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Remembering the veterans of other wars(Editor's note: The following column U by Ford Cliff Mayor John Radic and looka back at another war. It is published in lieu of the “Way we were” column today.)By John RadlcI believe this article to be apropos during the Middle East crisis and Operation Desert Storm.I remember the outbreak oflistening to the casualty reportsWorld War II. As I sat bv the radio listenirduring the Pearl Harbor disaster. I heard the name of our first Ford Cliff casualty. Marshall Walker, killed in action.This caused great concern as we watched our draftees and enlistees catch the train at Ford City to depart for military service, not knowing whether we would see them again. More reports started coming in via radio, newspapers. telegrams, etc.Steven Lefchik. casualty on a training flight; Ted Birch. George Kline, Lenard Moore, all killed in action; and Milos Kluciar. whose troop ship was sunk by U-boats on D-Day.Then the prisoners of war bulletins listing Johnny Cochran, Sam Panchik, Kelly Mechling and Lt Bill Moore, whose bomber was shot down over Germany.William Crissman, home on survivor leave, his destroyer sunk in the Battle of Subic Bay; William Keeler, wounded in action and paralyzed from the waist down.I remember Sgt. Claude Birch with the 101st Airborne in the Battle of the Bulge; 1 st Sgt. James Lockhart, with the amphibious forces in the Phillipines. who had a tragedy at home and could not get leave because he was in a combat zone and Sgt. Walter Kijowski, who completed all his missions as a gunner on a bomber over the E.T.O.I remember our triple vets who served in World War II. the Korean War and the National Guard -Ralph Miller, myself, Edward Keeler and Claude Birch, retired Colonel Edward Keeler, who won the Silver Star for Gallantry in Korea. Our Vietnam vets - retired Colonel John Placek, Purple Heart recipient as an infantryman and went back on a second tour of duty as a helicopter pilot and was shot down; William Askee, wounded inaction; William Rieger, numerous Are fights; Charles Turek, paralyzed from the waist down and confined to a wheelchair.Our families - the Ruperts, Bowsers and Sellers - who had stars in their windows and were afraid to open the door to find a telegram from the War Department.And honors to our World War I vets, who recently passed away -George and Fred Rupert. I think we may have a record here in the Robert Simmons family, who have sent at last count eight of their family into the military. There is no intent to pass anyone and I apologize if I missed some points. If the situation warrants, I can doa sequel. *8My hat goes off to all the ve|s, especially those in Operation Desert Storm. My hat goes on in shame when I see the Jane Fonda's, the flag burners apdthose Saddam the Madman supporters. I would like to sfee Rambo, the Dirty Dozen, the A-Team and Arnold Swartzenqg-ger go over there and take care xf this madman.
Newspaper Details
Kittanning Leader Times
Kittanning, Pennsylvania, US
Tue, Feb 12, 1991
Page 4
Full Page
Clipped by
Shirley L.
PA, USA 21 Aug 2019
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