Via IJR, in commemoration of Armed Forces Day:
1. Gaetano Benza – Served in The European Theater of World War II:
“War was declared and I had no say because the draft was instated. When the war was taking off, most of us wanted to quit school and join the RAF. And then when we get over to England switch over to the Army Air Corps. I joined in April of 1943.
I came in two days after D-Day. It was still bad enough, they never gave up. The beach was littered with dead and wounded. It was one hell of fight for a few days…
What did it mean to me to serve, It meant an awful lot. Would I do it again? When I look at an American flag, I think yes. I’m 90 years old. I’m proud of my country. I’m proud of that American flag.”