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Local vet honored
The Neighborhood Ultimate honor for Yankees fan
Delmar’s ‘Joe the Barber’ recognized for his service in Vietnam during seventh inning stretch
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DELMAR – Most kids growing up in Albany have a dream of being announced at Yankee Stadium and appearing on the scoreboard in center field. It took Joe Bruno 73 years, but his wish came true last month during the Yankees win over the Joe Bruno Houston Astros.
“I have always been a Yankees fan,” Bruno said softly from his barber’s chair in his shop on Delaware Avenue in Delmar. “I used to like the (Brooklyn) came true last month. He is a relieve the Marines after (Tet) past commander of the post, but and they really took a beating.” Dodgers early on, but they left,” most people in town know him as “Joe the Barber.” He was stationed at a Duc Pho base camp 50 miles south he said with a smile. When you walk into his shop of Da Nang. He was injured Bruno’s path to the scoreboard was not the way most people make it. His path by and look on the walls, there is no doubt where his allegiance lies. “I am thrilled to in August 1969 and spent five weeks in the hospital before returning to duty. He earned his sergeant stripe while in Vietnam. travelled through South Vietnam John have this honor and I didn’t Upon returning home he worked as a barber in various in 1969 and included a Purple Heart for taking McIntyre expect it,” Bruno said. “I watch every game on shops in the area, but hung his own barber pole at 337 Delaware Ave., on July 1, 2000. shrapnel from a mortar round in the TV — and I mean every game.” Home is Where You’ll Find Us“I cut so many [veterans’] hair every week,” Bruno said. “This neck on his journey. Bruno grew up in Albany was an honor for all of us. It is The Yankees have a special moment during each home game where the team honors a military veteran for their service during the seventh-inning stretch. His Home is Where You’ll Find Us and was drafted into the Army in 1968. He was deployed to Vietnam in January of 1968 and arrived just after the Tet Offensive. great that the Yankees do this every game.” Bruno celebrated the night with many of his friends and relatives at the BlanchardVFW Post 3185 nominated him “It was a mess when I got Curry American Legion Post in to be honored and his moment there,” he said. “We came in to Delmar.
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