My View of Life on the Dock
World War II and Vietnam Veteran from Michigan with his wife and grandchildren.
Below are some of the many veterans, I have met taking photos for GoodMorningGloucester.
Thank You All for your service.
On view October 27 through November 26 at the Cape Ann Museum
Don’t miss the show, one month only
Reminder from the museum:
“The Cape Ann Museum is pleased to announce WWII Veterans: Portrait Photographs by Jason Grow, a special exhibition on view from October 27 – November 26, 2017. First shown at Gloucester City Hall in 2015, Grow’s portrait photographs of Cape Ann’s World War II veterans were enthusiastically received by audiences of all ages and walks of life. The exhibit makes an encore appearance at the Museum this autumn, offering visitors another opportunity to view these remarkable images as a group.
Admission is free throughout the exhibition run for veterans and all active-duty military personnel and their families, including National Guard and Reserve.
On Saturday, November 11, in honor of Veterans Day, the Museum will be free and open to the public and Jason Grow will present a talk about the exhibit at 2:00 p.m. in the Museum’s auditorium.
The Cape Ann Museum is proud to participate in the national Blue Star Museum program. Blue Star Museums is a collaboration among the National Endowment for the Arts, Blue Star Families, the Department of Defense, and museums across America. Each summer since 2010, Blue Star Museums have offered free admission to the nation’s active-duty military personnel and their families, including National Guard and Reserve, from Memorial Day through Labor Day. For more information please visit the Blue Star Museums’ website: arts.gov/bluestarmuseums.
Jason Grow is a Boston-based photographer and Gloucester resident. He specializes in photographing exceptionally accomplished, busy people with real time constraints in real environments. With a background based in photojournalism his experience has ranged from refugee camps to conference rooms.”
(photos Cape Ann Veterans Services)
This past week Cape Ann Veterans Services brought copies of the children’s picture book, Veterans: Heroes in Our Neighborhood, and super volunteer readers, into our local Kindergarten, first and second grades to read aloud in the classes. Copies of the book were gifted to the classroom libraries. Veterans: Heroes in Our Neighborhood ©2012 is by Valerie Pfundstein with illustrations by Aaron Anderson and foreword by John Vigiano Sr., a Marine Veteran and retired FDNY Captain, who honors his sons’ memories (both lost on 9/11) by volunteering his time and resources to Gold Star families and wounded heroes.
Volunteer readers at East Gloucester School: Members of the US Coast Guard Station, Gloucester, Navy/Veteran/Gloucester Police Department Officer Kevin Hicks and marine Corps Veteran Michael S. Grossi who read to his son’s class.
Volunteer readers at West Parish: members of the the US Coast Guard Station Gloucester; David Parisi Air Force Veteran who read to his daughter’s class; Marine Corps Veteran/State Trooper Tim Sova who read to his daughter’s clas; Coast Guard and Marine Veteran/deputy harbor master Chad Johnson; Vietnam War Marine Veteran Brian O’Connor; Army Veteran Anthony Trupiano who recently returned home; Ray Towns Army Veteran/commander of Gloucester Amvets; and Korean War Veteran Melvin Olson .
Volunteer readers at Plum Cove: Massachusetts Secretary of Veterans Services Francisco Urena, Marine Veteran; Trina Parisi-O’Donnell, Air Force Veteran whose son attends Plum Cove; Police Officer Brendan Chipperini and Vionette Vee Chipperini Army Veterans; Gloucester Sea Cadet Commander Robert Pallazolla Air Force Veteran; Police Officer Chris Frates Coast Guard Veteran; Richard J Cavanaugh, Army Veteran; and Devan Smith and Mike Pillelli of US Coast Guard Station, Gloucester
Adam Curcuru telling Pauline Bresnahan and Anita Coullard Dziedziek about the book last month.
As we honor those who give their lives in defense of our freedom, we thought we’d share perhaps the most eloquent account ever written by a soldier of what compels him to serve.
Hi Joey, I have a Veteran’s Day story to share with your readers.
Old photo of Veterans on the Stacy Boulevard is taken from the Gloucester Times.
Anthony Rao has also passed on.
My husband, Robert McKinnon, celebrated his 90th Birthday on Halloween with a
gala party at the Gloucester House.
Submitted by Virginia (Frontiero) McKinnon
My skipper stated “Bob, if you help me take this LCT (Landing Craft Transport} back to the states, I will have you assigned a rank of Chief Petty Officer.’” I replied “No way, I have my points for discharge and I am going home.” WW2 ended in September 1945, my time was up in February 1946. I was jumping around the Asiatic Pacific from the Philippines, Hawaii, Gilbert and Mariana Islands. I was in the US Navy stationed as a Motor Machinist Mate Second Class on LCTs and LSTs landing troops and supplies for the battles of Saipan and Tarawa. Witnessing many casualties, so many of my shipmates gone, I never believed I would ever be going home. Never to see my family and Gloucester again.
My journey home was uneventful. As I looked around the Navy ship I was aware of the many enlisted men that did not survive the war and would never be going home. I had witnessed thousands of Marines, Navy, Army and Seabees lost in battle.
Arriving in San Francisco, I was informed my formal discharge would take about a week and I would have to wait in the Fargo Building for my disability and pay. Not willing to wait, I took the first train across country. Very little money for my journey home. In the dining car, I soon ran out of money. I would request a cup of hot water adding ketchup and I would look for a few crackers to sustain me.
Arriving in Gloucester, no one was at the depot to greet me. I carried by back pack and walked home. Savoring every step as I looked at my beautiful Gloucester. In my absence my family moved from Washington Square to Western Avenue, just across the street from the Fishermen’s statue. My mother had suffered a stroke. Before I enlisted I remember her singing to me “I did not raise my son to be a solider, I raised him to be my pride and joy.” Her oldest son, my half-brother, Buster” was stationed in Pearl Harbor at the time of the Attack. I, her youngest, was away for four years, more worry than my mother could endure. There was no “welcome home party.” My dad had a job waiting for me at his machine shop, Independent Machine Company, as a diesel machinist, repairing the engines on of the many fishing boats. I was so happy and fortunate to be employed.
All my buddies survived World War II. Our reunions were happy times at Good Harbor Beach and at the YMCA. Just walking the boulevard now had special meaning of comrades together again, survivors of World War II and now part of the greatest generation in the history of our country.
Good Morning Gloucester 