WWII veterans honored

[thedrifter]

WWII veterans honored
By Dave Thompson
dthompson@newsadvance.com
Sunday, October 21, 2007


There are few alive today who witnessed the first World War. And as the number of World War II veterans begins to dwindle as well, Americans are taking an opportunity to honor their legacy.

Lynchburg’s local chapter of the Military Order of the Devil Dogs did so Saturday by honoring 10 World War II veterans in a special ceremony.

“This generation is dying off,” said Steve Bozeman, a retired Marine who helped coordinate the event.

“It’s important that we recognize them.”

That recognition came in the form of a ceremony at the Marine Corps League on Lakeside Drive, where each of the servicemen and servicewomen were presented a special painting by area artist Terry Coffey.

The painting features Lynchburg’s Monument Terrace, during a “Support Our Troops” rally, which Bozeman coordinates every Friday.

“I wanted to get away from some of the fantasy-oriented work that I had done,” said Coffey, adding, “I was happy to try to do it.”

Bozeman lauded the accomplishments of all those being recognized.

“Peace is earned by us veterans and not those (peace protesters), with all due respect,” he said.

“That’s the reason we’re not speaking German or Japanese right now.”

Among those recognized was 92-year-old Patsy Clare McMahon Kusiak, who joined the Marines in 1943 at the age of 27.

Kusiak left the service in 1946 as a 1st lieutenant. She graduated eighth in her class at officer training.

Several of the honorees served on the island of Iwo Jima in early 1945.

“There’s probably 1,000 years of Marine Corps history in this room with all of us,” said Lee Cobb, the Master of Ceremonies.

J. Shelton Scales landed on Iwo Jima on Feb. 19, 1945. He spent 38 days on the island.

William Ondo spent six days on Iwo Jima. He was awarded the Purple Heart after losing his left eye.

Jahue Mundy spent three days on Iwo Jima and also landed on Okinawa, Guam and Peleliu.

John Fowler served on the USS Missouri off the coast of Iwo Jima, and after 26 years of service, he reached the highest non-commissioned-officer rank possible, at master gunnery sergeant. His wife, Pat Fowler, also served in the Marines.

James Swanson Rigney served as a member of the platoon whose members famously raised the U.S. flag on Mt. Suribachi, on Iwo Jima.

Wesley Clayton Dixon was a medic on Iwo Jima. He was wounded on D-Day, but returned to Iwo Jima, where he stayed for 28 days.

Warren J. Tuck, who fought on Guam, said he was told the battle on Iwo Jima “would be a picnic.”

Philip Strader, who served on Midway Island, Guadal Canal and Bouganville, retired as a lieutenant colonel.

“I already had my pilot’s license when Pearl Harbor came along,” Strader said, “and I was gone.”

John Cecil Jr., another pilot, located and destroyed 12 ammunition bunkers and escorted a Japanese general for surrender to Gen. Joseph Stillwell.

Asked about his service, Cecil said “I thought it was well worthwhile. I thought we earned our pay. I thought we did our duty.”

“I can highly recommend it to anybody who wants to serve their country.”

Pat Fowler said that although she didn’t have combat experience during the war, it was still a challenging experience.

“Going through boot camp, it wasn’t much different than what the men had to do,” she said.

“These veterans in their 80s and into their 90s are appreciative of any thank yous that they can get,” said Bozeman.

“It’s just heartfelt that we can do that.”

Ellie

[PFTstud]

Coool, my school is working on a project honoring WW2 vets also in the NYC area.

http://digiclub.org/sofs/

TRIBUTE TO SERVICE will be presented on three consecutive evenings during the week before Veterans Day (November 6 – 8, 2007). Each evening will be hosted by a different CUNY campus.

Tuesday, November 6
Hunter College High School
In partnership with Hunter College
6:00 PM – 9:00 PM
Auditorium
71 East 94th Street (@ Park Ave)
New York, NY 10128

Wednesday, November 7
City Tech (New York City College of Technology)
6:00 PM – 9:00 PM
Namm Building, Room N-119
300 Jay Street
Brooklyn, NY 11201

Thursday, November 8
Kingsborough Community College
In partnership with the Leonard M. Goldstein High School for Sciences
6:00 PM – 9:00 PM
MAC Playhouse, Marine Academic Center
2001 Oriental Blvd
Brooklyn, NY 11235