World War II
Our family radio was on one Sunday afternoon late in 1941 when I heard a language I couldn’t understand projected from a voice I had never heard. My father said that I should listen to it even though I couldn’t understand what was being said, that I should never forget the sound. Some eight-one years later (April 2020) I still remember it well. At the end of this very long verbal assault on my years, I heard the American host say that was Adolf Hitler reading from Mein Kampf. My attention was again tuned to another Sunday afternoon program when it was interrupted and I heard that the Japanese had bombed Pearl Harbor. The following day President Roosevelt delivered his famous Imfamy speech and Congress followed with its Declaration of War against Japan. Three days later, on December 11, 1941, we were at war against Germany. This was my introduction to the Second World War.
On yet another Sunday, I saw a photograph in the “Parade” section of the Philadelphia Bulletin showing a picture of a V-2 rocket superimposed over a collage of five Philadelphia munition depots (Frankford Arsenal, Naval Depot, etc.) with the heading boldly pronouncing “POSSIBLE BUT NOT PROBABLE.” I didn’t understand “probable” but learned quickly what it meant. The article within described how V-2s, if they were to hit Philly, would cause massive explosions encircling the city. Every night thereafter, I would dream that V-2 rockets were coming over the Tacony-Palmyra bridge which I could see from my bedroom window. I always woke up just before the explosions. In an attempt to chase the nightmares, during the day I would I gazed at the bridge while defining in my mind the difference between possible and probable and, of course, hoping that the dreams would end. They did, finally, on V-E day: May 8, 1945. The celebrations that followed were unforgettable and I was at peace as the world began its recovery.
Korean War
After I was dismissed from Temple University because of poor grades, I returned to work in our store. Rather than being drafted into the Army, I enlisted in the Air Force in March 1952. After basic training at Sampson Air Force base near Genera, NY, I was transferred to Sewart AFB in Symrna, TN. About eighteen months later another transfer took me to Pepperrell AFB located just outside St. Johns, Newfoundland where I remained until returning to the States in January 1956 where I receive an honorable discharge at Mitchell AFB, NJ. Although I saw temporary duty (two weeks) at Narsarsuaq AFB in southern Greenland, my assignments kept me in the States for the three years and nine months that I served. The AF awarded me the Korean War and good Conduct Medals at the end of my tour of duty.
Vietnam War November 1, 1955 – April 30, 1975
Invasion of Afghanistan
Invasion of Iraq