WW II Vet, 102, Dies on Way to D-Day Event: Robert Persichitti

From the June 6, 2024, Newsweek by Jesus Mesa.

An American Navy veteran who was there when U.S. troops raised the flag on Iwo Jima in 1945 has died en route to France to make today's 80th anniversary of D-Day.

Robert "Al" Persichitti from Rochester, New York was 102 years old and passed away in a German hospital on May 31 after being airlifted from a ship sailing to Europe according to Honor Flight.

He was traveling with the National World War II Museum Group to participate.

Before he left, he said: "I was really excited to go to Normandy," despite having a history of heart problems.

--GreGen

Honor Flights Expanded to Korean and Vietnam Wars

The not-for-profit Honor Flight Program initially started as a way to get World War II veterans to Washington, D.C., to see the WW II Memorial at no charge to them.  It was opened up to Korean War veterans in 2016 and now, this year, to Vietnam War veterans.

I have been writing about this program and Honor Flight Chicago these last two weeks in my Cooter's History Thing blog.

--GreGen

At 94, Bob Dole Greets Aging WW II Vets-- Part 3

Besides his service in World War II, Bob Dole's life has been one of service in all manners.  He is a champion of the disabled, Senate majority leader, 1996 Republican presidential candidate.  Meeting his fellow veterans is down to his final calling.  It is a duty to be fulfilled as long as he is able.

"It's just about the one public service left that I'm doing,"  Dole says.  "We don't have many of the World War II vets left.  It's important to me."

he has watched the proportion of WW II vets fall over the years from half the bus to just a few per group.

Dole's wife, former U.S. Senator Elizabeth Dole, says her husband is just wired to serve.  She frequently joins him on these Saturday outings.

I Still Think He Would Have Made An Excellent President.  --GreGen

At 94, Bob Dole Greets Aging WW II Vets-- Part 1

From the June 24, 2018, Chicago Tribune  "At 94, Dole embraces role to greet aging WW II vets" by Steve Hendrix, Washington Post.

"Each Saturday, before Bob Dole sets off on his latest vocation, he has cornflakes, a little sugar on top, and a bottle of chocolate Boost.

"It takes less time to get dressed now that the 94-year-old allows a nurse to help him, but it remains a rough half-hour on a body racked by injury and age."  His shirt has to be maneuvered over his dead right arm and the shoulder that was blown away on an Italian hillside in World War II.

A pair of North Face running shoes have to be tied for him because his artillery blasted hands have been unable to tie since 1945.

Then, it is a 20 minute drive to the memorial that Bob Dole is very responsible, the National World War II memorial.

There, they come.  "Bus after bus, wheelchair after wheelchair, battalions of his bent brothers, stooped with years, but steeped in pride, veterans coming to see their country's monument to their sacrifice and to be welcomed by one of their country's icons."

He is there to  greet them.

Of course, Bob Dole is 95 now.  I am not sure he still does this.

One of the Greatest Generation and I think he would have made an excellent president.

--GreGen

World War II Vets Battle German Subs Off East Coast

From the Nov. 5, 2012, WTMJ 620 Radio, Milwaukee, Wis. by Jodi Becker.

The 16th Honor Flight for World War II veterans left Milwaukee to Washington, D.C. to visit the WWII Memorial.

Howard Popp was on a submarine in 1943 and said: "Two torpedoes, we took.  The top bunk came down and knocked me out of bed.  The ship went down for maybe a half an hour.  I got into a lifeboat with four men, had a big hole in it.  I had to bail from 12:00 a.m. until 12:00 p.m. the next day.

"Sharks in water and I had to shoot at them."

A boat finally rescued them 12 hours later.  Mr. Popp ended up in a hospital with pneumonia from his ordeal and received a medical discharge from service.

Bob Romanowski of Oconomowak was in the Atlantic patrolling for U-boats.  "I was an 18-year-old kid.  I forgot all about it until I saw this history detective thing" a TV show about a German sub sunk off the coast of Long island Sound.

"When they mentioned the date, my wife was setting there there and I said, 'Jean, that's the same day we sank a submarine in Long Island Sound."

--GreGen

Jim Gailey, Pearl Harbor Veteran, Dies-- Part 2

Gailey was a signal man on an anti aircraft mount and described the Japanese planes that day "as like a swarm of hornets attacking--you just fire your gun in the air and hit something."

He remained on the Helena at Guadalcanal and Okinawa.  He was transferred to the USS Chase and not aboard the Helena when it was sunk at the Battle of Kula Gulf.

Gailey retired as a senior chief quartermaster and joined his fellow Pearl Harbor survivors there for the 70th anniversary and earlier in June he went to Washington, D.C. to view the World War II Memorial on an Oklahoma Honor Flight.

Another of the Greatest Generation.  --GreGen

World War II Veterans 90, Government Shutdown 0-- Part 2

These guys were not to be denied.

"There was no way anyone could (have stopped them), said Tracey Rouse.  "We were actually greeted by hundreds of supporters who were clapping and holding signs."

A handful of Illinois' Congressional leaders also were there, most notably U.S. Senator Mark Kirk, a Republican.

Kirk Tweeted early in the day he planned to meet the group, though lawmakers weren't the focus of the visit.
"We're not here to see them.  They might be here to see us, but the veterans are here to see their memorial," Rouse said.  "This is not a day for politicians, this is a day for honor."

The Illinois veterans were the second wave to come ashore on the banks of the Potomac to take the World War II Memorial.

Like there was any way that they would be stopped or arrested.

Like We've Said Many Times, "The Greatest Generation."  --GreGen

Veteran Talks About General Patton

From the May 6, 2010 WAFF 48 News, Alabama "WWII veteran talks about meeting General Patton during war:"

Robert Boykin was on the Honor Flight to Washington, DC, to see the World War II Memorial.  He landed at Normandy on D-Day and delivered food and supplies to the front lines as the Army pushed inland.

He also served as chauffeur for both Eisenhower and George Patton in Germany.  He says he is a big Patton fan.  "Patton was a tough man, good, happy, laughing and partying, and shooting and drinking."

Patton, the Man, the Myth.  --GreGen