in the Office of Personnel Operation andthen in the Chemical and Nuclear OperationsDirectorate at the Pentagon until 1973, when he wastransferred to the US European Command inStuttgart Germany. He and his family were able totour numerous countries.

Upon returning to the United States in 1976, he wastransferred to the US Army Ordnance and ChemicalCenter and School, Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD,where he served as commander of the 3rd Battalion.Then in 1980 he was assigned as Director of TrainingDevelopments at the Chemical School, FortMcClellan, Alabama.

From 1983 to 1986, Joe served in a variety ofpositions at TECOM Headquarters (Test andEvaluation Command) before becoming Chief of Staffin January, 1986. He retired on September 30, 1988.

Bill Farquhar enlisted in the Air Force in 1955. Atthe time, he was living at home in Saddle Brook,New Jersey, and it seemed the best choice at thetime since he couldn’t afford to attend college. Hedid his basictraining at SampsonAir Force Base inNew York…a verybusy time.Bill was assignedoverseas, going toFrance the followingyear, in 1956. Hehad learned tooperate a two-wayradio and so wasassigned to a communication job as a radiooperator. He was never involved in combatbecause his enlistment occurred between theKorean and Vietnam era. During his tour inFrance he stayed in touch with family throughletters and looked forward to treats received,even though the food in the Air Force “wasdecent.”

For fun, during any breaks, he especially enjoyedplaying basketball. (It figures…if you know Bill,he a tall drink of water.). He didn’t keep a journalor take pictures, but made friends that he losttouch with once he was discharged. Overall hethought his experience in the Air Force was“good.”

Once home, he worked in the trucking industry.Bill spent his whole career in the transportationindustry, retiring at age 55. He’s proud of the factthat, during his tenure at the trucking company heworked for, he did a “little bit of everything.” Hestarted as a driver and became Vice President ofOperations by his retirement.

Joseph V. DiGiacintoJoe’s military awards include the Legion of Merit,Bronze Star Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster, MeritoriousService Medal with four Oak Leaf Clusters, Air Medal,Joint Service Commendation Medal, ArmyCommendation Medal, Expert Infantry Badge and theGeneral Staff Badge. He is also a 1981 graduate of theArmy War College.

Joe reflected on his thirty years and twelve days on activeduty saying, “They were the best ever. We made numerousfriends and are still in contact with many of them.”

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Herman Feinberg was drafted into the Army fortwo years, in 1962, when he was 22 years’ old.At the time he was living in Philadelphia,Pennsylvania. He remembers the first few daysof basic training, at Fort Jackson, South Carolina,as being cold. It was in February. He never wentoverseas. Most of his tour was spent in Northand South Carolina.

Herman’s primaryjob, while in theservice, was takingcare of MilitaryPayrolls. Becausehe had previouslybeen trained inData Processing,he was assigned towork on MilitaryPayrolls at FortBragg. He processed 80 column cards andprinted payroll vouchers and also printed greencards for payments…like the refunds you used toget from the IRS.

During the Cuban Missile Crisis, Herman wasassigned to support the 82nd Airborne, stationedat Fort Bragg that was going to paratroop intoCuba, if President Kennedy deemed it necessary.

Herman was lucky because he had his own carwith him, so he got to tour some of the southerntowns. He enjoyed playing baseball and footballduring his free time. He was never hurt incombat, but did break his nose playing football.He mostly stayed in touch with family by drivinghome, but he also got treats from home betweentrips. He didn’t want for much, food and supplieswere easily obtained.

Herman didn’t keep a journal, but he did takepictures during his service. While he made friends,he didn’t stay in touch once discharged. An awardhe received was a Good Conduct Medal.

Upon being discharged, Herman drove homewith three other soldiers. Once in civilian life, hewent to work in the area oftechnology/computers. While he didn’t join aveteran’s organization, he does credit the servicefor “helping him grow up.”

Marvin Fisher, of 555 Whispering Trail, enlisted inthe United States Air Force on June 9, 1953. Hewas 19 years old and living in Elsemere, DE at thetime. He did his basic training at Sampson AirForce Base in Geneva, New York.

Marvin was then stationed at Maxwell Air ForceBase in Alabama. His primary job in the servicewas in the TacticalAir Command; hewas responsiblefor processing aircrews. He wasnever involved incombat and wasnever injured.

While Marvin wasin the service, hekept in touch withfamily bytelephone. He said that while the food in the AirForce “wasn’t bad,” he was happy to receive carepackages from his mom. During any free time,now and then, he played poker. Marvin still likesto go to Atlantic City with his wife, Sylvia. Hemade many friends and has kept in touch withsome of them.

Marvin was in the Air Force for four years,returning home on June 8, 1957. Usually you aredischarged on the same day you go into theservice. In his case, he had to stay an extra daybecause it fell on a Sunday, and the financialoffice was closed on Sunday.After his discharge, Marvin at first worked atDuPont, but then joined the Delaware Air Guardand became a career airman. He remained in theGuard for thirty-six years, eventually becoming anAir Operations Supervisor. Crews of airmen flewout every week, but none of them got to go unlessMarvin signed the paperwork. One experience hehad that was unrelated to his regular assignmentwas during the civil disturbances in Wilmingtonduring the 1960’s. His group was there to makesure no one interfered with fire fighters doing theirjob. One story that Sylvia reminded him of waswhen, at age 60, he decided to volunteer forDesert Storm. He thought he might finally getoverseas. But it wasn’t to be. It seems he hadhad pneumonia and Sylvia insisted he be checkedout before leaving. During the exam, he was

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Bob Flynn, of 143 Springmill Drive, enlistedin the United States Air Force at the age ofnineteen. At the time he was living in EastOrange, New Jersey. He remembers mostlythat during those first few days in the service hewas homesick.

In 1956 Bob wasstationedoverseas, but wasnot involved incombat and wasnever injuredduring his service.His firstassignment was inFrance. He alsospent a short timeon a base inTripoli. His primary job in the Air Force was asan aircraft mechanic.During breaks, Bob enjoyed traveling in Europe.One experience that stands out in his memoryoccurred in Greece…he was robbed.

Bob kept in touch with family through lettersand phone calls. He thought the food abroadwas OK. He didn’t really keep a journal or takepictures. He did make friends, but hasn’t keptin touch with them.

Bob remembers coming home, because soonafter he got back, he became engaged toMarge. They were married the followingsummer in 1960. Once a civilian, he continuedto work with aircraft as an airplane mechanic.He worked for Eastern Airlines for twenty-sixyears. The love of planes continued for manyyears, even after retirement. You could findhim at Lums Pond most days of the week flyingradio-controlled helicopters and airplanes.

Richard Foley, of 302 Daylilly Way, wasdrafted into the United States Army inSeptember of 1957 at age 23. He spent a yearand a half overseas, in Germany, during histour of duty. His job in the service was being aradio/teletype operator.One memorablestory that Richardhad better notforget was whenhis wife-to-bejoined him inGermany andthey were marriedshortly after herarrival. Carolremained withDick for about sixmonths beforereturning to the United States, which was fourmonths or so before he came back home.

He remembered only one award that stands outand that was “Soldier of the Cycle.” He alsoearned a Good Conduct medal. He made anumber of friends in the Army and stayed intouch with them for “good while.”

Richard remained in the service until hisdischarge in 1959. As far as his experienceoverall, he said it was an interesting time in hislife. When he returned home, he went to workas a research analyst at a major departmentstore in Columbus, Ohio.

Richard Foleydiagnosed with atrial fibrillation...he didn’t get to go.

When Marvin finally retired from the Guard, he joined theAmerican Legion, mostly because his neighbor SamCorkadel was in charge. All in all, Marvin said, “I can’tcomplain about my time in the service; I have a niceretirement, have a health plan for life, and enjoyed what Idid.”

This Tribute was unveiled at a receptionfor Springmill’s Korean and Vietnameseera war veterans which was held at theClubhouse on Saturday June 11, 2016.

The reception was underwritten by theSpringmill Board of Directors.

A thank you goes to June Stemmle whomade arrangements for the reception andfor the help of everyone who assisted with

the day’s festivities.

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Herb Frank was commissioned in June, 1963, as aSecond Lieutenant in the U.S. Army Military PoliceCorp. He was 21 year’s old at the time, was marriedand was living in Forest Hills, New York.Initially, he was assigned to Fort Dix in New Jersey.Herb said the first days in the service were difficult. Itwas hard for a twenty-one-year-old to be a responsibleleader…all while learning the aspects of his job as amilitary police officer.

Herb’s battalion wasactivated to gooverseas to Vietnamin February, 1965.As a SecondLieutenant, andsubsequently as aFirst Lieutenant, hisprimary job was as aplatoon leader,responsible for foursquads of men, with 8to 10 men in eachsquad. At one point, he was the battalion supplyofficer and was responsible for changing all theequipment, vehicles, and arms to the newest modelsprior to going over to Vietnam. In Vietnam, besidesregular police duties, he supervised his platoon, whichwas located in different cities in Vietnam. His men wereresponsible for guarding armed forces installations.

Herb was never involved in combat and was not injuredduring his tour. One experience he recalled occurredwhen he was the officer in charge of the shift. He got tomeet the commander of all the forces in Vietnam as wellas the United States’ ambassador to Vietnam. As theofficer in charge he was responsible for checking theirquarters and making sure they were secure and the safewas locked.Since the internet was not “invented by Al Gore” at thetime, Herb regularly mailed home letters and packagesand received the same. He especially appreciated anytreats that arrived, even though he thought the food wasgood. He did learn a lesson about eating the localcuisine…came down with amoebic dysentery. On rareoccasions, he was able to phone home by going throughthe local Vietnamese network to a radio operator, whowould radio to a ham operator, who would then phonehis wife, so they would be able to talk.

During any breaks, Herb would drink or go to theOfficer’s Club, where there would be entertainment.He didn’t keep a journal or take any pictures, but mademany friends. Unfortunately, he isn’t still in touch withany of them. His service awards include campaignribbons and a Fort Dix Certificate of Merit.On the day he was discharged, he remembers steppingoff the plane in Hawaii and kissing the ground, he was

Mel Geiger joined the Delaware National Guard inJuly, 1965. He grew up and was living in Dover, DE atthe time. It was a very common thing for young menof his age group to do where he grew up. He wasalso acquainted with the First Sergeant of the localunit, as well as several other members of the Guardunit, so it was a“comfortable fit.”

Mel didn’t ship out forbasic training at FortBragg, NorthCarolina, until August,1966. He spent eightweeks there “doingthe things you do inbasic training;marching, p-t, firingweapons, etc.)” Histime there wasstrenuous but uneventful. He said he also met somevery interesting people from all walks of life.

so glad to be back in the United States. His wife methim in Hawaii and they stayed at the Marriott for a fewdays. Herb “kept mum about anything beyond that.”

Upon entering civilian life again, Herb worked with theBoy Scouts of America as a “professional scouter.”Then he started on his insurance career with LibertyMutual Insurance Company as a claims adjuster. Overtime he worked for other insurance companies, and atage 45 became an “expert witness” and testified forpeople who were suing insurance companies.

Jerry Geftman is among those who served theircountry, but are very private concerning that service.Jerry did share thathe enlisted in theUnited StatesMarine Corps inOctober of 1956. Itwas during the timewhen people werebeing drafted and hepreferred to make hisown choices and soenlisted for a three-year tour.

During that time heserved aboard a number of ships and had theopportunity to sail to numerous ports. He washonorably discharged in October. 1959.

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From basic training, Mel moved on to Fort Dix, NewJersey for Radio Operator training. He remembersMorse code was not easy for him to absorb, but hegot through it. Soon after, a major reorganization ofthe Delaware National Guard began. Thereorganization move Mel to four other units within thestate during his period of service; Harrington,Seaford, Georgetown, and Milford. During this timehe didn’t recall using Morse code even once.

Mel’s unit was most active in 1968, when he was in theGeorgetown Unit. His unit received a call to serviceduring the riots at Delaware State College (nowDelaware State University). His unit had several “face-to-face” contacts with the dissidents, but no dangeroussituations arose. They were stationed at the collegefor several days until the unrest eased and classesresumed. They were also called out when riots andburning in the city of Wilmington occurred in 1968.Their unit was on call as back-up to the units that werepatrolling the streets of Wilmington. His unit also spenttheir summer training in the City of Wilmingtonbecause of the civil unrest at the time.

Each year the National Guard units participate in atwo-week summer training exercise to improve andmaintain their military skills. Mel said, “These arealways interesting and fun.” Besides their summertraining in Wilmington, they got to train at BethanyBeach, DE, New Castle County Airport, and even flewas far as Fort Bliss, Texas.

While Mel didn’t have any photos to share of his timein the National Guard, he had many memories of thetime he spent in the several different units and of themany people he met.

“The National Guard was quite different in the 1960’sthan what you see today. It was what the namesuggests; protecting our nation, not fighting a war inanother part of the world. Few, if any, National Guardunits were activated for overseas duty back then.”

Bill Herbster, of 525 Whispering Trail, spent 23years in the service of the United States MarineCorps and the United States Air Force. Billshared “I enjoyed every position and assignmentwhile serving in both services.”

Bill grew up in Brookhaven, PA. He enlisted inthe United States Marine Corps in 1953. Hewas transferred to Washington D.C. and wasassigned to the National Security Agency. Aftersome research, I discovered that it is “anintelligence organization of the United States

government. Its parent agency is the U.S.Department of Defense. It is home to America’scode makers and code breakers, providing timelyinformation to U.S. decision makers and militaryleaders. It is unique among the defense agenciesbecause of its government-wide responsibilities,delivering critical strategic and tactical informationto war planners and war fighters. By its verynature, the job requires a high degree ofconfidentiality. It exists to protect the Nation.”*www.nsa.gov

On August 5, 1956,Bill completed hisMarine Corpsenlistment and onAugust 7, 1956, hesigned a re-enlistmentcontract with theUnited States AirForce. He wasassigned to Libyafrom 1960 to 1963.Then from 1963 to1967, he was assigned to the USAF Flight TestCenter at Edwards Air Force Base in California.

Bill moved again from 1967-1968, when he wasassigned to LG Hanscom Field in Massachusetts(ESD-Electronics Systems Division). The next yearwas spent on Johnston Island with the AEC, andthen from 1969 to 1972 he was stationed atMcGuire Air Force Base.

Bill spent some time overseas from 1972 to 1975,when he was assigned to a Tactical Unit of A-2/O-2 Aircraft Squadron out of Vietnam to Wheeler AirBase in Hawaii.

In 1975, Bill and his family relocated to Ellsworth AirForce Base in South Dakota. Bill retired from theUSAF on November 1, 1976. Bill and Shirley’smilitary life was filled with many wonderfulmemories as their assignments took them fromcoast to coast, as well as overseas. Once Billretired, the family settled in North Wilmington,where Bill accepted a position as vice president ofan electronic systems company in Pennsylvania;Bill subsequently moved his corporation toDelaware in 1986. He retired for a second time in1992, and the couple moved into their summerhome on the water near Bethany. In 2002, Bill andShirley purchased a home in Springmill.

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Robert Hill, of 346 Daylilly Way, enlisted in the U.SNavy in July of 1957. At the time he was living athome in Delaware City, DE. After completing bootcamp in Bainbridge, Maryland, and six months oftemporary duty at Pre-Electronics school in NormanOklahoma, he spent twenty-eight weeks in AviationElectronics School inMemphis,Tennessee. Robertwas then transferredto McGuire Air ForceBase in New Jerseyfor eight weeks ofRadio OperatorSchool.

Once Robert’straining wascomplete, he wasassigned to a flight crew for eighteen months as theElectronics Tech and Radio Operator on a C-118airplane for 18 months. He flew all around the world.Most of the flights were in Europe, particularly inGermany. He also made special trips to the Pacific;Hawaii, Guam, Wake, Philippines, Fiji and NewZealand.Robert commented that he had a “great tour of duty”while in the Navy. He was a “small town boy who gotto see the world.” He was discharged in August of1960.

Staying in touch with family was accomplishedthrough phone calls, letters, and an occasional leavefrom duty. Robert said he got many treats fromhome, which he, and most of the others, shared withtheir comrades. Ironically, the best food on the postwas cooked at the stockade, so he made a point ofeating there most of the time. Because he wasassigned to a Headquarters’ Unit, he usually gotenough of anything he needed; food and supplies.

During any freetime, Robert wouldutilize the Post GymFacility, go to townon occasion, andgenerally use otherPost facilities,including church.He didn’t keep ajournal or takemany pictures.Now he wishes thathe had. He still hashis Army yearbook packed away somewhere inthe attic. He made several friends and stayed intouch with a few over several years after hisdischarge. He’s not in touch with any of themnow…fifty-two years since being drafted takes itstoll. While in the service, Robert received theGood Conduct Medal and a Marksman RifleAward.

Robert was honorably discharged on Dec. 1, 1965.He rode home, in an Army buddy’s car, from Ft.Campbell, Kentucky. His friend was on his wayhome to Holyoke, Massachusetts. Robert said, “Wewere so happy to get out of the Army, that we hardlynoticed the long ride home. My buddy met myfamily, had a meal, and hit the road again.”

Robert returned to his Federal Government jobas a clerk and was promoted to a ProcurementOfficer Trainee. He also reenrolled in TempleUniversity, and married his fiancé shortly aftergetting home. He did join the American Legion.

Overall, Robert said, “I was drafted and did notwant to go. But my experience was okayconsidering the part of the country to which I wasassigned…in the middle south, Kentucky,Tennessee. I did take advantage of some of theopportunities for which I qualified. I almost wish Ihad stayed in the Army longer…just long enoughto receive the specialized training offered.

Robert B. Jackson, Jr., of 19 Springmill Drive,was drafted Dec. 1, 1963, during the Vietnam era.He was living in West Philadelphia, Pennsylvaniaat the time. He reports that those first few days ofbasic training were “scary…there was the fear ofthe unknown and many rumors about basictraining.” Surprisingly, he didn’t think basic trainingwas that bad after a few weeks.

Robert was never sent overseas, he just stayedstateside, so he never saw combat. He wasassigned to a Military Police Company. Heworked at the Post Stockade as a prisoner intakeand work assignment specialist. One memorywas when he escorted one of the most cunningprisoners to Leavenworth Federal Prison in KansasCity, Kansas. At the time, he was issued a 45caliber pistol, which he had never fired before. Hisprisoner was delivered safely and securely after asix-hour layover in St. Louis, Missouri.

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Richard Jewett, having been in the ROTC during hiscollege years, was commissioned as a SecondLieutenant in the U.S. Army upon graduation fromBowling Green State University in 1956. At the timehis home was in Wellington, Ohio.Richard remembers the first days in the Army asbeing challenging; mostly because he becameresponsible for somebody else besides himself. Hesaid it was a very maturing time of life; he was new tothe Army, in charge ofother soldiers, anewly marriedhusband and a littlelater a father.

Eventually, he did gooverseas five times;Korea (1960-1961),Germany (1964-1967), Vietnam(1968-1969),Germany (1971-1974), and Hawaii(1981-1984). During his career in the service heserved in command and staff assignments in AirDefense Artillery, Personnel Management, andService Schools Instructor. He feels his mostimportant assignment was as Commander, 3rdBattalion, 61st Air Defense Artillery, and 3rdArmored Division in Germany from 1971-1973.

Richard was involved in combat during his time inVietnam but was never injured. His family did notaccompany him when his tours took him to Koreaand Vietnam; he did keep in touch though letters andtapes. He didn’t rely on treats from home becausethere wasn’t anything from home that he couldn’talso get on base. He did comment that the food“was like anywhere in the United States…some goodand some bad.” He always had enough equipmentand supplies on his tours, except for Korea (1960-61), when things could sometimes be secured fastervia the Korean Black Market.

During his off-hours, he played sports (hardshiptours) and traveled during the European tours ofduty. He didn’t keep a journal or take pictures. Hedid make friends while in the service and keeps intouch with a few who are still living. Richard alsoreceived numerous service awards; Legion ofMerit, Bronze Star Medal, Meritorious Service Medal(2nd Oak Leaf Cluster), Army Commendation Medal(1st Oak Leaf Cluster) National Defense ServiceMedal, Vietnam Service Medal, Army Service

Waldo Jones, of 639 Poets Way, but originallyfrom Pittsburg, Pennsylvania wascommissioned as a U.S. Navy Ensign in Juneof 1955, afterparticipating in theNROTC program atMiami University.He comments thathe was a “ColdWar vet.”Waldo went directlyto Naval Aviatortraining atPensacola, Florida,then to AirshipTraining at Glynco, Georgia. He receivedNaval Aviator Gold Wings upon graduating.He was then assigned to Airship Squadron 3and stationed in Lakehurst, New Jersey, whichwas an anti-sub assignment. He also flew anti-missile flights using radar to detect possiblesoviet attacks. The flights were approximately24 hours each and they ate and slept on boardthe airship.

Waldo shared that he made many friends,which he still keeps in close touch with today.At his discharge he had attained the rank ofLieutenant Commander. He did not join anyveteran’s organizations, since he was notassigned overseas.Overall, Waldo feels serving in the Air Forcewas a great experience, which he was glad hehad the opportunity to do. When he returnedhome in May, 1959, he joined the NavyReserves at the Lakehurst, New Jersey AirStation.

Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon (2), VietnameseCross of Gallantry with Palm and Republic ofVietnam Campaign Medal.

Richard remembers all five times he returned home.His final return home translates to his final day in theArmy. His Military Retirement Ceremony was inMarch of 1984. Once he retired, after 28 years inActive Army, he worked for ten years for agovernment contractor. He is a life member ofseveral service organizations. He has no regrets forserving in the Army, stating, “It was an exciting andrewarding experience for me and my family.”

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What makes John’s service different from anyoneelse’s in this book is that he has served in threebranches of the service; the Navy, the ArmyNational Guard, and the Pennsylvania AirNational Guard.

In January of 1955, John Kish took an audition testas a civilian at the U.S. Naval School of Music andwas accepted as aguaranteed musicianupon a four-yearenlistment in theNavy.John spent one yearat the school andwas then assigned tothe WWII aircraftcarrier, CVA IIU.S.S. Intrepid,which still had theold wooden deck,but was a front line attack carrier. (CV stands forcarrier and A means attack).

John spent six months on sea duty in theMediterranean Sea; stopping at ports in Lisbon,Portugal, Barcelona, Spain, Naples and Rome, Italy,Cannes and Paris, France, Athens, Greece, andIstanbul, Turkey. His military band duties included:(1) Change of Command Ceremonies, (2) Pass inReview…music to show off troops in formation, (3)U.S.O. dance band music, (4) Morale Concertsaboard ship and music for dances in the hangerdeck area, (5) Parade Music, and (6) Public RelationConcerts in ports of call and tours in foreigncountries.

**The U.S.S. Intrepid is now a museum in New York.Anyone can tour for an admission price. Many yearsafter John’s tour of duty, the Navy installed a newmetal angle deck you can walk on today.

After six months shore duty in Norfolk, VA, John’sseventeen-piece band was assigned to the Admiral’sFlag unit aboard the Navy’s newest angle deck supercarrier, the U.S.S. Forrestal CVA59. This new 1957carrier was a proud showcase for public relations.John remembers that Grace Kelly and PrinceRainer came aboard for a tour. The band greetedthem on the quarter deck for a ceremony with theFleet Admiral. After sea duty, John was transferred tothe Brooklyn fifty-piece Navy Yard band, whichcoincided with the conclusion of his Navy time in1959.

Allentown Marine Band MemberIn 1962, he joined Pennsylvania’s famous AllentownMarine Band as a tuba player. This is the oldestconcert band in the United States…formed 187years ago. Its name needs a bit of an explanation. Itis not a military band, but the name reflects on militarymarine bands, especially the United States MarineBand in Washington, D.C. During his four-yearmembership, the band invited the director of theWashington D.C. band to guest conduct duringseveral concerts in Allentown. Allentown, PA washonored in 1967 with the title “Band City USA”because this small city has four great fifty-membercommunity concert bands. Every concert or paradepaid a union scale of $4.00 per job, which proved themusicians did each performance for love of music, notmoney. The Allentown Marine Band has producedmany records, CD’s, and a 94 page history book onthe band. The Pioneer Band (1888), the Marine Bandof Allentown (1903), and the Municipal Band ofAllentown (1926) are the other three communitybands.

Pennsylvania Army National Guard BandIn late 1979, a buddy who was a dedicated PA ArmyNational Guard musician suggested that John enlistfor a one-year trial period so he could play in theirband, which he did, but he ended up serving two anda half years. His duty included concerts and paradesin eastern Pennsylvania. This was a big step for John,who had been out of the military for twenty years…hewas starting again at age 44.

Pennsylvania Air National Guard BandThen in 1982, John transferred from the PennsylvaniaArmy National Guard Band to the Pennsylvania AirNational Guard Band in Middletown, PA. Why? Becauseafter hearing just one concert he was “hypnotized anddreamed of playing with them. Out of the twelve Air GuardBands in the United States, the Command Officer of allthe bands in Washington, D.C. chose this PA band to setthe high standards for all the other bands to follow! Thequality of sound from each section of musicians wasdynamic…blending into one beautiful sound.” Concertsand parade duties in state took him from Harrisburg toAllentown, PA. The band also performed concert tours inEngland, Holland, and Norway…getting from place toplace in a C130 cargo plane.

In conclusion, John shared this story: “A three-seconddecision that changed my life occurred in seventhgrade. I was a snare drummer in our school band andorchestra. I loved every minute in rehearsals andconcerts. One day, I was walking in the hall, and myband director stopped me and said he needed a basshorn player, and would I try it? It took me threeseconds to say, “OK” and my exciting civilian andmilitary career changed my life forever. Uncle Samwas my friend and responsibility for twenty years.”

John Kish

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Peter Kurych, of 627 Poets Way, enlisted atage 21 in the United States Army Reserve inMay of 1961. He was living in Pennsylvania atthe time and served for six years. He said thefirst few days in basic training at Fort Knox,Kentucky, were lonely and a bit sad; notunusual for theyoung menacclimating to amilitary climate.

Pete shared thathe never wentoverseas, but hisunit was always onalert. His primaryjob was to supplythe helicopterunits. He always had enough equipment andsupplies to do his job. He stayed in touch withfamily and friends by phone and through themail. He enjoyed receiving care packages fromhome even though the food was good in theservice.

During his free time, Pete enjoyed going to theS.O.S shows and the movies. While he made anumber of friends, many he kept in touch withare now deceased.Pete remembers the day he returned home afterhis discharge on January 31, 1967, becausehis future wife was waiting to greet him at thePhiladelphia Airport with his family. He startedjob hunting on his return. As for his overallexperience, he shared that “it was a learningprocess of dealing with various obstacles.”

George, at first, responded saying, “I am a vet butwas too young for the Korean War and hadalready served my time before Vietnam. Myservice dates were 1957 to 1963, with 20 monthsoverseas, in Germany, but during peace time.”

George enlisted as a volunteer for the draft inthe U.S. Army in New Castle Pennsylvania.The year was 1957. He did basic training and

clerical training in the United States. Georgethen spent 20 months in Karlsruhe, Germany asa battalion clerk. He also spent four years inthe US ArmyReserve (2 yearsactive, and 2 yearsstandby).

Because wewanted to honorALL our vets whoserved during thetime from Koreathrough Vietnam,we added a sectionfor those who protected our nation, but were notnecessarily involved in the war effort.

Joel (Skip) Leeson, of 339 Daylilly Way, was living inWoodbridge, New Jersey when he was accepted intoRutgers University. Following college, he joined the Navy.He went to Officer Candidate School in 1967. At 22 yearsof age, he was commissioned an Ensign in the U.S.Navy. He spent 2 ½ years on active duty. When hecame home, Skip became a member of the U.S. NavyReserve, drilling on weekends, and working for MineForces.

Skip shared that back then, “Officer Candidate Schoolwas not the most pleasant. They tended to cram as muchas possible into four months of training.” He graduated asColor Company Commander and received six awards.After that, he went to Anti-Submarine Warfare School inKey West, Florida before being assigned to a destroyer,the USS Buck DD-761, off the coast of Vietnam.

Skip said his biggest concern was that they were the firstship in the Sea of Japan when the USS Pueblo was takenby the North Koreans. They were the designated ship togo into Wonsan Harbor and get it back if the order wasgiven. Thankfully, the order was not given.

Skip became and ASW (Anti-Sub Warfare) Officer andGunnery Plot Officer. His most important job wasstanding bridge watches, as the Officer of the Deck wasrunning the ship. As Gunnery Plot Officer he wasresponsible for shore bombardment.

At that time, Vietnam was divided into five sections northto south. 1 Corps was the DMZ (demilitarized zone). 5Corps was the Mekong Delta. He worked mostly off 3Corps, at the mouth of the Saigon River, where his unitwas assigned to help the Australians. He was alsoresponsible for protection of the USS New Jersey offof I Corps on the DMZ.

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Skip shared that he was never injured and no one shot athim at sea. He managed to stay in touch with family bymail. He did get some treats in return mail, but the “mailwas always late.” He had no breaks at sea; he did twobridge watches a dayand refueled at seaevery three days, sothere was lots ofpaperwork to do.

Skip has stayed intouch with many of hisofficer shipmates; onelives in Australia, onein Guam, and someothers are in theUnited States.

After his dischargefrom duty in 1969, he joined the VFW. He also stayed inthe reserves and retired as a Commander. He becameCommanding Officer of the Reserve Unit attached tothe USS New Jersey. The USS New Jersey wasstationed off the coast of Beirut in 1983-84 and was notgiven a relief. Skip, as part of the reserve unit, contactedthe Chief of Naval Reserve and got an airlift to the ship torelieve part of the crew. It was so successful, fiveadditional flights were scheduled, and reservists from allover the country volunteered. Reservists, during thisaction, relieved over half the crew in increments, so theywere able to go home on leave. It was the largestpeacetime crew relief in the history of the Navy.

Dr. Steven LeShay, 7 Springmill Drive, enlisted in theUnited States Navy in 1961, at age 17, shortly after hegraduated from high school in Hartford, CT, thus taking thefirst step in an interesting and eventful career of interruptedactive duty and reserve military service that lasted fortwenty-six years.

After completing basic training at Great Lakes (IL) Navaltraining Center, and attending Journalism School there,Steven served on active duty until 1964 as an enlisted NavyJournalist (E-5) in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, during theCuban missile crisis. He became editor of the base dailymimeographed newspaper, The Gitmo Gazette; and was anArmed Forces Radio and Television Services (AFRTS)personality for WGBY, “the Voice of the Windward Passage.”

During the missile crisis, Steven had the opportunity to meetand interview many celebrities who visited the base toentertain the Sailors and Marines stationed there. Some ofthese performers included singers Connie Francis andFrankie Lane, NY Yankee sportscaster Mel Allen,Ventriloquist Senor Wences, and Perry Como along withsome of his Kraft Music Hall entourage.Steven was also at Guantanamo Bay, in October 1963,when Hurricane Flora, one of the deadliest (7,000 lives lost)Atlantic hurricanes in history smashed into the southeast tipof Cuba with 120 mph winds and torrential rain. He had to

relocate to a concrete-reinforced bunker to stay on the air.He was present in February 1964 to report R Adm John(Bulldog) Bulkeley turning off Fidel Castro’s Yateras Riverpipeline as a water source to the base.

After leaving active duty, Steven earned his Bachelor’s Degree inElementary Education in 1967, before pursuing a Master’s Degreein Public Relations at Rowan University (formerly Glassboro StateCollege). His first day on campus (June 23, 1967) was the first dayof the historic three-day Glassboro Summit Conference betweenUS President Johnson and Soviet Premier Alexei Kosygin, whichwas held in the home of the college president.

With the decade, Stevenmarried, raised a family, andstared his own advertisingcompany. Then in 1972,while calling on anadvertising client, hestopped into the local Navyrecruiting office in NewJersey to see aboutrejoining the Navy as areservist. He was told hecould get a directcommission as an officer, sohe joined a Naval Reserve unit stationed at Floyd Bennet Field inBrooklyn, NY, where he “drilled” one weekend a month.

From 1972 to 1995, Steven was a Public Affairs Officer(PAO) assigned to a 40-person Combat camera unitresponsible for producing documentaries as well as trainingfilms primarily for the Navy. The unit moved to the Naval AirStation in Willow Grove, PA; eventually, Steven waspromoted to Commander (O-5) and became that unit’sCommanding Officer. One of the highlights of this passage inhis career was the opportunity to write the script for actorJohn Wayne’s last motion picture filmed several monthsbefore the “Duke” died in June 1979. It was a shortdocumentary about the “Seabees” and how they were able tomove equipment within 48 hours to any location around theworld. Wayne, who starred in Hollywood’s “The FightingSeabees”, agreed to appear on camera and narrate the film.

Steven concluded his Navy career by working one year as aPAO at the Philadelphia Navy Base and then two years witha public affairs unit in the Office of Information, Washington,D.C. During that time, he was recalled to eight month ofactive duty to the Pentagon during Operation Desert Storm(1991), working in the Command Information Bureau for theNavy Chief of Information. After the war with Iraq was over,Steven remained on active duty to help plan the Navy’sinvolvement in the “Mother of all Parades” in Washington,D.C. and New York City to welcome home the United StatesMilitary.

Steven had extensive joint service experience, via activeduties for training, at the U.S. Naval War College in theOffice of Assistant Secretary of Defense, Public Affair forCommander-in-Chief, U.S. Naval forces-Europe(CINCUSNAVEUR) in London, England.During that time he earned his Ph.D. from TempleUniversity in Philadelphia and began and completed a 35-year academic career as a Professor at Rowan University(20 years), an instructor for University of Maryland (5 years)

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hospital, theater, schools, housing for officers andenlisted. Everything you needed to live was on that post.

Al did go overseas. His first duty assignment, following officer’sbasic training, and an additional few weeks of specializedtraining, was Vietnam. His first three duty assignments in theArmy were overseas; beginning with Vietnam, then toGermany for two years, and then back to Vietnam.

Al’s primary duty was in Military Occupational Specialty67K (Hospital Logistics). Later in his career, another suffixwas added to identify him as an instructor. Following hisoverseas assignments,Al attended AdvancedOfficers Training at Ft.Sam Houston, and thenschool at FitsimmonsGeneral Hospital inDenver Colorado. Hereceived another level ofspecialty training as abiomedical maintenancespecialist. He returnedto Ft. Sam Houston laterand was then assignedto teach at the Academyof Health Sciences. Al served as the Course Director for theEnlisted Medical Supply course, and as an adjunct professoras part of the Baylor University Hospital AdministrationProgram. He received another level of specialty as abiomedical maintenance specialist. Because Al was trainedin the area of biomedical equipment maintenance, he waslater assigned to the Office of the Army Surgeon Generalas Director of the Medical Maintenance Division atTobyhanna Army Depot in Pennsylvania.

Al was not involved in combat during his tour and was neverinjured. The mission of the Army Medical Service Corp is“to conserve the fighting strength.” In Vietnam his focus wasalways around hospitals and caring for the wounded.Although he never had to touch a patient, every “thing,”other than humans that touched a patient, went through hisoffice; from bandages to bedpans. As Chief of Services foran Evacuation Hospital and a MAS Hospital, his duties werealways “anything that kept the patients safe.

There were two events that stand out in Al’s memoryduring those Vietnam days. In his first assignment “incountry,” he was flown to a station in Go Cong Provincein an Army Caribou (C-7) airplane. The makeshift runwaywas short, so it never really stopped. He was literally“dropped off” while the plane kept going and then took offagain. There was no one to greet him, but after a LONGten minutes he could hear a jeep coming through the highgrass bordering the runway. Eventually he could see thejeep and the driver, Major Werth, his new commander.They had a quick introduction and then had to go lookingfor a jeep late returning to the station. So, welcome, and“lock and load.” And off they went.

His other major experience was on his first Christmas inVietnam. He would often receive a box of goodies from

Alfred Maloney, of 421 Morning Glory Lane, wascommissioned a 2nd Lieutenant in the Army MedicalService Corp in July, 1965, following his ROTC trainingcamp at Ft. Bragg, North Carolina. He graduated in May,1965 from North Carolina A&T State University andreceived a delayed commission. At the time of hiscommissioning, his home of record was West PalmBeach, Florida. He had just gotten married in April of1965 and his wife was graduating in June from FloridaA&M State University.

His first days in the Army were a combination of things,including being married and entering the Army. It was abig adjustment for him but easier for his wife, an Armybrat, who had lived most of her life on bases around thecountry. Her father was a career non-commissionedofficer and was stationed in Germany at that time. It washis wife who quickly adapted to their new post, Fort SamHouston, Texas, while he was trying to figure out all theacronyms and abbreviations. In 1965, a military post wasself-contained, meaning that they had no reason to leavethe post. He had to learn about the commissary, PX,

Richard Lyons of 165 Springmill Drive, at age 18,enlisted in the United States Navy on January 25, 1955.When asked why, he said, “I just wanted to be a sailor.”

Surprisingly, Dick and JohnKish were in boot campand did basic training in thesame place and at thesame time. They didn’tknow each other then, butended up being “diagonal”neighbors when they movedto Springmill. It truly is asmall world. Both did theirservice between the Koreanand Vietnam Wars.

Dick eventually went overseas to Kwajalein in the MarshallIslands. He also has assignments in Washington, D.C. andWashington State. During his time in the service he wasnever injured. His primary job was as an aviationstorekeeper. He made sure the inventory of aircraft partswas up to date, stored them and also dispersed them.

Dick was discharged on January 25, 1959. He sharedthat he “loved his time in the service. For a young man, itwas a joy to be able to travel all over.”

and their Director of Marketing Communications (1 year),and finally in 2014 retired as a Professor and MarketingChair after 10 years at Wilmington University in Delaware.Upon his retirement in 1995 from the Naval Air Reserve,Steven was awarded the Navy Commendation Medal bythe Secretary of the Navy for his service.

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Richard Mullen, of 406 Morning Glory Lane,was drafted in August, 1966 for the VietnamWar. He eventually enlisted for an additionalyear in 1969. At the time he was living onEdgewood Avenue in Green Brook, NewJersey.For the first fewdays of service forRichard werespent taking tests,being issuedclothing, and thengoing off to bootcamp for 8 weeksat Fort Dix, NewJersey. He didhave a tour of dutyoverseas in 1968-69, when he wasassigned to Germany for 18 months.

While in the service Richard’s primary job wasthe maintenance and repair of heavyequipment. Equipment and supplies werealways kept “ready to go.” He was assigned to atank battalion, and the equipment was oftenused on maneuvers, but he was never in acombat situation. Letters kept him in touch withhis family…he only received a package fromhome twice. Luckily for him, he thought thefood in the service was fine.Richard remembers one particular time off-duty,when he went to Amsterdam on a three-daypass. While in the service he made two goodfriends, but they are not in touch today. Hedidn’t keep a journal or take pictures, and didn’treceive any particular awards.

The day he left the service, he remembers howdisappointed he was at all the garbagealongside the road, though he didn’t share whythat memory stood out. Once home, he wentback to his old job as a draftsman at anengineering company. Richard doesn’tconsider himself a “Vietnam Veteran” becausehe didn’t serve in Vietnam. But we thank himfor his service during those war years.

home and audio tapes of his wife and daughter sharingstories. Audio tapes were their primary way ofcommunicating during those days. His daughter was justlearning to talk, so she spoke in her own “unknown”language. The good thing about the tapes was that theycould be played over and over again. Christmas in the unitwas an isolated event with ten or fifteen other men. Theysang carols and had a few drinks. One member had aukulele and knew how to play Silent Night, so they sang itover and over. Al committed to himself to learn how to playthe instrument. He did get the ukulele and learned to playSilent Night, but is still trying to learn to play other songs.

Other than the audio tapes, Al kept in touch with family thoughany means available, mostly letters (postage was free) andsome phone calls. During his second tour in Vietnam, keepingin touch became very important…his wife was pregnant withtheir second child. One afternoon a Red Cross workerstormed into the office and threw something on his desk.When he looked up he saw a paper that said, “It’s a GIRL.” Ittook him a few moments to realize what he was seeing, thenhugs and laughing ensued, followed by a party that night.

Al felt the food in Vietnam was basically “army food.” Theyate a lot of steaks and drank a lot of sodas. If you venturedout to try Vietnamese food, it was always at some risk. Hedid have an assignment in the Saigon area, and said theFrench food there was outstanding.

Since Al’s job was in the supply area, they basically had morethan enough of everything they needed. They had so much infact, that they took the opportunity to furnish a Catholicorphanage with baby beds. The baby beds, strange as itseems, were part of their Evacuation Hospital equipment list.

During breaks, Al played a lot of softball and volleyball.Their play area was near the helicopter pad and theemergency room, so they were often interrupted byincoming wounded soldiers and sometimes civilians.Everyone would just scramble to their posts and pick up thegame later. There was a Medivac helicopter unit attachedto the hospital and flew 24/7 in all types of weather andsituations. They were accustomed to having the “birds”noise around day and night…it became part of thebackground and actually helped them feel secure.

Al didn’t keep a journal, but did take some pictures, but only afew are still available. He shared that the awards he receivedwere a Bronze Star with Oak Leaf Cluster, MeritoriousService, Army Commendation with Oak Leak, VietnamService with Gold star, Campaign Medal and others. Hemade many friends, but is not currently in touch with them.

Al will never forget his return home for a number of reasons.He had been advised about wearing a uniform home, so hehad civilian clothes waiting for him when he arrived inCalifornia. He then flew to Denver, CO where his family was.They met him with banners, balloons, and a lot of noise at theairport. They celebrated his return. He was glad to be homeagain. Since he was a career soldier, after his last tour, hereturned to Ft. Sam Houston, Texas for advanced training.He retired as a Lieutenant Colonel in 1993.

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Roy Peters shared the following about his time in theservice of the United States: “I served in the U.S. Armyfrom 1958 to 1960. I was drafted at the “ripe old age” of20, in the fall of 1958, and sent to Fort Dix, New Jersey,where I received basic training, advanced infantry training,and then clerk typist school. (Roy factitiously commentedthat “this was quite logical, of course, because in civilianlife he had been a professional photographer.”)

The Army’s philosophy in those days was to break downenlisted men to thepoint where they nolonger questionedorders…even stupidorders. I rememberquestioning an orderearly on, and for mypunishment, I got tohand shovel out acoal storage bin,scrub it out, thenshovel the coal backin. The bin held abouta dump truck full ofcoal. Lesson learned. Our basic training and advancedinfantry training were performed in unusually coldweather and we had only summer issue. We slept in puptents with only one blanket. Most of us got sick.

After my Fort Dix training, I was shipped across the Atlantic toGermany in January, 1959 during a nor’easter. I wasassigned to a trucking company to be their company clerk,but they already had a clerk, so I was sent to the motor poolto become a twelve-ton wrecker driver/operator. Over thenext several months, I managed to negotiate my way througha variety of outfits and jobs and finally was sent to train to bean Intelligence and Security Analyst. The years 1959 and1960 were a period of high tension between the USSR, EastGermany, and the U.S. We could observe the Russians andthe East Germans blowing up the forests borderingCzechoslovakia and West Germany and installing machinegun towers and barbed wire…the preliminaries to theBerlin Wall being built. We were always on high alert andwere preparing for “when the balloon goes up,” signifying warbetween Russia and America. West Germans were notallowed to have weapons, and the French were busy trying tocombat Algerian Muslim terrorism (sound familiar?). Wewould have alerts at least monthly and often did not know itwas practice or the real thing.

I spent time going to various posts and evaluatingtheir security and was responsible for helping to write,and for storing, NATO top secret documents dealingwith pre-war planning. The Russians and East Germanswere constantly testing us…doing things like closing theroads from West Germany to Berlin, which was well insideEast Germany. I was not allowed to travel to Berlinbecause of my job and security clearance, lest I bestopped and interrogated, which happened frequently.

Richard Porter enlisted in the Navy. He was living inElsmere, DE at the time. After basic training he wasassigned to duty as a Quarter Master of Navigation,completing two tours in Vietnam starting in 1969.

After completing his sixyears in the Navy, Tomdecided to make theswitch to the AirForce in 1973,completing many toursof duty in that branch ofthe service. During thistime, he moved into therole of Chief ofOperations for the 166Civil EngineeringSquadron in DiegoGarcia during the IraqiFreedom and Enduring Freedom campaigns. Heconsiders his most important job as being a member of aRoving Patrol aboard an LST landing Ship in theMekong Delta. While inVietnam he was involved in combat, but with 34 years’worth of experiences, he felt there were too many to share.

Richard stayed in touch with family with letters, but wasunable to get anything from home. He thought the food

When we could get passes or leave, we would travel andtour Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Switzerland, Holland,Belgium, and Denmark. The history and sights werefascinating, although West Germany was still 25% ormore just bombed out rubble.

I made many friends while in the Army, includingGermans, but the tension of this time period made mostof us relieved when we finally got back to the UnitedStates. One of my buddies came to visit afterwards, and Ivisited one in Chicago. That’s about all I did to keep intouch. We all wanted to put our Army time behind us andget on with our lives.

I went into the Army a boy, and I came out a man. Somemonths after my discharge, I was summoned to a U.S.military post to receive a special commendation for myservice, presented by the commanding general. While Irecognized this was a special honor, I really did not wantto put my uniform back on. I had turned the page. I hadfulfilled my obligation to my country.

Once discharged, I went to work for Union Carbide intheir research and development section as a labtechnician. During the 1960’s almost everything wasbased on “brain power,” so if you were suited to that typeof work, jobs were readily available in and out of theservice. While working at my full-time job, I also went tonight school and did part-time work as a photographerand piano player.” Life after the service was very hectic.”

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Clint Robertson, originally from Clayton, Delaware, wascommissioned as an ensign in the U.S. Navy. Heserved as an engineer in the U.S. Merchant Marinestarting in June of 1968, at age 22, after graduating fromthe Merchant Marine Academy in Kings Point, New York.He had chosen to attend the Merchant Marine Academybecause of the travel opportunities this branch of theservice afforded. He commented that his first trip tookhim to theMediterranean andTurkey…very excitingfor someone who hadn’treally traveled far fromhis home state.

When asked about hisfirst days in the service,Clint explained that hewas quite preparedbecause he had gonethrough four years ofeducation learning whatto do as an engineer aboard a ship. He spent his time atsea on freighters. His primary job was as a marineengineer, which entailed keeping the ship’s engine runningso that there was sufficient water, electricity and power. Asfar as having enough equipment and supplies, he sharedthat his ship did run out of fuel one time and coasted intothe nearest port on fumes. They also ran out of water onoccasion and had to catch rainwater in barrels until theycould get additional supplies; things like that can happenwhen you’re at sea for four and five months at a time.

Regarding his travels, Clint said that he did get overseas.He got to visit 65 different countries and made about threetrips to Vietnam. He visited combat zones, but was neverinvolved in the fighting. Just being at sea did have risks ofits’ own. He lost a friend on a sister ship that was carryingbombs. One of the bombs got loose and created a hole inthe ship. The crew had to abandon ship in lifeboats. Atthat point, some other bombs got loose; one fell in alifeboat and killed his friend. Eventually the Navy had togo out and sink the shipwrecked ship.

As far as the food, Clint said that the crew depended onwhat was aboard ship…primarily frozen food. Being at

Dick Rausch was in the US Army ROTC throughout hiscollege years. He was commissioned as a Second Lt.after training at Fort Gordon, Georgia in 1960. He went tograduate school after he was commissioned and enteredthe Army two years later in July, 1962. He was thenassigned to the Communications Zone (ComZ) inOrleans, France. Heflew from Maguire AFBin New Jersey toFrankfurt, Germany,and then to Parisbefore taking the trainfor Orleans just beforeThanksgiving in 1962.

Dick’s primary job wasa Chief of theAutomatic DataProcessing Section ofComZ. This positionutilized his educationalexperience, which was a Master’s Degree in ComputerScience. He was never involved in combat. He was ableto stay in touch with his family through weekly letters,which were saved by his family and serve as a detaileddiary of his 18 months in Europe. He also made anoccasional phone call home. When he returned home fora ten-day leave during the Christmas holidays in 1963, hebrought a new wife along (Sheila). They had a chance tomeet each other’s family for the first time during that visit.

While Dick thought the food on base was fine, as anofficer he got a food and living allowance that enabled himto eat off base much of the time…if they were economical.During his service, Dick traveled all over Europe as part ofhis job overseeing the data transmission operation ofabout ten bases in France, Germany, and Italy. (He andSheila also took a two-week honeymoon in Italy.) Dickshared that he had an extremely detailed week-by-weekjournal of his time in Europe, as well as a few pictures,and some video made from old 8mm film.

Dick made a number of friends and keeps in touch withseveral of them…even after 50 years. Before he returnedhome from France in late June, 1964, he was promoted to

was good during his time in the service, and he alwayshad enough equipment and supplies for the variousmaneuvers. Since he was in the field a lot, there reallyweren’t many activities or free time, except for a movieonce in a while. While he didn’t keep a journal of his timein the service, he did take pictures. He also made friendsthat he still keeps in touch with.

On Richard’s return home, he eventually retired from theAir Force as a Chief Master Sergeant. He also joined aveteran’s organization. The Air National Guard was asecond job for Tom; his primary careen was in the area ofplumbing and pipe fitting. He was employed by the DuPontCompany for thirty-eight years.

First Lt. Once back in civilian life, he started a job as aSystems Analyst with RCA’s Computer Systems Division.He had worked for RCA while going to graduate school twoyears previously. The Rausch’s first child was born while hewas training for his RCA job in Cherry Hill, New Jersey.

Dick continued with the US Army Reserve for anadditional two years to fulfill his six-year ROTC obligation.He thought his Army experience was great, especiallysince he got a chance to “see the world” as part of hisjob…and he was lucky enough to meet and marry hiswife of 52 years during his time of active duty.

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Fred Robinson, of 305 Daylilly Way, enlisted in themilitary in February of 1967. His enlistment was for afour-year tenure. Thebranch of service hechose was the UnitedStates Air Force.

Fred was assigned tothe USAF SecurityServiceHeadquarters(USFSS HQ) at theKelly Field SecurityAnnex in San Antonio,Texas. He said themission was toprovide communications intelligence (COMINT),communications security (COMSEC) and cryptologicequipment/support to the United States Air Force. Theirmotto was “Freedom Through Vigilance,” which seems asappropriate today as it was during the Vietnam War era.His primary job was as a computer programmer. As

sea for 4-5 months, you really couldn’t take on freshsupplies and in most ports really wouldn’t want to. Hesaid that the crew usually had three choices each day,some of them rather unusual. One that he remembered,but never tasted, was codfish tongue. He said theAustralians on board ate it, but he didn’t go near it.

Clint kept in touch with family through letters on occasion,but not on a regular basis because they weren’t in portvery long…usually just passed through places. That’s thesame reason he couldn’t rely on getting care packagesfrom home. While he did take photos, the only“journaling” he did was via letters home, which his motherkept. He used to tell all about the places he visited andwhat he was doing while at sea. He said his awards werethe usual commendations and nothing out of the ordinary.Upon returning home, after he was discharged in 1972,Clint bought a boat. He also joined the Naval Reservesfor the next five years. He met his wife, Angie, when hewas “between ships” in 1972. After marrying, their firsthome was in Seaford, where Clint worked as a plantengineer at DuPont’s Nylon Plant.

Clint made a number of friends while in the service andkept in touch with his roommate from Kings Point. As hereminisced, he realized that they would be having their 50th

class reunion in 2018.As far as his experience in general, Clint said that “it was areal adventure for a young man and it gave him an interestin different countries and different cultures.” He had aspecial affinity for West Africa and actually helped start aschool there. These days, he’s putting his engineeringskills to use on an electrical project in Liberia. It seemsthey have a problem with people getting electrocuted, andso he is working on creating a trade school like Del Tech,where students could take programs on-line. It’s good toknow our veterans continue to give back.

part of that assignment, he wrote programs supportingthe USAFSS Cryptologic Depot and Engineering Lab. Heheld a Top Secret Clearance with Crypto access.

Fred had many memories as he served his country duringa time of war. He commented that “I was very fortunateto serve my enlistment stateside…not to say Texas waswithout its threats.” He shared that they had hail the sizeofgolf balls, rattlesnakes, scorpions, and tarantulas. Withthe exception of the hail, all the other threats would “showup” inside their barracks.

The Mexican food was excellent in San Antonio,according to Fred. There was also cheap gas…a plus,but one downside was the lousy weather. It was hot andhumid for the summer and beyond.

Fred was discharged in February of 1971. He lookedforward to returning to his home state of Maryland. As forhis overall experience in the military, he had the followingobservations: “First, serving stateside was a bonus, evenwith the invading indigenous denizens of the Texaslandscape. My military training as a computerprogrammer served as the foundation for my civiliancareer as a programmer and later, as a systemsanalyst. My career in this area lasted thirty-five years. Ibelieve that every young man and woman would benefitby serving our nations’ armed forces.

Raymond C. RouillerIn 1963, while living in California, Ray Rouiller decided toenlist in the U.S. Navy. He decided on the Navy because“being drafted was a good possibility and he didn’t want togo into the Army. The Navy also provided many moreschooling opportunities,and he wanted to bestationed on ship to seemore of the world.

After completing the firsttwelve weeks of hisenlistment at a boot campin San Diego, he wasassigned to Electronicstechnician “A” School atGreat Lakes, Illinois forthe next eleven months.Upon completing the “A” School, he was assigned to theNavy Communication Station in Cheltenham, Maryland.The Cheltenham base was the radio receiving station fornaval communications between the fleet and thePentagon. As an electronics technician, his job was tomaintain and repair the many different radio receiversused in this effort. Ray commented, “I got the schoolingbut ended up being a dry land sailor.”

In 1967, Ray completed his four-year enlistment and wasdischarged to the inactive reserves. Once a civilian, hereturned to California and went to work for WestinghouseElectric Corporation, Defense Division, Field Services.

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James Rutolo, of 219 Patience Way, enlistedin the United States Army on July 29, 1954.At the time he was living in Hazelton,Pennsylvania. He was twenty years of age atthe time.

Jim said his basic training was an easyadjustment. He never went overseas or wasinvolved in any of the fighting. He spent all of hisenlistment in Connecticut ata missile site. He wastrained as a radar operator.He liked his assignmentbecause it was a “clean job.”For 33 ½ months hemonitored our bordersperimeters with Nike Ajaxmissiles (Later, Nike Hercules missiles wereused.) There were twenty-two soldiers in hisbarracks. The only time things got difficult waswhen they were at a 4A Alert; that meant theywere up all day and most of the night without abreak.

One particular memory dealt with NikitaKhrushchev’s visit to the United States. It wasthe only time when ALL of the radar across thecountry was directed toward Khrushchev’sincoming plane. No one wanted an incidentduring his arrival.

James was discharged on July 28, 1961. Hejoined the American Legion when he moved toSpringmill. Regarding his military career as awhole, he said, “It was fine; I got an educationin computers and it helped me meet my wife.Once in civilian life, I continued my interest inthe computer industry and worked in it foryears.

John Rutt enlisted in the US Navy aftergraduating from Milford (DE) High School, Hisrationale was that he didn’t want to be draftedand live in a foxhole in Vietnam. He had justturned 18, in August of 1963, when he went tothe recruiter’s office in Dover. He went onactive duty in October. The recruiter asked himwhat he liked to do. Having taken mechanicaldrawing and basic electricity as electives in highschool, he responded, “Mechanical drawing,”only to be told that rate did not have goodadvancement possibilities. His secondresponse was “electricity.” The recruiterpreferred that response, gave John a short test,the results of which guaranteed John a place inthe Electronics Technician “A” school rightafter basic training in boot camp. John waseven given the choice of where he wanted to gofor his basic training; Great Lakes, Illinois orSan Diego, CA. This was a no brainer…SanDiego, since the furthest he had traveled upto then was to Bangor, PA.

When John’s father drove him to the recruitdepot in Philadelphia, there were severalhundred young men waiting to join the Navy orMarine Corps. They went through the assemblyline of doctors, dentists, and recruiters, whichtook up a good part of the day. Finallyeveryone went into a large room, where theyseparated the Navy recruits from the Marinerecruits. Then a Navy Petty Officer, with astack of manila envelopes called out sevennames, including John’s, and asks, “Which oneof you is John Rutt?” John gulped andremembering what his uncle, who had been inWWII, told him about not volunteering, butraised his hand anyway. The Petty Officer thenhanded him the stack of envelopes and told himto “be sure you and these six other guys get toSan Diego.” John thought, “Who, me?” but hedid get everyone there safely.

At that time, basic training was 3 months long.John started wondering about his decision toenlist. He was homesick for sure. Knowinghow to type, he never had to serve KP (kitchenpatrol), but instead was assigned to a UHF

James Rotolo

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radio hut. He was in the radio shack onNovember 22, 1963, listening to a small AM/FMradio, when the announcer cut in and statedthat President Kennedy had been shot. Thatyear, John went home for Christmas.

After boot camp, John received orders to go toET “A” school on Treasure Island in SanFrancisco Bay. Several other Navy schoolswere there as well,including Radar,Radio, andNuclear, alongwith Biological andChemical warfare(NBC). Sincethere weren’tenoughcandidates tomake a class,most of the new“A” schoolers were place in transit barracks andassigned to various duties on the base. Johnwas assigned as a “go-fer” in the Radioman’sschool. That job ended up getting him listed asUA (Unauthorized Absentee) with the MilitaryPolice looking for him. Apparently, there was amiscommunication between two PO’s havinghim assigned two different places. It gotstraightened out, but not without a lot of runningaround and the loss of a paycheck.

ET “A” school lasted 50 weeks. John learnedhow to use trouble-shooting equipment;multimeters, signal generators, andoscilloscopes, to actually find the electricalproblem and fix it. Today, you just need tochange out circuit boards. Upon graduating from“A” school, John received orders to report to theU.S.S. Columbus CG-12, which had recentlyreturned from the Gulf of Tonkin, Vietnam. Theship participated in practice missile firing in thePacific Range. In January of 1966, the shipreceived orders to proceed to Norfolk, VA, inexchange for the nuclear powered cruiser,U.S.S. Long Beach, CGN-9. After makingnumerous ports of call to Mexico, Panama andthe Caribbean, they returned to Virginia onMarch 5, 1966. In September of that year, theColumbus sailed for a six-month deployment inthe Mediterranean, followed by participation in aNATO exercise in the North Atlantic with ships

form other NATO countries. After a port call inHolland, the ship experienced a hurricane on itsreturn to the U.S. John remembers the ship tooka 43-degree roll to starboard…two more degreesand it would have capsized.

There was regular mail call throughout John’sservice in the Navy; he often received “goodie”packages from home, but he also got bad newsin the mail. He was notified his grandfatherpassed away. He also received the proverbial“Dear John” letter from him girl back home.John reported that the food aboard ship, and onthe land bases, was fairly good. He especiallylike the creamed chip beef on toast…yes, SOS.Most of his time in foreign ports was good, butone time, one of the crew was stabbed to deathon a beach in Marseilles.John took many pictures, and even had themmade into slides, but they have faded over time,and are hardly recognizable today. He alsokept in touch with his best friend for a while,until the friend just stopped writing. He doeskeep in touch with a friend from another divisionthrough e-mail.John received an “early out” in August, 1967, sohe could begin college in September. Hedoesn’t remember how he got home fromNorfolk, possibly by Greyhound. It was a ratherhectic time; getting ready for college andadjusting from military to civilian life. This wasduring the Vietnam War, and there were manyhippies and anti-war groups on campus. WhileJohn didn’t like that we were fighting in thejungles of Vietnam, he didn’t understand whypeople would be so disrespectful to returningvets; being called names and even spat upon.“Thank God it isn’t that way today.”

John graduated in 1972 from the University ofDelaware with a BEE degree…Bachelor ofElectrical Engineering. He primarily worked inthe electric utility industry, designingsubstations and transmission lines, but alsospent several years doing consulting work. John didn’t join the American Legion Post #25until moving to Springmill. He is presently amember of the Executive Committee.

“There was never a good war or a bad peace”.Benjamin Franklin

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After basic training, Bob volunteered for theinfantry and received his orders to depart forVietnam with a first stop in Germany. After adispute over his orders with a Captain on base, hisorders were changed, and he was reassigned toMilitary Police at Fort Gordon instead. This isthe position he had qualified for previously.

Eventually, he was reassigned to being a cook.He managed multiple teams of 16 to 18 men andprovided hiscompany of 200with three mealsper day. Bob’smemories of theArmy cuisine areparticularly vivid,with groaningboards ofpancakes, hot andcold cereals, eggs,bacon, ham,sausages, etc. Andthat was just breakfast! There was always plentyof everything for everybody.

Bob was able to stay in touch with his family viaphone calls and letters. It was always a specialtreat to receive care packages from home; copiesof the NY Daily News, NY Post, and even theDaily Racing Form. One way to unwind, whenallowed a pass, was to take the bus to Augusta,Georgia and have the luxury of staying in a hotelroom…privacy at last!

The date of June 17, 1967 finally arrived and Bobwas ready to return home to New York. After hisfather picked him up at the airport, and having awonderful reunion with his family, he immediatelyfell asleep in the lounge chair, exhausted, but sograteful to be back home. A few days later, hereturned to his employment in the private sectorand was reinstated to his former position on thestaff of a residential building in Manhattan. Heremained in their employ for forty-five years.

Probably the best experience of his two years inthe Army was the opportunity to meet peoplefrom all parts of the United States. He learnedquickly how to get along with others, treat hisfellow servicemen as he wanted to be treated,and learned to never take advantage of others byusing his own authority.

Robert Saul, of 67 Springmill Drive, shared thathe was “drafted by mail” and told to report todowntown Manhattan for his physical in March of1965. Before he knew it, he was in the UnitedStates Army, instead of living with his parents andsiblings in Queens. By June 15, he was on a trainheaded to basic training at Fort Jackson in SouthCarolina. After a bus transfer, he found himself atFort Gordon in Georgia.

Robert’s initiation into military life consisted of allthe drill sergeants screaming at the new recruitswith much name-calling, oppressive heat, and themutually shared bewilderment of all the otherarriving that day. Once everyone got their militaryhaircut (with many long locks left behind…it wasthe 60’s after all) Bob’s days immediately followingwere devoted to settling into the barracks, beingissued uniforms and equipment, and receivingnumerous inoculations. His most important jobwas just to complete and survive basic training,especially since his competitive platoon sergeantwas driven to finish ahead of the other platoons.

Jerry Ryan, of 113 Springmill Drive, enlisted inthe United States Marine Corps in April of 1962.After completing Electronic Schools and on-the-job training in California, his primary job in theservice was as a radar technician.

An air trafficcontrol radartechnician’s job isto “survey, site,and install airtraffic controlprecision approachand surveillanceradar systems.They also need tomake periodicinspections andperform preventivemaintenance, tune,adjust and align systems for proper operations.”www.usmilitary.com

Jerry’s was discharged in October, 1965. Of histime in the Marines, he said, “I was happy to serve.”

Robert Saul

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Robert Schreckengost, of 616 Poets Way,enlisted to serve in the Air Force from 1961to1965. At the time, he was living inPennsylvania. He remembers the first few day ofservice as being both busy and scary. He wasnever stationed overseas, so was not put in anycombat situations.

Robert’s primaryjob in the AirForce was as anaircraftmechanic. Healways hadenoughequipment andsupplies to do hisjob. Heremembers that he worked hard, but he alsohad time for fun with friends; basically visitingdances and just “running around with hisbuddies.” He kept a journal and took picturesduring his time in the service. He also keepsin touch with some of those friends.Besides keeping in touch with family, he hadtime to go back home for visits. His mom alsosent treats to him…even though he thoughtthe food on the base was pretty good most ofthe time.

Robert received regular awards… Heremembers the day he returned home. He, andhis “new” wife from Delaware, and their firstdaughter, stayed in Delaware, which has “madefor a happy life.” Once back home, he wasemployed by General Motors, remaining therefor 32 years.

Robert thought that overall, his time in the AirForce was rewarding. He received excellentaircraft training in Texas, which he reallyenjoyed. He also appreciated being stationedat Dover AFB and his “Temporary DutyYonder.”

Michael Scott, of 350 Daylilly Way, wasdrafted into the United States Army in Octoberof 1968. He was eighteen years old and living inNewport, Delaware at the time.

From March of 1969 to March of 1970, Michaelserved in Vietnamas a CombatInfantry SquadLeader. At onepoint, during athirty-dayoperation in thejungle, he startedout with a squadof 35 soldiers. Atthe end of theoperation, only 12returned.

Michael was honorably discharged as aSergeant in the 199th Light Infantry Brigade.After returning from a year of combat duty inVietnam, to complete his two years of service,Michael was assigned to Fort Meade, Maryland.One assignment that stands out during this timewas in Indian Town Gap, Pennsylvania, wherehe trained college ROTC students in “junglewarfare.” Another memorable tour was whenhe was assigned riot duty at the TreasuryBuilding in Washington D.C., where VietnamWar protests were being held.

Once discharged, Michael worked at ChryslerCorporation in Newark, Delaware for five years.Eventually he was employed by Amtrak inWilmington, Delaware. When he retired, after 35years, it was in the position of Track Supervisor.

Michael kept in touch with several men for a fewyears. During that time, he proudly learned thatone of his fellow soldiers had named his sonsafter him; one Michael and the other Scott.Since 1970 (45 years ago) he has exchangedChristmas cards with one soldier who is now aMonsignor in Long Island, New York.

Michael is a life member of the Veterans ofForeign Wars, Mason-Dixon Post #7234.

We will remember

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Joe Tomassetti enlisted in the Navy in August of 1961.At the time, he was living in Meriden, Connecticut. Hecommented that the first days in the service were“interesting.” He served during the Cuban Missile Crisisand the Kennedy assassination and was neverassigned overseas and never injured.

Joe’s primary job inthe service was as anAviation Electric2nd Class P.O.,maintain variousNavy aircraft. Hewas a member of anAnti-submarineWarfare (ASW)squadron. During hisservice heremembersexperiencing a “lockdown” during theCuban Crisis andKennedy assassination; “no one in and no one out.” Sidearms were issued and the Marines were combat ready.The situations were tense, but as I recall everyone actedprofessionally…just as they were trained to react.Joe said he stayed in touch with family by telephoningduring weekend liberty. He didn’t have too much tocomplain about as the food was “excellent and he gotfour meals a day.”

Joe didn’t keep a journal or take pictures while in theservice but said he “absolutely” made friends and stayedin touch with them for the first twenty years.

He said his return home was “no big deal.” He attendedcollege once back in civilian life, graduating as a computerengineer. He and his wife, Diane, met in college and weremarried after he graduated.

Joe spent his whole career, thirty-five years, with the samecompany, DEC (Digital Computer Corporation), which waslater sold to Compaq and then Hewlett Packard.

Joe was very active after moving to Springmill in 2002.Along with Tom Ferrara, he started the ARC committee.He was also the first resident chosen to be on the Boardof Directors. He championed the need for a FinanceCommittee and chaired the Clubhouse Committee. Joealso served on the Party Committee. He spent on theWork Task Group that reviewed the covenant and by-laws, making recommendations concerning clarity andambiguity. (These Navy guys are definitely not slackers.)

Commenting in that area, Joe shared that he found hisexperience in the Navy to be rewarding. He learnedabout stress, leadership, teamwork, and how to beprofessional in the face of adversity.

Joseph Speno of 552 Whispering Trail wasdrafted into the U.S. Army during the VietnamWar. At the time, he was living in Middletown,New Jersey. He remembers that during thosefirst few days he was “very busy…didn’t sleepfor two days.” He eventually was stationedoverseas onMarch 1, 1969.

Joseph’s primaryjob in the servicewas as a heavyequipmentoperator. He hadvery littleinvolvement incombat and wasnever injured, buthe was exposed to Agent Orange anddeveloped a rash that lasted for 12-15 years.One upbeat memory combined his job and avisit from Bob Hope. He constructed thetheater where the Bob Hope tour performedand actually got to meet him.

During his time in Vietnam, Joe kept in touchwith family through the mail and appreciatedtreats that arrived from home. As heremembers Army food, it was “something toeat…nothing special.” He didn’t keep a journalor take pictures, but he did make a lot offriends, though he hasn’t kept in touch withthem over the years.

Joseph definitely remembers when his servicewas complete and he was able to return home.He joined the VFW and the American Legionorganizations. He continued working inconstruction and operating heavy equipment asa civilian. As far as his time in Vietnam as awhole, he commented that “I will hopefullynever experience anything like that time again.”

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Bill Uranko enlisted in the Army Reserves in1959. At the time he had been out of highschool for one year, was living in Marlin,Pennsylvania, and was working at the PottsvilleAcme Market. It wasn’t actually his idea toenlist. It seems a “guy he was working with atthe Acme, enlistedBill, another buddyandhimself…thought itwas a good idea.”

Bill never servedoverseas and wasnever called upduring his time inthe Reserves. Heshared that backthen, your obligation was to go away for trainingfor six months and attend weekly and monthlymeetings. In those days, you were called up asa unit, today, individuals can be called back toserve. He said that his six years were relativelyquiet, except that his Reserve unit was onReady Alert twice.

During his time in the service, Bill held lots ofjobs; he started out at a Personnel Specialistin an Engineering Company. He transferred toan Armor Company and eventually became anM48 tank commander with the rank ofSergeant E5. No matter what the job, therenever seemed to be sufficient equipment orsupplies. Regarding his “off time,” Bill said thathe made lots of friends and had lots of fun; hehas good memories of the “big city” of Louisville,Kentucky. He even had the opportunity to be atthe 1960 Kentucky Derby.

While serving, Bill kept in touch with familythrough the mail. He commented that he neverreceived any special awards.

Bill was discharged in 1965. He still keeps in touchwith one person, who has been a life-long friend.Regarding his civilian career, he worked for Acmeas a clerk and then worked for Boeing HelicopterCompany as a cost accountant. He became amember of the American Legion in 2004.

Mark Verni, of 321 Daylilly Way, enlisted inthe New Jersey National Guard in 1952.Eventually, he was on Active Duty in the ArmyReserves.

Mark’s primary jobin the service wasas aninfantryman. Theinfantry isconsidered themain land combatforce and“backbone” of theArmy. They areresponsible fordefending againstany threat by land, as well as capturing,destroying and repelling enemy ground forces.The job entails “performing as a member of afire team during drills and combat, aiding in themobilization of vehicles, troops and weaponry,assisting in reconnaissance missions,processing prisoners of war and captureddocuments, and using, maintaining and storingcombat weapons (rifles, machine guns, etc.)”www.goarmy.com

Job training for infantryman requires 14 weeks ofOne Station Unit Training, which includes BasicCombat and Advanced Individual training. Part ofthis time is spent in the field.

Mark’s primary job in the infantry was to carryweapons like the BAR (M1918 BrowningAutomatic Rifle). I found it interesting, from anhistorical standpoint, that this particular weaponwas been used since 1918 in France. The firstunit to receive them in the United States wasthe U.S. Army’s 79th Infantry. It’s actually a“family of weapons” of different calibres. It wasused in World War I and II, and the Korean War,and is still used by the Army today.

During his time in the service, Mark rose to therank of Specialist 3rd Class (used to be calledcorporal). Markwas discharged in 1960. He said his overallexperience was good.

Bill Uranko

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Marvin Walthall enlisted in the U.S. Army at18 years of age. At the time he was living inPhiladelphia, PA. He remembers his first daysin the service as ones that entailed intensivephysical training.

In 1968, Marvin was stationed overseas inOkinawa, Japan.He was assignedto PersonnelSpecialist andMilitary Police.With the help ofmany soldiers, hemanaged thehuman resourceaffairs of enlistedmen. Hecommented thathe always had enough equipment and suppliesto do his job. Marvin was not involved in combatduring his service and was never injured.

Two experiences that stand out in Marvin’smemory involved a family member and afriend. The first was that his younger brotherpassed from throat cancer eight months afterhis arrival on “the Rock” (The name wascoined because the military personnelrecognized that there was no way to leave theisland after being processed in.). The secondwas unexpected. One night, in the village ofKoza, Okinawa, he heard a voice during theOld Koza Riots. It turned out to be a teenagebest friend by the name of Preston Dunnfield.

Marvin kept in touch with family through “snailmail.” He also got care packages of treatsfrom home. Surprisingly, he found the militaryfood at the NCO Club was good most of thetime. There were even some Okinawanrestaurants that cooked American food. Thething he didn’t like about his service was thelength of time (18 months) that he was awayfrom home.

During any free time, Marven enjoyedsnorkeling in the South China Sea and taking

photos. He didn’t keep a journal, but does havepictures from his time in the Army. He alsomade many friends and still keeps in touch withsome of them.

Marvin’s first return home was to attend hisyounger brother, Stanley’s, funeral. It wasmemorable because it was aboard a C-141refrigerated morgue. His final return to theStates was twelve month later. He arrived inOakland, California; it was surreal, but good tobe home.

Once back, having worked out of CentralCommand Personnel in Okinawa, Marvin wasreassigned to Ft. Meade, Maryland andcontinued his personnel Specialistduties until his Honorable separation from themilitary ten month later. He became a memberof American Legion Post 25 and was voted inas 1st Vice Commander and Historian.

Retrospectively, Marvin said he wouldn’t tradehis time in the military for college, though he didgo on to complete his professional educationafter his service.

Marvin Walthall

"The Med-Evac"Marker pen on Ivory paper

A wounded soldier gets a medical evacuation from a warzone in Southern Vietnam in 1960 during the days of theVietnam Conflict. Shells of mortar rounds begins to fallall over the area. The daredevil pilot sits there while theevacuation takes place as sharp metallic mortar clang

begins to hit the Huey.

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Fred Wendt served “in between” the KoreanWar and the Vietnam War, from 1956 to 1961.He enlisted at age 17 and served in the U.S.Air Force starting in November 1956. Hejoined the Air Force because he wanted totravel overseas and reached the conclusionthat this was the best way to achieve hisobjective.

At the time of hisenlistment, Fredwas living inWisconsin. Heremembers thosefirst few days ofservice as beinga “blur in Texas.”He finished basictraining inFebruary 1957and enrolled in a technical school at March AirForce Base in California. Upon graduatingfrom technical school in October 1957, he wassent to Ft. Meade, Maryland and spent the restof his Air Force career at that location.

While in the service, Fred was never stationedoverseas; he volunteered to serve overseasseveral times, but was unable to do so. Hisprimary job was as an intelligence analyst.(Intelligence analysts gather, analyze, orevaluate information from a variety of sources.They are integral to processing, analyzing andsharing strategic and tactical intelligence tosupport operations needed to protect ourcountry.) He always had sufficient equipmentand supplies to do his job.

Fred kept in touch with everyone in Wisconsinthrough writing letters and phoning home. Helooked forward to any treats that arrived eventhough he thought the food was “good.”

For fun, Fred would go to the beach, gosightseeing, or play football with some of themany friends he made. As a matter of fact, hisdischarge date was extended for medical

reasons, because he was injured playingfootball for his squadron about a month beforehe was to get out.

He didn’t keep a journal, take pictures, or keepin touch with those who served with him. Someof the awards he received were an Air ForceCommendation Medal and a Good ConductMedal.ironically, when Fred was discharged in June1961, he started civilian employment at thesame installation at Ft. Meade. It was duringthis time that Fred finished his college educationand his studies to become an ordained ministerin the Catholic Church.

Fred finally got to travel overseas extensivelyfor more than 30 years as a civilian, visiting over40 countries. He and his wife, Maria did haveone pleasant stint, between 1992 and 1995,when they lived in London, where Fred wasposted at the American Embassy. In thatamount of time, London became a “secondhome.” Eventually, after Fred retired from theFederal government, they moved to Springmill.

Fred thought being in the service was a “greatexperience. He learned a lot and it preparedhim for life.”

“Saving a Wounded Soldier”A watercolor painting of a scene similar to that

shown on the previous page. This paining is fromthe Waterhouse Art Collection

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Dedicated in 1984, the sculpture, also knownas “The Three Servicemen” was made by

Frederick Hart and added two yearsfollowing the opening of the Wall in 1982.

Vietnam Memorial - Washinton DCLocated north of the Lincoln Memorial near the intersection of 22nd St. and Constitution

Ave. NW, Vietnam Veterans Memorial is free to visit and is open 24 hours a day.

The memorial includes the names of over 58,000 servicemen and women who gavetheir lives in service in the Vietnam Conflict. The memorial also includes "The Three

Servicemen" statue and the Vietnam Women's Memorial.

Vietnam Women’s memorial was designedby Glenna Goodacre and dedicated on

November 11, 1993