Vets Honored for Service

NORTH CAPE MAY – They served their country honorably as young men and women. Now in their golden years, 21 residents of Victoria Manor were honored Nov. 15 with certificates, a breakfast buffet, and proclamations from administrators, political officials and others. 
Victoria Manor, the American Red Cross, and local veterans’ groups gathered with resident veterans and friends and family members for the third annual Veterans Day celebration.
Many of the residents were unable to attend Nov. 11 community events, so the events were brought to them, explained American Red Cross Executive Director, South Shore Chapter, Carol Cohen.
“The American Red Cross was born when Clara Barton entered the battlefield during the Civil War to render service to the soldiers. We have been with you ever since,” Cohen said.
The event began with an invocation by resident World War II Army veteran Arnold Dinicolantonio. He was followed by Victoria Manor Administrator Karen Bruno, who said one of the veterans at the Manor told her they only served six months of active duty.
“I told him ‘it was six months of sacrifice,’” Bruno explained.
Johnnie Walker, adjutant, Disabled American Veterans Department of New Jersey, said members of the DAV visit the veterans the first Thursday of each month.
“We shoot the breeze, talk about their time in the service. Sometimes we laugh with them, sometimes we cry. We do our darndest to help them,” Walker said.
Keynote speaker Freeholder Jeffrey Pierson, who served in the Army and New Jersey Army National Guard for 42 years and retired a brigadier general, explained how the freeholder board was working to bring more veterans’ services to Cape May County. He then described New Jersey’s contribution to fighting World War I on the 100th anniversary of the “War to End All Wars.”
Pierson said that New Jersey takes care of its returning veterans.
“In New Jersey, we have the Veterans Hotline, the suicide hotline, three veterans long-term care facilities, two homeless veterans’ facilities and much more,” said Pierson.
Veterans were presented with certificates that thanked them for their service. Each was given a personal notebook and handmade cards from elementary students in the Upper Township School District.
One veteran was given a special salute. Edward Weber, 100, was thanked for his service in the Army during World War II.
Weber said he spent most of the war chasing German Gen. Erwin Rommel through Italy and Africa.
As a lieutenant colonel, Weber had a squad of a dozen riflemen under his command. He recalled a battle where the shooting was about to break out when an enemy bullet hit him in the helmet, went through the front, skimmed his ear and out the side before passing through his field jacket.
“I wore that helmet the rest of the war. I took it home and gave it to my mother, who then gave it to her sister. She made it into a flower pot,” Weber recalled with a laugh.
Weber lamented that he didn’t get a Purple Heart medal for being wounded because the bullet didn’t draw blood.
Weber was sent home from the war when the Jeep he was riding in collided with another on a sharp bend.
A metal piece of the windshield tore through his cheek damaging his tear duct and required 32 stitches.
“After that, my tear duct was constantly leaking, so they sent me home,” he said.
Charles Franco, a 96-year-old resident from North Cape May, served in the Army 100th Division as a staff sergeant during World War II. He earned a Purple Heart.
While taking shelter in a foxhole in France, a shell burst over his head, and a piece of shrapnel buried itself behind his knee. After six months in a Paris hospital, Franco headed home, Purple Heart in hand.
Franco’s injury was permanent, a constant reminder of the danger of war.
“I really enjoyed the ceremony today,” Franco said, showing off his 100th Division ring.
Weber summed up his feelings when it comes to countries doing battle: “All wars are asinine. It’s a waste of humanity.” 
Veterans who received certificates: 
Harry Hober, Vietnam, Army
Arnold Dinicolantonio, WWII, Army
Fred Miller, Vietnam, Marine Corps
Irene Gamble, Air Force
Frank Bertoline, WWII, Navy
Joe Olwell, Cold War Era, Army
John Beirman, Korea, Army
Elmer Lindholm, WWII, Navy
Joseph Dean, Navy
Harry Beifus, WWII, Army
Charles Franco, Kore, Army
Stephen Gardner, Cold War Era, Merchant Marine
Robert Potts, Army
Alexander Danniblale, Army
Joan Concannon, Airforce
Joseph Walker, Beirut, Marine Corps
Larry Auld, Korea, Navy
Joseph Lacey, Cold War Era, Airforce
William Conchewski, WWII, Army
Stanley Broska, Cold War Era, Army
Edward Weber, WWII, Army
To contact Carl Price, email cprice@cmcherald.com.