Middletown Veterans

In 2007-2008, our teen volunteers and teen librarian interviewed military veterans from several different wars and eras, World War II among them. Our teens were especially moved by the stories the WWII veterans shared as they brought the WWII history lessons to life. For some of the veterans, it was the first time they’d shared their service experiences. After the interviews were recorded, the veterans shared lunch and spoke with one another about the commonalities and differences of their time in service. The resounding thought was that while service to one’s country is an honorable thing to do, war is devastating and life changing. As one veteran stated, “war is hell.”

Attached to the veterans’ podcasts are service photos as well as current photos. We plan to resume interviewing veterans of Middletown to expand our local history archives as the lessons and legacies are invaluable.

Click on the names below to view photos and listen to recordings of the veterans.

HAROLD BEACH (WWII- Navy) & CRIS GOETZ BEACH (Desert Storm)

LOUIS BURES- WWII- Army

JOSEPH CANALE- WWII Bombardier-England

JOHN CORBETT- Air Force (1957-1962)

FELIX COSENZA- WWII- England

ANTHONY DELORENZO- WWII- South Pacific- Army

AL GIOVENGO- Korea- Army

JOE KURACK- Vietnam 

JOHN LAURICELLA- WWII- South Pacific- Army 

RALPH F. RUOCCO- WWII- Vietnam 

STEPHEN RUSSAK- Korea

TOM SCRIFFIGNANO- WWII-Battle of Bulge Dusseldorf Liberation

GROVER L. SHEALEY- WWII & KOREA

HORACE “BUDDY” THORNE- Army