Veterans Town&Gown 2016 by Town & Gown

Town&Gown’s Salute to Veterans

Inside: Adam Hartswick’s “True Grit” Michael Murphy’s father remembers his son Profiles of Centre County veterans

Explore Pennsylvaniaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Connections CONNECT W ITH US:

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Proud To Recognize And Thank All Centre County Veterans for their service and sacrif ice, Including two members of the W.R.Hickey Beer Distributor “family”.

William H. Hickey,

Army Air Corp William H. (Bill) Hickey, only child of W.R and Edith Lu Hickey, was born in Danville in 1925, and moved with his family to State College in 1930. An accomplished athlete, Bill graduated from State High in 1943, and enlisted in the Army Air Corps, where he served in the 2nd Army Airways Communication System, 12 Air Force in North Africa and France until 1946. In 1965, after the death of W.R., Bill replaced his father as President of the business, and in 1966 became co-owner. He held that position until his death in 2009.

Charles Abramson,

Army Air Corp Charles (Charlie) Abramson was born in Harrisburg in 1919, to Harry and Sarah Abramson. The family moved to State College in 1928, and owned Abramson Auto Wrecking. In 1939, Charlie joined W.R. Hickey’s as a driver. He enlisted in the Army Air Corp. and served from 1941-1945 as Master 1st Sergeant in North Africa, England and Italy. In 1946, W.R. offered him a partnership, which Charlie accepted. Charlie remained co-owner of W. R. Hickey’s until 1990. He died in 2004.

Let Us Serve You

I would like to take a moment to introduce you to the Veterans Affairs Office of Centre County. My name is Brian Querry and I am the Director for our office. Roger Elling, my assistant, also works in our office. As Centre County employees, we are tasked with assisting county veterans. We are both veterans and accredited Veterans Services Officers, which means that we go through annual training on the VA claims process and benefits. As a veteran you may be eligible for benefits. The vast majority of benefits depend on your active duty as verified by your discharge papers. The most common form that documents your active duty is the DD 214, which the military started using in the 1950’s. It is important that you have/maintain a copy of your discharge papers because many benefits depend on the type of active duty and the length of active duty identified in your discharge papers. If you cannot find your discharge papers, we can help you obtain them.

The VA provides a myriad of benefits that cover: • Life Insurance

• Education Benefits • Burial Benefits

• Pension/Survivor Pensions,

(available only to Veterans of war time.)

• Compensation payments Assistant Roger Elling

Director of Veterans Affairs Brian Querry

• Health Care

Additionally, as a veteran, you may be eligible for state and county benefits. If you are a veteran or the surviving spouse of a veteran with war time service, give us a call (814-355-6812), so that we can thank you for your service and to let us serve you!

Town&Gown’s Salute to Veterans 8 Letter from the Publisher 10 True Grit Now more than three years after losing both of his legs, Adam Hartswick has maintained a strength and determination that allows him to live an independent life • by Adam Hartswick 28 The Protector Penn State alum Michael Murphy had wanted to be a lawyer, until he found his calling to dedicate — and give — his life in service of others • by Daniel Murphy 34 Higher Education Help for Those Who Served Penn State continues to rank among the best military-friendly schools in the country • from Penn State’s Office of Veterans Affairs 36 After the “Date which Will Live in Infamy” As America’s involvement in World War II began, Penn Staters prepared to do their part for the war effort • by Lee Stout

28 5 The Threads of Helping Others Inspired by his father’s service, a Penn State retiree sets up fund to help military members and their families • By Chris Buchignani 42 Q&A with Brian Querry, Director of Centre County Veterans Affairs

Special Advertising Section

15 Profiles of Veterans from Centre County

10 Published by Barash Media. Address inquiries to: Barash Media, 403 South Allen Street, State College, PA 16804-0077, (814) 238-5051 or 800-326-9584. © 2016 by Barash Media. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form except with written authorization from the publisher.

Town&Gownâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Salute to Veterans

Publisher Rob Schmidt Founder Mimi Barash Coppersmith Editorial Director David Pencek Creative Director Tiara Snare Operations Manager/Assistant Editor Vilma Shu Danz Art Director/Photographer Darren Weimert Graphic Designer Cody Peachey Account Executives Kathy George, Debbie Markel Business Manager Aimee Aiello Administrative Assistant Lana Bernhard Interns Tine Liu (editorial), Jackie Taylor (marketing) Distribution Handy Delivery

To contact us: Mail: 403 S. Allen St., State College, PA 16801 Phone: (814) 238-5051, (800) 326-9584 Fax: (814) 238-3415 dpenc@barashmedia.com (Editorial) rschmidt@barashmedia.com (Advertising) We welcome letters to the editor that include a phone number for verification. Back issues of Town&Gown are available on microfilm at Penn Stateâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Pattee Library.

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Town&Gown’s Salute to Veterans Sense of Service across Generations Though they never met, a grandfather and grandson share a special connection Several years ago, my son, Bryan, became intrigued with learning his ancestry. He was especially interested in his late grandfather, a career naval officer who served for 27 years. I told him his grandfather, like many veterans, was a humble man who rarely spoke of his service. Much of what I learned was from family members or others who had served with him. In the spring of 1941, Henry Schmidt was commissioned an Ensign in the US Navy and sent on his first tour of duty at Pearl Harbor. He was heading out for a round of golf on that sunny December morning when the Japanese planes pulled off a surprise attack that changed the course of history. The 90-minute battle crippled the Pacific fleet and claimed 2,403 American lives. My father, a gunnery officer on the destroyer USS-Dewey, helped direct the downing of two kamikaze planes short of their intended target. Fortunately, my father’s ship sustained no damage and within hours was underway patrolling the Pacific. It is hard to imagine today the anguish families went through in the aftermath of the attack. For nearly four months, my father’s family in Boston anxiously waited and prayed that he had survived. Finally the ship returned to port in late March. My father quickly sent a telegram that simply read, “I’m OK,” followed a few days later with a letter chronicling his experience. More than 12 million US servicemen were sent to battle in Europe and Pacific, and 400,000 gave their lives. My father saw combat in fierce battles, including Midway, where he earned the Bronze Star. Later, he served in the Korean conflict, commanded ships in the Pacific, and retired as a captain in 1967. In civilian life, he worked as freshman admissions director at Penn State until retiring with my mother to Cape Cod, Massachusetts, in 1984. Every single morning he raised a full-size American flag on a large flagpole in the front yard. He demonstrated his patriotism every day, not just on holidays. 8

Left, Henry Schmidt served in the US Navy during World War II. His grandson, Bryan, whom he never met, is now an officer in the Navy.

On the following pages of Town&Gown’s Salute to Veterans, you will read about just a few of the many local veterans who have proudly served our country. Thanks to the support of advertisers and individual sponsors for this special publication, we at Town&Gown will be donating $5,000 to help kick off the fund-raising drive to bring the traveling Vietnam Memorial Wall to Centre County next October. We salute the men and women who have served our country and preserved our freedom. Twenty-five years ago, my father passed away from pancreatic cancer. During my last visit with him, I found a man who was very much at peace. “I have lived a good life,” he said to me. “I married your mom, raised a family. Many of the boys I knew did not get that chance.” He told me his only regret was he wouldn’t get to see his 3-year-old granddaughter, Kelley, grow up; nor meet a grandson who was on the way. The grandson he never met is now an officer in the United States Navy. Bryan graduated from the United States Naval Academy in 2014, and this month he will graduate from Naval flight school in Pensacola, Florida. I know there’s a Navy captain who would be very proud. Rob Schmidt Publisher rschmidt@barashmedia.com

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Victory! As nation marks 65th anniversary of the end of World War II, local veterans share their stories and memories

IF IT’S HAPPENING IN HAPPY VALLEY, IT’S IN TOWN&GOWN

Town&Gown salutes all those who have served or are serving our country! Thank you!

Darren Andrew Weimert

Compared to my previous deployment to Iraq I come from a long line of military service on in 2011, this was a different place entirely. both sides of my family, at least as far back as the That is to say, in 2011, Iraq wasn’t the active Revolutionary War. With the stories of both my grandfathers’ service in World War II ringing in my engagement that it was in previous years and ears, it is no wonder that I pursued a career in the that Afghanistan was and still is today. As most Army. Grandfather Max Hartswick fought in the Pacific people will tell you, 90 percent of a deployment theater with the fabled Americal Division. Grandfather is sheer mind-numbing boredom. The other 10 Malcolm Hummel landed at Normandy Beach with percent can be simultaneously awesome and the 28th Infantry Division and terrifying — not to mention continued his trek through life-changing. the European theater. My For the most part, childhood set me up for this was a routine the military. deployment: manning As an only child in a the aid station of our joint-custody divorce, COP, dispensing meds there was no getting to soldiers, keeping away with anything tabs on soldiers’ as far as my parents health, and treating were concerned. Both the occasional local my mother, Morgen national. The men of Hummel, and my father, A Co, 3-41 Infantry Sean Hartswick, had had become my family. high expectations for me Like any family, there to succeed academically are times of hardship, and physically. conflict, and strife. Now more than three years after losing both Travelling between But your family loves of his legs, Adam Hartswick has maintained a households, I learned you anyway. In this strength and determination that allows him to early on that there brotherhood, we were live an independent life was nowhere to hide willing to fight and and no excuses for any die for each other. behavior. Accountability Especially on May 14, By Adam Hartswick and follow-through the day we fought to were essential to my keep each other alive. childhood. One of our dismounted From this seemingly (on foot) patrols ended chaotic upbringing came my flexibility, up in an IED (Improvised Explosive Device)adaptability, and some excellent improvisational related ambush in a small village within the Zhari talent — a great skill set for a soldier. I joined district of Afghanistan. Initially, I was on guard the Army at the age 17 with my parents’ consent. duty at the COP when I heard over the radio that our patrol was being ambushed. I quickly I was an unruly child for my parents, an average gathered my gear and weapon, grabbed my student and a pretty good athlete in school, and I had a facade of a “perfect angel” to the outside designated replacement for the guard tower, and world — another good skill set for the Army. A jumped on the nearest truck heading out with our QRF (Quick Reaction Force). When I arrived good soldier and warrior gets along with whom he on the scene with the QRF, three of my brothers serves, but it always pays to be defiant in the face of impossible odds. Especially when facing death. had been killed already, including Specialist Cody May 14, 2013, started out like any day on Towse, a platoon medic whom I was directly in deployment on our isolated Combat Outpost (COP) charge of. The other two were Specialist Mitch in our remote region of Afghanistan. I had been Daehling and Specialist William Gilbert. Between in the Army a little more than three years and was the ensuing chaos and gore, we were able to set on my second combat deployment. I was 22 years up a Casualty Collection Point to treat the injured old as an infantry company’s senior medic. I was and gather the fallen. responsible for the professional development of While waiting for the EOD team (Explosive four platoon medics and the medical well-being of Ordinance Disposal, “bomb squad”) to start its the entire company of 80 men. interrogation of an IED to clear a path, the team

True Grit H

leader, SFC Jeff Baker, reassured me “we are gonna save our brothers.” He stepped away to defuse an IED and disappeared in a cloud of dust and shrapnel — the blast floored me and the guys nearby. The platoon leader (PL) helped me to my feet, refocused, and reassured me that we would treat our wounded and retrieve our fallen. We got to work. Concerned for Baker’s well-being — either alive or dead — I had to look for him, telling everyone, “I’m going the [expletive] Hartswick with the rest of his infantry during his first deployment down there!” and moved to Iraq in 2011. toward the river, where he was assumed to be. As I ran to continue my treatment at Walter Reed National down the path to the river, I “zigged” when I should Military Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland. The have “zagged” and stepped on an IED. The blast first seven weeks back on American soil are fuzzy threw me in the air, and I landed on my stomach. at best. I had 11 surgeries in the first two months Dazed but still conscious, I struggled to stand and a total of 21 surgeries altogether. up. The PL saw my condition and shouted to me Rehabilitation at Walter Reed is a blur. Physical to stay down, but I couldn’t feel any pain and therapy after traumatic amputation of both legs above thought myself invincible. I flipped myself over, the knee is severe, to say the least. Unlike any other only to realize that I was definitely not invincible fitness routine, the goal isn’t “stronger hammies” or and that my legs had become hamburger meat. “toned quads” — mine are gone. This was completely I thought I was going to die, but then realized I different and totally trying. Sure, I had my share of didn’t have to. Tearing the tourniquets from my physical activity growing up. It was hard to maintain vest and starting to wrap my thigh, I realized my interest in computer and video gaming as a kid the blood on my hands was from my missing with parents like mine. They were role models of right index finger and partially severed thumb. physical activity. It was tough keeping up with I struggled to tourniquet myself when the PL them, but I did. My main sport became wrestling. approached and said, “Doc, tell me what to do.” So between my wrestling background and various I told him, “Tourniquets high and tight,” an easy military training, including lots of ruck marches and phrase for us to remember, as it also is a reference running, I became an adapt athlete, and I learned to our military haircuts. We had drilled so much how to endure. I learned the meaning of “grit.” on tourniquets that he knew what to do. He Between the surgeries and the heavy finished applying my tourniquets and comforted medication, my first trip to a physical-therapy me, exuding a confidence that made me feel I was appointment was like a DUI drive in a clown car. in good hands and I was going to be okay.  Even with my parents and medical personnel Coincidentally, Dustoff 68, a medevac guiding me in my (then) electric wheelchair, I helicopter, had been on station to retrieve bounced off hospital walls and ran into doors. the original wounded from the initial attack. The My first attempt to move onto the PT table was crew had made the courageous decision to land in hilarious. Jumbles of IV tubes, wound-vac drains, that IED minefield, which made our rescue almost and good-old imbalance thwarted me at first. instantaneous. Dustoff 68 earned the coveted Having lost one-third of my body weight, I was Silver Star and Medevac of the Year for 2013. weak and needed to regain strength throughout my By the end of the first week after my injuries, I core and upper body before ever having the power was stabilized and flown back to the United States I would need to move prosthetic legs. The crew at Walter Reed were the most caring, compassionate 12

medical professionals I have ever met. Their warmth and firm coaching pushed me and helped me to push myself in new ways. I found strength in their and my parents’ support. I grew stronger and my mind cleared every day. After seven weeks of inpatient stay, I was moved to the on-base housing for wounded service members at Walter Reed. I continued my rehab there for almost another two years. Over time, after a wide variety of exercises, I regained self-confidence as the staff at Walter Reed put me through the paces. Rehab with other wounded service members nearby is nothing like anything you can imagine. There are countless variations of the battlefield injury, some you can see and some you cannot. Missing hands, feet, hands and feet, above-the-knee and below-the-knee amputations, blindness, deafness, traumatic brain injuries — they’re all there; men and women of all branches of the US military and, occasionally, soldiers from allied nations, too. There’s no avoiding the usual cross-service rivalry, as shown by the shouts of encouragement and coaching. There are call-outs and challenges from everyone in the gym. Personal goals are met in every step, or rep, or race around the track. We recover our strength, our sense of self-reliance, and our confidence in our revised bodies in the midst of the mayhem of the PT facility. I know I did. I grew strong again in the Army. Still a soldier, my new duty was to recover. With the unconditional support of my parents and the expertise of the staff and volunteers at Walter Reed, they got me through the early days of being

Hartswick in a stryker during predeployment training in California in late 2012.

an amputee and helped get me on the way to a “new normal” with a wheelchair and prosthetics.  I medically retired from the Army in April 2015, with an honorable discharge, and moved home to the State College area. I work for Techline Technologies, instructing battlefield medicine to law enforcement, EMS, fire, and military personnel. It’s a traveling job. I especially enjoy it because I have a vehicle with hand controls that provide a great deal of independence, which is key to my life. I plan to attend Penn State in the near future. This story is incomplete without addressing Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and veteran suicide. Yes, a lot of battlefield stories include PTSD. Just because someone suffers a traumatic brain injury, which I did, doesn’t mean you’re going to have PTSD. It’s a matter of perspective, treatment, and mental outlook, as well as having a strong support group there to catch you when you fall. Sure, my injuries and the events of that day will always run through my mind. I miss my four brothers and think of them often. Of course I have bad memories. I’m not saying PTSD isn’t real, I’m saying that it can be overcome. I’m also saying a lot of people also claim to have PTSD and actually don’t or suffer from something else entirely. This happens because of its broad definition that needs revised so people can get proper treatment. False claims and/or misdiagnosis takes help and resources away from those who need them the most. Sadly, many veterans don’t seek or receive the help they need. As a result, 22 veterans commit suicide every day, according to a Department of Veterans Affairs statistic in 2013. Every day. That’s 22 too many. Reach out to your friends and community. Get them the help they need, be the listening ear, the shoulder to cry on. Get them to a professional who can help. Fellow veterans, there are no excuses, we leave no one behind. Take any opportunity you can to help and don’t stand idly by wondering what to do. Take action. This is my call to help out and to put an end to veteran suicide and to put an end to the overuse and misuse of the “catchall” PTSD. T&G Adam Hartswick, 25, graduated from State College Area High School in 2009, started in the Army in January 2010, and medically retired from the Army in April 2015. He lives in State College and is now an instructor of battlefield medicine for Techline Technologies. 13

Town&Gownâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Salute to Veterans

Profiles of Centre County Veterans

Special Advertising Section

In Memory Of

THOMPSON S. BECHDEL, JR.

Thompson Bechdel, Jr., was born and raised on a farm in Blanchard. He attended Lock Haven High School and was peddling milk at 6 cents a quart for his uncle Max Bechdel’s dairy farm when he was drafted into the Army at age 18 during World War II. Thompson traveled by train from Eagleville to Harrisburg for his induction but was briefly called back for the funeral of Max, who died in a farm accident. Branch: U.S. Army

From late 1943 to 1946, Thompson served as a combat engineer and T5 truck driver in the 1253rd Combat Engineer Battalion. His battalion left New York with a convoy of about 65 ships, headed for the D-Day invasion of Normandy, France, in June 1944. After landing in Le Havre, the battalion was constantly on the move, most of the time sleeping in the field in tents. Thompson saw the bloody waters of D-Day, the rubble of bombed buildings in Germany, and the sky filled with planes during the Battle of the Bulge. He and his fellow combat engineers built bridges while under enemy fire and took out minefields. One project in particular — a huge floating Bailey Bridge — allowed Allied tanks and troops to cross the Rhine River at Wesel, Germany. At war’s end, he helped build a hospital in Bremerhaven before heading home to Blanchard in 1946, having earned two Bronze Stars. Thompson got a job as a butcher at the Winner Packing Co. in Lock Haven; in his off hours, he pitched for the Blanchard baseball team, proud of his 94-mile-an-hour fast ball. At one game, he met a Howard High School student named Jane Confer. He invited her to go roller skating at Hecla Park in Mingoville, and a year later, they were married, on June 21, 1947. Over the years, Thompson went on to work at Crissman’s Packing, Piper Aircraft, and Champion Rebuilders. Meanwhile, he and Jane raised three sons — Tim, Jed, and Roger. Thompson passed away in 2015 at age 89.

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The

Protector Penn State alum Michael Murphy had wanted to be a lawyer, until he found his calling to dedicate — and give — his life in service of others

By Daniel Murphy

avy SEAL LT Michael P. Murphy graduated from Patchogue-Medford High School on Long Island, New York, and attended Penn State in the fall of 1994. He completed his four-year program and graduated in the spring of 1998 with a double major in political science and psychology. He was interested in a law school education. As a freshman in 1994, he resided in Sproul Hall on the second floor. He eventually moved into off-campus housing with fellow Penn State students Craig Palmer, Tom McCann, and Marius K., among others. During his Penn State years, he toyed with the idea of joining the military and, in particular, special operations for both the experience and to protect and preserve the American dream. Michael did not acquire the nickname in high school of “Murph the Protector” on a whim. He had a deepfelt ideology of right and wrong, which propelled him to be the best he could be and led him to Naval Special Warfare as a Navy SEAL. Of the 196 men who started in Michael’s BUD/s [Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL] class, 18 graduated from the program — four officers, including Michael, and 14 enlisted men — following nine months of rigorous training. Michael’s story is well known now thanks largely to the best-selling story Lone Survivor by Marcus Luttrell and the Universal blockbuster movie of the same name starring Taylor Kitsch (Tim Riggins of Friday Night Lights fame) portraying Michael in the movie. Michael and his SEAL team do have the historical distinction of being the most highly decorated small

unit action in United States Naval history. Michael also is uniquely listed as a Penn State distinguished alumni and the only Medal of Honor recipient in Penn State’s history. His time at Penn State was the very best of times for him and our family. While he made some trips home to Long Island as he adjusted to Penn State life, those trips became less frequent, except for the holidays. When he was a sophomore and still without a car, he used to take the bus from Penn State to Long Island on Friday afternoons. He would forego the early Sunday morning bus that returned to State College so he could stay at home as long as he possible. At about 11 p.m., he and I would take the 4- to 5-hour drive to Penn State on I-80, arriving around 3:30 a.m., when I would drop him off at his dorm and do a quick turnaround, getting back home in time to be in my courtroom by 9:30 a.m. for that day’s call of the calendar. These were the best times because Michael and I spent those hours of quality time discussing current affairs and numerous other topics of interest. It was on one of those Sunday late-night drives back to Penn State that Michael informed me of his interests in being a part of the military and the special operations community, specifically the Navy SEALs. I was taken aback because of my Vietnam experience as an Army “grunt” [infantryman] and the serious injuries I had sustained as a part of that war. I recall asking him, “Why!? I thought you wanted to be a lawyer.” His reply was he wanted to help people. It was pure Michael — he believed the only life worth living was a life dedicated in service of others. I could not have been more proud, but also worried since I had experienced war first-hand and had returned from Vietnam with bullet wounds and shrapnel in both legs and a 40-percent disability rating. As for Michael’s times at Penn State as a student, I know that he enjoyed taking his younger brother, John, who was 10 years younger at the time, to the campus because, as John told us, Michael used to refer to his brother as a “chick magnet.” John, at Murphy (in uniform) gives a briefing to part of his Navy SEAL team in Hawaii just prior to a training operation in 2004. 8 and 9 years of age when on campus, drew a lot of

attention. As for other Penn State stories on An admirer of Michael campus, as his father Murphy put this image I was less privy to together showing Dan those, so I’d leave Murphy at the White House ceremony for his son and those for the folks a photo of Michael Murphy that knew Michael taken 10 days before his best at Penn State, death. like Heather Duggan, his fiancée and Penn State graduate, and roommates Craig Palmer and Tom McCann, among others. What many folks don’t know is that when Michael’s death in Afghanistan in 2005 was reported, the first condolence call the family received was from Hillary Clinton, campus, for the fall semester of 2017. On our who was a Senator from New York at the time, visits back to the campus with Kristen, she fell and the second call we received was from Joe in love with the staff, students, and Penn State Paterno. The next day, the Paternos sent a dozen life, and it is her first and foremost choice to white roses to Michael’s mother, Maureen. During attend Penn State. I look forward to those drives an event at Penn State thereafter, when Michael on I-80 with Kristen as I did with Michael. was being honored as a distinguished alumni of Navy SEAL LT Michael P. Murphy was an Penn State, I related this story to the audience, exceptional person, and the most recent honor which included Michael Pilato, who created the bestowed on him is the building of the LT Michael mural on Hiester Street that includes Michael’s P. Murphy Navy SEAL Museum/Sea Cadet Training image. Mr. Pilato was so moved by the story and Facility on Suffolk County parklands in West the gesture by Joe Paterno that he drew a white Sayville, New York. This building will house the first rose by Michael and connected it to a white rose Navy SEAL museum in the northeast, as well as a in Joe Paterno’s hand to signify the very special sea cadet training facility for our future leaders. bond between the Paternos and the Murphy Michael’s favorite saying was “Education will family. set you free,” and he would have been proud Michael would be pleased with the honors to be associated with a building dedicated to bestowed on him by Penn State. Not only was the the education of our citizens to the exploits of Penn State Class of 2011 gift of the Penn State our Navy special operation forces, as well as the Veterans Plaza dedicated to him, there is the Navy training of future leaders. T&G League of Central Pennsylvania, which awards the LT Michael P. Murphy Distinguished Citizen Daniel Murphy, father of Navy SEAL LT Award each October. Last year’s awardee was Sue Michael P. Murphy, served as a Sergeant in Paterno, and this year’s award went to Tom Cali. the US Army in Vietnam and was honorably There also is the Lt. Michael P. Murphy Award discharged after being wounded. He was in Geospatial Intelligence, which recognizes awarded the Purple Heart, the Air Medal, and significant achievement by a Penn State graduate the combat infantryman’s badge. He is an student who is serving or has served in the attorney in New York. He, Michael’s mother, US Armed Forces or with the US Intelligence Maureen, and son, John, started the LT Community and demonstrated exceptional Michael P. Murphy USN Memorial Scholarship contributions to the discipline. Foundation, which now awards 21 scholarships Finally, my stepdaughter, Kristen Leechto wounded warriors, Suffolk County residents, Murphy, is a senior in high school and applying Penn State, special operators, and the crew of for admission to Penn State, University Park the USS Michael Murphy DDG-112. 32

Penn State

Town&Gown’s Salute to Veterans Higher Education Help for Those Who Served Penn State continues to rank among the best military-friendly schools in the country From Penn State’s Office of Veterans Programs

The Office of Veterans Programs (OVP), which falls under the Office of the Vice Provost for Educational Equity at Penn State’s University Park campus, has been assisting military personnel since the 1970s. Serving more than 4,500 military students worldwide, Penn State has consistently ranked high as a military-friendly school by such publications as Military Times, GI Jobs, and Military Advanced Education, and the staff of OVP would like to keep it that way. The office is organized as a comprehensive, direct-service entity for military personnel and Department of Veterans Affairs (DVA) benefits recipients. Staffed by six full-time professionals and more than 20 student-veterans who work part-time under a DVA work-study, services are provided in the following areas: outreach, certification of benefits, mentorship, advocacy, priority registration, and counseling. The staff and students take a proactive approach in promoting, instituting, and refining programs and services for military students. “We are continually brainstorming ideas of how we can better serve our military students,” says Mary Fisk, coordinator of Veterans Outreach. “They are why we exist, and, just like being in the service, nothing here gets accomplished by a single person — it’s a team effort.” Many times, that team effort involves participation on various committees or collaboration with other Penn State faculty and staff, and the latest result of that team effort is the newly instituted first-year seminar, “Transition is the Mission.” The course is open only to student-veterans and aims to help them maximize their benefit, get the most out of their college experience, prepare for postcollege employment, and adjust to life after the military. According to Marine Corps veteran Robert Farmer, “Penn State’s new veteran’s studentorientation class is the perfect way for recently 34

Some veterans who now attend Penn State include (from left) Robert Farmer, Danielle Joliet, Elizabeth Regel, Andrew Sullivan, and Jose Perdelia-Torres.

transitioning veterans to satisfy their first-year seminar requirement and learn about helpful resources that you would have not otherwise been aware of. I took the first-year seminar for Smeal’s College of Business, and while there was great information about exploring the major, the class did not discuss any opportunities or resources available to veterans.” Other times, that team effort involves partnering with corporations and businesses that are specifically seeking veterans for employment and/or internships. “Every week, I am contacted by at least two to three business representatives looking to build a relationship with us and our veterans,” Fisk says. “It’s my job to facilitate that.” At least twice per month, nearly 600 veterans receive an e-mail notification listing the latest opportunities. This notification also serves to advise them of changes to their GI Bill and inform them of any upcoming veteran-related Penn State activities. Twelve student-veteran peer counselors reach out to military applicants, with the goal of facilitating the Penn State and VA application processes. They provide an essential connection for information on a myriad of topics: housing, recreational activities, veteran support, student

organizations, cost of living, etc. Four veteran student sponsors assist new veteran students to acclimate to an academic environment, connecting them with Penn State and community resources and opportunities for socialization with fellow veterans. Renee Thornton-Roop, associate director of OVP says, “We are extremely proud of our sponsor program and the work that our student sponsors do to ensure a welcoming and supportive environment for newly incoming student-veterans. Peer mentoring has proven to be a crucial piece of our outreach efforts and has provided our veterans with opportunities for growth and a sense of belonging.” Danielle Joliet recaps her experience as a mentee. “My mentor took the time to get to know me and accommodated my busy schedule with school and family, coming to my house or meeting me somewhere on campus,” she says. “I’ll never forget how she made me feel like there is space for me here, and I felt more connected to the local community. Because of her, I became a student sponsor.” Penn State’s World Campus is a vital component

for many military students, particularly those still serving on active duty and resident students with full-time or part-time jobs. The World Campus Military Support Team is comprised of full-time staff members who facilitate student success and achievement. It offers more than 125 accredited graduate and undergraduate degrees, as well as certificates and minors. Just last year, World Campus’ undergraduate programs were ranked No. 1 in the country for veterans by US News and World Report. Of course, support from the leadership at the top is essential, and Penn State president Eric Barron has made sure that Penn State military students know they are a priority for him. “President Barron has really shone the spotlight on our military students and has been the impetus behind ensuring that the student-veterans have a voice here on campus,” recounts one veteran, accentuating the “all-in” initiative fostered by the Office of Educational Equity and the Office of Veterans Programs. T&G For more information on Penn State’s Office of Veterans Programs, visit equity.psu.edu/veterans.

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Town&Gown’s Salute to Veterans Penn State University Archives

After the “Date which Will Live in Infamy” As America’s involvement in World War II began, Penn Staters prepared to do their part for the war effort By Lee Stout

Each Veterans Day, our thoughts turn to the sacrifices that the men and women who served in the armed forces made to allow us to enjoy the freedom and rights we hold precious. Veterans Day was originally called Armistice Day, to mark the end of World War I on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month of 1918. Today, the holiday is marked by commemorative events, parades, and ceremonies, but the most commonly stirred memory is of America’s entry into World War II with the bombing of Pearl Harbor by Japan. December 7, 1941, the “date which will live in infamy,” in President Roosevelt’s words, is remembered as a day of shock and disbelief. The parents of baby-boomers could distinctly recall where they were and what they were doing when they learned of the attack on Pearl Harbor. Exploring the news at Penn State in the immediate aftermath of the bombing, however, can give us a slightly different take on that story. The first issue of the Daily Collegian to appear after the attack came out on Tuesday, December 9, 1941, about two weeks before Christmas vacation. While basketball games, boxing matches, and fraternity-sorority socials continued, the bulk of the coverage addressed the immediate concerns of the students and staff of the college. President Hetzel issued a statement urging all to remain calm and not “act impulsively.” He told them flatly that “this is the time for us to keep our heads and to work seriously at our given assignments” until the national interest required that we do otherwise. Needless to say, students were concerned about their military status. Those in advanced ROTC graduated with commissions as reserve officers. Colonel Edward D. Ardery reassured them that little would change. 36

Penn State students take the oath of enlistment in 1942.

Advanced students would not be immediately conscripted, although they would likely move directly from reserve to active status as second lieutenants after graduation. Interestingly, Ardery noted there would be no immediate mobilization of students into a Student Army Training Corps, as was done in 1917. Unlike World War I, it was thought that the ROTC programs in colleges furnished enough reserve officers to meet the military’s current needs. What those needs might eventually be was unclear, but some things were obvious. Women’s editor Louise Fuoss wrote that women would be ready, and not just in traditional roles. “We’ll learn how to work in factories, drive ambulances, and maybe even how to kill people. Our chins, though trembling, will be strictly ‘up.’ ” Antiwar and isolationist editorials disappeared immediately. Although at this early date, students thought Adolf Hitler was behind the Pearl Harbor attack, most still didn’t want to go to war against the European Axis powers. That situation changed quickly when Germany and Italy declared war on the United States on December 11. As the Hawaii attack was a complete surprise, rumors of

potential German attacks on America’s East Coast were taken seriously. Campus civilian defense planning, which had been considered “far-fetched” a few weeks before, quickly mobilized and combined efforts with the borough of State College. Committees were established for scrapmetal drives, first aid, physical fitness, and “American unity,” among others. Blackouts and air-raid drills would follow in 1942. Extension services staff announced it would accelerate defense-industry training classes across the state for more than 50,000 workers. “Penn State offers more research and defense training to industry than probably any other college. It’s extension services alone is responsible for one-seventh of the total national program.” Eventually, the total trained by Penn State exceeded 100,000 war workers. For students facing possible conscription into active service or deferments to continue scientific research and technical training to win the war, uncertainty was the dominant emotion. Ninety percent of students polled by the Collegian wanted to stay in school, but most also felt the pang of conscience in this national emergency. The paper’s editorial page summed up young peoples’ concerns: “ ‘What part am I going to play?’ was the anxious question asked by deferred students, potential draftees, and coeds. … As students, we have a job to perform, bloody, senseless, and heartbreaking as it seems. We must win.” But students needed to attend to the tasks now assigned to them, “by staying in college and educating themselves until Uncle Sam beckons his long arm, students are helping to maintain a national equilibrium.” President Roosevelt had told them to expect a long war. Ten million young Americans would eventually serve in the armed forces. Their efforts and experiences would change the country forever. We can be proud that Penn Staters played their part in it. T&G Lee Stout is librarian emeritus, special collections for Penn State and writes his “Penn State Diary” column for Town&Gown.

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Town&Gown’s Salute to Veterans The Threads of Helping Others Inspired by his father’s service, a Penn State retiree sets up fund to help military members and their families By Chris Buchignani

The great stories of any age are often best understood by tracing the tiny threads of personal experience. In following these winding strands, seeing where and how they intersect, we come to understand how the collective weight of countless individual acts underpins the forces that shape our world. On the afternoon of April 11, 1945, General George S. Patton’s 6th Armored Division, including a young soldier from western Pennsylvania named Albert Edward Matyasovsky, rolled in to liberate Buchenwald, one of the largest of the Nazi concentration camps. Among the 21,000 prisoners set free that day was a teenage boy named Elie Wiesel. In a bustle of thousands of anonymous faces that day, the two never met. For a brief and meaningful moment though, the threads of their life stories intersected. Wiesel, who passed away earlier this year, counted among the lucky few to survive the horrors of the Holocaust; he grew up to author more than 50 books and win the Nobel Prize. He was able to share his gifts with the world because of the sacrifice and bravery of American and other Allied soldiers. One of them, Matyasovsky, returned from the war with a lifetime’s worth of experiences, spanning Normandy to the Ardennes and beyond, fortunate enough to have come back home at all. He did not gain great wealth or notoriety in his postwar life, but as a father, he created a legacy and influence that will positively impact the lives of future Penn State students. Al Matyasovsky Jr., who recently retired from Penn State after decades overseeing the university’s waste management and recycling programs, has established the Veterans’ Education and Advancement Fund (VEAF), a scholarship endowment with the Penn State World Campus. He and his wife, Sharon, cite their parents, particularly Al’s father and mother, as their inspiration in 38

A banner on Worthington Avenue in Clairton recognizes hometown hero Albert Matyasovsky Sr.

launching this effort, which will provide financial assistance to veterans, active-duty military, and their family members who are enrolled in the university’s online programs. “We lived in a coal-mining town for six years, very meager surroundings. My father used to have to carry water from a community pump up to our house that we drank, bathed in, and cooked with, and I never heard him complain,” Al Jr. recalls. He absorbed the lessons of his father’s work ethic, but also the man’s oftrepeated core values: “Treat people with respect. Be fair. Be honest. Don’t lie. Don’t cheat.” The “American Century” that blossomed in the wake of Allied victory in World War II brought widespread educational and economic opportunities to a generation of Americans. Despite an impoverished upbringing, Al’s commitment to following his father’s example brought on the academic achievement necessary to open those doors. As a senior, a meeting with his high school guidance counselor put him on the path to a college education. “She said, ‘We send guys like you to college,’ and she got me all the money that I would go to college on … that changed my life. It demonstrated to me how people outside the family who have faith in you

can affect your life in a tremendous way.” He graduated from Lock Haven University, and after a few job and location changes, he obtained a position with Penn State that turned into a long career. With more than 30 years of service, he was in charge of many of the university’s solid waste management and recycling efforts. He managed game-day operations at Beaver Stadium for a quarter century, including post-9/11 security measures, and he also implemented some of the school’s most innovative and recognizable sustainability efforts. These include the now-ubiquitous blue recycling bags that dot the tailgating fields during football season and, probably most notably, the annual Trash to Treasure sale at Beaver Stadium, where departing students donate items they would otherwise discard that are then sold to benefit Centre County United Way. He proudly notes that, since its inception, the event has raised more than $750,000 for the charity while repurposing “stuff that was going to the landfill.”

After retiring, he sought to finally make good on a long-held ambition to philanthropically support veterans, thinking of the inspiring role his father had played during his life. While considering the creation of a new foundation, he also spoke with staff at the university about his idea. Those discussions led to the creation of the Veterans’ Education and Advancement Fund scholarship within the Penn State World Campus. “The logic is that a veteran and their family don’t have to uproot themselves to come to University Park,” he says “They can receive a Penn State degree from anywhere in the world.” An especially unique facet that distinguishes the VEAF, according to Matyasovsky, is the flexibility to also support family members of service members and vets. “The love and admiration that we have for our parents is still very strong today,” he says. “We feel that the family also deserves credit

Town&Gown’s Salute to Veterans for supporting the veterans who defend our freedoms and support our way of life. Our fathers were in the military, and our mothers taught us the way of keeping family together and being part of the neighborhood and so on.” The VEAF will hold its first fund-raising event, a dinner at the Penn Stater Hotel and Conference Center, in April 2017. The fund is now a permanent part of the veterans’ support programming offered by the World Campus, which has been consistently ranked as the top online education program for veterans and active-duty military in the nation. As the lead donors, Al and Sharon are dedicated to growing the fund continually to amplify its impact. “I’m not a hero for it,” Al says. “My father was the hero. I just did what my father and mother advised me to do. My mother used to say, ‘Being poor has nothing to do with who you are as a person.’ Both my parents told me, ‘Study hard. Get good grades, and good things will happen to you.’”

Follow the thread. Through courage and fortitude, a generation of Americans such as Al Matyasovsky Sr. won battlefield victories that changed lives for millions, including a young Elie Wiesel. He returned home to support and inspire a son who went on to make a lasting impact on life here in the Nittany Valley, first as a long-time Penn State employee and now again with the VEAF. Motivated by the memory of veterans who so strongly influenced their lives, Al and Sharon Matyasovsky have put forth the effort that will enable the dreams of education and opportunity for future generations of America’s servicemen and women and their families. Until all is said and done, who can know how many more lives they will touch, how many more threads will cross their own and end up better for it? T&G Chris Buchignani is president of the board of directors of the Nittany Valley Society.

The Centre County Recycling & Refuse Authority would like to honor our veterans. Kenneth Bowers ..............................Army Bill Crouch .......................................Navy Jeia Forsyth .....................................Army Rod Fye ...........................................US Air Force Al Kustaborder ................................US Air Force Wade Summers ...............................Navy

We are thankful for their service. CENTRE COUNTY RECYCLING & REFUSE AUTHORITY (814) 238.7005 CCRRA@CENTRECOUNTYRECYCLES.ORG WWW.CENTRECOUNTYRECYCLES.ORG

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Town&Gownâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Salute to Veterans Q&A with Brian Querry, director of Centre County Veterans Affairs For veterans who live in Centre County, the Centre County Veterans Affairs office, located in the Willowbank County Office Building in Bellefonte, is a resource that can help veterans and their families on issues such as benefits, education, hospitalization, and more. Brian Querry, who served in the US Navy for more than 26 years before retiring in 2006, became director of Centre County Veterans Affairs in 2014. He took some time to talk about what the office does and how veterans in Centre County are served. T&G: In general, how does the Centre County Veterans Affairs office help local veterans and their families? What are some of the main aspects the office does? Querry: The Centre County VA office has two Veterans Service Officers (VSOs). As VSOs, we maintain accreditation through annual training to assist veterans with claims for both compensation and pensions. While we work primarily with compensation/ pension claims with veterans, we can assist veterans with a multitude of other issues. If a veteran has a question, they should call us. We may not know the answer, but we probably know who to call. Our number is (814) 355-6812. T&G: What are some of the greatest needs for veterans and are their ways the community can help? Querry: I believe that it is very hard to generalize the greatest needs of our veterans since we have all age groups â&#x20AC;Ś the WWII vets are in their 90s and the Persian Gulf vets may be as young as early 20s. Older vets probably need more assistance with health care, while the younger vets are going to school, starting families, and more interested in finding jobs. The best assistance that our community can do is to recognize those vets that need assistance and refer them to our office to give us a chance to find them assistance. T&G: Have those needs changed over time â&#x20AC;&#x201D; have veterans of some of our current 42

wars had different needs than say veterans from Vietnam or past wars? Querry: As discussed earlier, older vets probably benefit most from additional health assistance. In some ways their problems are similar. While we have only recently started diagnosing and treating Post Traumatic Stress (PTS), veterans from all wars may have PTS issues and find it helpful to receive counseling and treatment. However, Vietnam veterans that served in country and/or some locations in Thailand may have health issues associated with exposure Agent Orange. The advancements in medical care and high use of Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) during the Gulf War has to led to a high number of vets with losses of limbs and traumatic brain injuries. T&G: How do you feel Centre County does when it comes to helping veterans? Querry: I believe that the county does a good job for those veterans that are identified as needing help and/or requesting help. While this is not just a Centre County issue, we need to continuously reach out to those veterans that may be too proud to ask for help or are not aware of what assistance is available to improve their lives. T&G: Do you know how many veterans are in Centre County or how many your office serves? Querry: There are approximately 10,000 veterans in Centre County and probably another couple thousand surviving spouses that could potentially benefit from VA programs. It is very hard for me to give you a concrete number of vets that we

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Town&Gown’s Salute to Veterans are assisting at any one time. On average, we receive over 30 phone calls per day — many asking questions that we can answer immediately, others may require an appointment with a claim submission. Last year, we submitted over 600 claims for benefits. At any one time, we are probably assisting approximately 2,000 vets. T&G: Are there things in the future you’d like to see happen that can help veterans more? Querry: Continue through articles like this to get the word out about our office and how we can assist veterans. T&G For more information about the Centre County Veterans Affairs office, visit centrecountypa.gov or call (814) 355-6812.

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With Respect, Honor, And Gratitude. Everyone at The Centre County Gazette would like to thank our Veterans. made in the usa NOVEMBER 7-13, 2013

THE CENTRE COUNTY GAZETTE

PAGE 12

NOVEMBER 6-12,

THE CENTRE COUNTY

PAGE 30

War ancestor

Local man explores history of Civil By SAM STITZER

pennsvalley@centrecountygazette.com

people, CENTRE HALL â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Like many has Centre Hall resident Philip Burlingame his own an interest in Civil War history and

family genealogy. the On Veterans Day, he will honor Capt. memory of his father, Army Air Corps War II Frederick Burlingame Jr., a World Burlveteran; his grandfather, Frederick and ingame Sr., a World War I veteran; Leroy his great-great-grandfather, Herman Civil War Burlingame, a veteran of the at the known as â&#x20AC;&#x153;H.L.â&#x20AC;? who was wounded while Battle of Gettysburg on July 1, 1863, the with defending McPhersonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Ridge 150th Pennsylvania Volunteer Regiment. On July 1, during the 150th anniversary Burlof the Battle of Gettysburg, Philip Terry, of ingame and his two brothers, Ga., Smethport, and Michael, of Atlanta, the battlemet at Gettysburg and walked the field hour by hour to commemorate movements of their great-great-grandfa fateful ther and the 150th Regiment on that day. Burâ&#x20AC;&#x153;We planned our trip for months,â&#x20AC;? visited all had lingame said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Though we Gettysburg before, the 150th anniversary be to had we something was of the battle part of.â&#x20AC;? at the H.L. Burlingame was a corporal was astime of the Gettysburg battle. He Comsigned to the 150th Pennsylvaniaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s men pany G, which consisted of many Pennfrom McKean County in northern after the sylvania. Company G was created Buckfame and reputation of the original later the tail Regiment (Kaneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s First Rifles, 42nd Regiment) had reached Washington, of War D.C., and the office of Secretary Edwin Stanton. Twenty companies of Pennsylvania

regimen were mustered, and two more drew ments were formed, both of which Wildcat some troops from the so-called included District of Pennsylvania, which the 149th McKean County. Like those in wore disregiment, the men of the 150th The bucktinctive bucktails on their hats. and tail units were tested in many battles the in formidable especially be to proved defense of Gettysburg. H.L. and his comrades in Company defense of G saw extensive action in the 1863. H.L. McPhersonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Ridge on July 1, and he survived the many hours of battle, Briand his fellow soldiers (part of Stoneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s stave successfully to gade) fought bravely brioff the attacks of three Confederate strategades. The men of the 150th held gically important ground at McPhersonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s afterRidge from mid-morning until early the battle, noon that day. Early on during â&#x20AC;&#x153;We have one of the men shouted out, stay. did come to stay!â&#x20AC;? And, indeed, they sufDuring those critical hours, they their held but fered great casualties Abner ground, permitting the rest of Gen. position Doubledayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s regiments to get into As on the other high ground of Gettysburg.the late in the regimentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s history indicates, the 150th afternoon of July 1, the men of McPherreceived orders to retreat from sonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Ridge. Lt. Col. Henry Huidekoper, that the with his arm broken, determined the canretreat was unavoidable to save behind nons of Reynoldsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Battery in place the men them. At that point, nearly half of in in the 150th had been killed or wounded the defense of that ridge. histoAccording to Burlingame family the fields ry, as the regiment moved from H.L. back toward the town of Gettysburg, who was shot by a wounded Confederate was was lying on the ground. H.L.â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s wound was capnear his ankle in his right leg. He

a Confedtured at Gettysburg and taken to his wound was NOVEMBER erate prison camp where 5-11, This 2015 cauterized by a Confederate surgeon. THE CENTRE COUNTY GAZETTE likely curtailing of the possible infection saved his leg from amputation. readLast year, Philip Burlingame was Hill and ing the book â&#x20AC;&#x153;Gettysburg: Culpâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the former Cemetery Hillâ&#x20AC;? by Harry Pfanz, National chief historian of the Gettysburg discovered he Military Park. While reading, from that there was an eyewitness account named resident Gettysburg an 18-year-old how Cpl. Henry Eyster Jacobs describing in a H.L. Burlingame had been sheltered captured Gettysburg home and was later by Confederate troops. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I was so excited about this discovery Nathat I had to travel to the Gettysburg of a copy tional Military Park to obtain archives the eyewitness account from the said. Burlingame there,â&#x20AC;? deFrom other sources, the Burlingame from scendants learned that it was troops Jain the Georgia who found Burlingame cobsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; house. The retreating Confederate with hunPhotos courtesy Philip Burlingame troops transported him along Prison dreds of other prisoners to Libby CIVIL WAR veteran H.L. Burlingame, seated, his leg in Richmond, Va. It was there that is pictured with his son Clifford Burlingame, wound was cauterized. By SAM STITZER was his grandson Frederick Burlingame Sr., Burlingame H.L. year, that Later oppressive jungle heat pennsvalley@centrec ountygazette.com and a a prisoner and his infant great-grandson Frederick son that dumped 120 inches record-setting monsoon seareleased from Libby Prison in home of rain on the region. war, he returned Jr., circa 1929. Burlingame HALL â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Traci Lonerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s exchange. After the CENTRE Loner remembers her father, Paul Sampsell, near father sharing both good McKean Centre important Hall,County bad played an served in the and to work his farmofin stories of the war with Burlingame â&#x20AC;&#x153;H.L. during her when the Vietnamimportant War. Loner wanted to find U.S. Army battles â&#x20AC;&#x153;Heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s an the village of Kasson. the most incredibly good storyteller, she was growing up. of a one way in role to honor his service whenBurlingame staying and he has an amazsheH.L. was heard of ill anand ing senseconorganization, In August 1931, of humor, which has really War,â&#x20AC;? Philip the Civil of Quilts of Valor Ac- the Foundation,inwhich helped him cope,â&#x20AC;? East Smethport. makes and presents she said. to at a nursing home â&#x20AC;&#x153;To have had the opportunity quilts cluded. to veterans. H.L.â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Sr.,40 OnBurlingame Oct. 18, about was to its According my brothers of Sampsellâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s cording to Frederick in his footsteps website, Quilts of Valor walk family members with had friends gathered which and was founded his leg, in of us Catherine in none 2003, when the Old â&#x20AC;&#x201D; one grandson, the wound on experience Roberts began the foundation a powerful Legion building life,Fort American for throughout long a presentation his Seaford, of in healed a Quilt Del. fully of Valor Her son Nathanaelâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s year-long never ever theforget.â&#x20AC;? willto local veteran. Sampsell sepsis deployment entered to Iraq provided developed on the the initial He the and U.S. Army on name appears became infected. Burlingameâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Nov. H.L. inspiration, and her desire 18, 1965, when he was 20toyears believe seeGettysburg, old.that that returning warriors to He H.L. in was trained died. There is evidence Monument for jungle were Pennsylvania fighting in welcomed home with the the New beenHethe Mexico have love of desert. and Burlinactually gratitude they deserved was deployed generations Burlingame may stone formakin Vietnam, carved to provided the rest. ing aGettysburg die battle Roberts hit upon the idea bytoship, the 22-day journey which caused last veteran ofness to see. much seasickamong his fellow soldiers. games machine quilters in a nationalthat linking quilt toppers with from his war wounds. effort could achieve her Sampsell was stationed of covering all returning goal service men and women south of the demilitarized near the village of Dong Ha, touched by war. zone. He served in many patrols, designed to draw night These wartime quilts, called enemy Quilts of Valor, would emiesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; positions so Americans fire, and reveal the ena tangible reminder of be could return fire. During Americaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s appreciation Sampsellâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 11-month stint, and gratitude. his 980-man battalion endured Since 2003, QOVF has become a national grassroots

Local Vietnam veteran prese

Japanese. by the P AGE 29 were strafing the area, Several planes kitchen. bullets into the some spraying outside and other men ran a time Wolfe and the for cover. After dived into foxholes due to downed phone on the of great confusion arms was blown lines, the call to

By SAM STITZER

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geneveryone in his COBURN â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Like Lawrence J. Wolfe, old the eration, 100-yearrs Dec. 7, 1941, the of Coburn, remembe war the Japanese attacked Habugle. said, â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re at infamous day fleet in Pearl Harbor,espeâ&#x20AC;&#x153;Then the captain Wolfe. American naval are â&#x20AC;&#x2122;â&#x20AC;? said the memories with the Japanese, man saw the Japawaii. For Wolfe, he was there. Wolfe said a radar ing the island from cially vivid because in Spring Mills on Aug. nese planes approach his sighting to Gen. Wolfe was born and Edith to son of Clayton the south and reported worked 20, 1914, the believed the planes up in Coburn and was a Walter Short. Short bombers. After the atWolfe. He grew nt, B-17 departme was be American Feed sial move, Short refor the state highway worked at Roteâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s tack, in a controver n of duty and truck driver, and the Civilian Conservain charged with derelictio . Mill. He served nia and West Virlieved of his command and fellow Cotion Corps in Pennsylva friend Wolfe lost a Master Sgt. in ginia. in the attack. into the U.S. Army the burn resident He was drafted Virginia, was housed near after training in he was Bill Brandt, who and killed by a strafearly 1941, and West Coast, where Guard stepped harbor, was shot was sent to the plane when he California National ing Japanese to see what was to Camp assigned to a Wolfe was sent go to outside his building unit. In late 1941 island of Oahu, Hawaii, had planned to going on. Wolfe the night before, but the Malakole, on the to Battery F of to Brandtâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s building he was assigned nt where he was assigned Artillery. did not go because community that assignme 251st Coastal service effort, morning attack â&#x20AC;&#x201D; he believes rs theconnecting theless KP duty homefront remembe withWolfe with servicemen andwell. his life. veterans. His base was probably saved Wolfeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s unit went Pearl Harbor onSampsellâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s quilt washarbor. the made by Jean Klaiber, of the South Following the attack, with the massive from Carolina Shore kitchen than a mile help the Birds in Quilts of Valor. chapter I was of 7:30. Wolfe Pearl Harbor to to Klaiber, who â&#x20AC;&#x153;It attended was around the presentation, on a platLater that month, standing backspoke tothey the group. cleanup said cooks, She effort.shipped out to the Fiji Isthat theQOVF with gives quilts when to kitchen all veterans, and she the the 251st andwas back of glad aft artillery thatinthat the many smoke form thisfinally Vietnam allare as an anti-aircr vets We saw nized. recog-to serve the Arizona. up noted blowingbeinglands that 125,230 blewShe washave quilts been a volcano like with by â&#x20AC;&#x201D; unit. QOVF since 2003, it looked blew us presented time in the Solomon 727 ofalmost them being awarded durâ&#x20AC;&#x153;The shock Wolfe also spent ing up,â&#x20AC;? the last Wolfe. saidtwo weeks nal, where he was ofinOctober. Klaiber said eachIslands the kitchen.â&#x20AC;? while has a label quilt and in Guadalca affixedwe soltohad the back, off the stand fellow Japanese snipers histhe names of the once he andwith makers,Wolfe quilt- shot at by the recipient said that Japaand the date thepresentation. of the it was a supply truck. on a A local at first didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t of therealize QOVF has been formed, driving diers chapter Wolfe came homeof his coordinated by Carolyn In April 1945, Foust, of Centre Hall. blamed nese attacking. married the love Their is a quilter, he said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We Foust and many idea,â&#x20AC;? 30-day leave and ofhad her no family members, Rebersburg. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We in including Wingard, men.â&#x20AC;? her husband Steve, are veterans. Air Corps life, Hester read about for 69 years, and emblem it on the (U.S) She sunQOVF in a quilting magazine the red the and became marriage has endured Wolfe saw interestedit in attack When anorganization. the was wanted to â&#x20AC;&#x153;I realized do he something to promote Quilts of Valor the planes, onsaid. ly,â&#x20AC;? she localThe Happy Valley Quilts of Valor chapter was formed, and now has about 25 members who meet month to work on the quilts. twice a Klaiber presented the quilt to Sampsell, who was very grateful and overwhelmed by the honoring gesture. donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t know what to say, â&#x20AC;&#x153;I just other than â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Wow,â&#x20AC;&#x2122; he 500 W Pine Grove Rd. said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;A 20-year-old veteran couldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t ask for anything more 16868 this.â&#x20AC;? Grove Mills, PA Pinethan Loner mentioned the .3254 negative treatment that Vietnam veterans received many814.238 upon war. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The â&#x20AC;&#x2122;60s were a different returning home from the time, and a lot of people our country couldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t separate in the soldier from the politics,â&#x20AC;? she said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Many soldiers that came home from the Vietnam War were spat upon, cursed at and yelled at. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I want you to think of this as your welcome present,â&#x20AC;? Loner said to home Sampsell. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I love you, Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m proud to be your daughter and Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m very honored to say, â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Welcome home, soldier.â&#x20AC;&#x2122;â&#x20AC;?

nted with Quilt of Valor

We Proudly Honor Our Veterans Past and Present

VFW Post 5644 In honor of our Armed Forces you and their families we salute

SAM STITZER/For the

and daughters, Rosemary they have two in Devra. d from the Army Wolfe was discharge to Pennsylvania. returned late 1945, and Renovo, rethe railroad in Hester He worked for e engines, while Aircraft pairing locomotiv Haven at the Piper Lock in and worked moved to Coburn, plant. The Wolfes mechanic school on Lawrence attended the GI Bill.

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of Valor while standing with daughter

Traci Loner, wife Carol and son

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Detachment 302

PAUL SAMPSELL holds his Quilt

, and later worked his current residence in Bellefonte, retiring Titan Metals (Cerro) effect in 1976. summed up the Wolfe concisely America attack had on the Pearl Harbor everyand the world. â&#x20AC;&#x201D; they changed â&#x20AC;&#x153;Them bombs changed â&#x20AC;&#x153;The whole thing thing,â&#x20AC;? he said. after that.â&#x20AC;?

er Smith Pletch Post 779 Centre Hall ion American Leg

NITTANY LEATHERNECKS Price Reductions on in-stock Memorials

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right is Hester, his Coastal Artillery. At of Battery F, 251st holds a group photo LAWRENCE WOLFE daughter Devra at rear. just a few feet from wife of 69 years, with for He opened a garage

, Dean Dunlap, Meckley VFW Post 5825

ce of all We honor the servi en in wom of the men and the military, all branches of men and especially those re County! women in Cent

627 E. Sycamore St., Snow Shoe, PA 16874 814 387-6530

American Legion Keystone Post 444 Millheim, PA

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GAZETTE

American Legion 444 Keystone Post Millheim, PA

Accepting new applications and welcoming veterans since 1946.

see one of Come visit and welcoming the nicest and s in the area. American Legion

om/ALpost779 www.facebook.c rg www.post779.o ost779.org Email: post779@p

insignias

121 E. Howard St., Bellefo nte

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â&#x20AC;&#x153;Veterans Serving Our Communityâ&#x20AC;?

See more content about Centre County nVeterans in our made in i edam the eht usa Veterans Day Special Feature on November 10th.asu 0$<(6 0(025,$/6 3LNH 6WUHHW /HPRQW 3$ ZZZ PD\HVPHPRULDOV FRP L QIR#PD\HVPH 3HUVRQDO KRPH DSSRLQWPHQWV DYD PRULDOV FRP LODEOH

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