The branch of service at the time was actually the Army Air Corps. William (my dad) was one of the stay at home heroes. He was a radio mechanic involved in training in Miami and then in Boise Idaho.
Submitted by his daughter, Marion Abele Sampaio of Milford NJ.
Bernie Bernardo was fortunate enough to come home after being on Normandy Beach on June 6th 1944.
Submitted by his son, Jim Bernardo of Glen Gardner NJ.
Allan J Botti served in in WWII, mostly in Italy. He was born in Doylestown and raised in Lambertville, NJ. He went on to become mayor of New Hope, Pennsylvania.
Submitted by Jennifer Nanni
One of the six children of Irish immigrants Patrick and Rose Raleigh Burke of Troy, NY. All six siblings served in the US Navy during WWII.
Submitted by his niece, Nora Burke Klippstein of Clinton NJ
One of the six children of Irish immigrants Patrick and Rose Raleigh Burke of Troy, NY. All six siblings served in the US Navy during WWII.
Submitted by his niece, Nora Burke Klippstein of Clinton NJ
One of the six children of Irish immigrants Patrick and Rose Raleigh Burke of Troy, NY. All six siblings served in the US Navy during WWII.
Submitted by his niece, Nora Burke Klippstein of Clinton NJ
William J. Burke served on an escort ship for the captured German U-505 Sub that now resides in the Chicago Museum of Science & Technology. One of the six children of Irish immigrants Patrick and Rose Raleigh Burke of Troy, NY. All six siblings served in the US Navy during WWII.
Submitted by his daughter, Nora Burke Klippstein of Clinton NJ
Anthony P. Capriglione enlisted on February 5, 1942, at Fort Dix, New Jersey. He served with the 157th Infantry Regiment, 45th Infantry Division. He was killed in action on November 21, 1943, in the North African Area. He was awarded the Purple Heart and is buried at the Sicily-Rome American Cemetery and Memorial in Nettuno, Italy.
Submitted by his Nephew, Steven Lione of Clinton NJ
Zdzislaw "Bud" Cherwinski was in the Army in WWll.
Submitted by his granddaughter Carly Cherwinski of Clinton NJ
Served in the Army from 1954 to 1956. He was drafted the day after he completed his MBA from Columbia. He was stationed at Fort Dix NJ on the clerical staff.
Submitted by his daughter, MaryAnn Shea
Jack Dale, a ranger, scaled the heights on D-Day.
Submitted by his nephew, Ed Murphy
Joe Diaze served in Vietnam where he recieved a Purple Heart.
Submitted by Joe Eggert
Joseph Eggert served as a combat medic during the Vietnam War, from October 1965 to August 1967, with 196th Light Infantry Brigade, 9th Infantry Division. He was born in Newark, New Jersey on May 19, 1945. Eggert was only nineteen years old when he was drafted.
He was part of the 8th Medical Support Battalion, and supported the 196th Brigade. Eggert spent the following six months treating war casualties. He found it gratifying to be able to assist such victims.
Eggert a Purple Heart recipient, did not speak about his experiences for thirty years. Eventually, he joined a veterans group and found solace in sharing his experiences with other veterans.
1924-2017
Submitted by Sharon Dysart
Bill was Combat Military Police stationed in Di An, Vietnam, in 1966
Submitted by his spouse, Barbara Gates of Lebanon Twp, NJ
Robert Stevens Hall served in the United States Air Force as a command pilot and Civil Engineer, 1942 - 1974.
During WWII, 1st Lieutenant Robert S. Hall, a B-17 ( Flying Fortress ) command pilot, flew 240 combat hours and completed 35 bombing missions over enemy-occupied European territory. He was awarded the Bronze Star, the Air Medal with five Oak Leaf Clusters for meritorious achievement, 6 Combat Stars and the Air Force Commendation Medal.
During his military career, he served overseas tours in England, Greenland, North Africa, France, Germany and Thailand and has been stationed stateside in Texas, Ohio and California.
Colonel Robert S. Hall was awarded The Legion of Merit for outstanding service upon retirement in 1974 at Norton, AFB, California.
Submitted by his daughter, Mary Jane Hall Tenwick
1922-1994
8th AAF 562nd BS
42-45 RES 45-82
Submitted by Matt Susko
"Valentine Hipsman was born in Steinbach, Saxony, Germany, and immigrated to the United States in 1851 at age nine. He enlisted with the 151st Pennsylvania Infantry Co B., out of Pike County, Pennsylvania, on September 15, 1862. He fought at the Battle of Chancellorsville and in the Battle of Gettysburg. On the afternoon of July 1, 1863, Valentine Hipsman suffered a gunshot wound to his right shoulder, shattering the bone just below his shoulder. Later that day, his arm was amputated in the Lutheran Theological Seminary Building at Gettysburg by Dr. Amos C. Blakeslee, who served as the Surgeon for the 151st Pennsylvania. An historian later stated that on that first day at Gettysburg, the 151st Infantry fell ""like ripe apples in a storm"". Valentine Hipsman was later sent to a hospital in Philadelphia to recover before he returned to his home in Shohola, Pennsylvania.
On April 8, 1863, President Abraham Lincoln reviewed about two-thirds of the Army of the Potomac (of which the 151st was a part) in the Union camps in Stafford County, Virginia. Valentine Hipsman later told his grandson, Carl, that President Lincoln was so tall that he looked as if he was riding a mule rather than a horse, as the President's legs were so long. There is no known photo of Valentine Hipsman in uniform."
Submitted by his Great Great Granddaughter, Holly Karpinich Lione of Clinton, NJ
WW1 306 Motor Transport
Submitted by Sharon Dysart
Leroy joined the Marine Corps. 1964, served one tour in Vietnam 1966, serving with a Marine Force Logistic Control unit. He participated in Operation Kansas. He received an Honorable discharge in 1967. He died 1994. He was honored in 2022 by the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund in Washington, DC .
Submitted by his spouse, Roberta Housel of Bloomsbury, NJ
Served in WWI from July 23, 1918 to July 9, 1919; joined the Infantry-Co. #59- Pioneer Infantry and served in Verdon and Meuse Argonne.
Felix Infuso lied about his age so he could enlist in the Army before he turned 18. He was part of General Patton’s tank brigade and participated in the Battle of the Bulge. The Battle of the Bulge began on 12/16/1944. He turned 20 the day before.
Submitted by his son, Joseph Infuso of Hampton NJ
Robert Junge was happy to share several pictures from his time in the service.
In Kuwait City, Berlin before the wall came down and
Korea in 1955.
Dad and his family immigrated from Ukraine in January 1951 when my Dad was seventeen. In March of 1953, he enlisted in the Air Force and would serve for the next 8 years; the latter four years as an Air Force Reservist. He was stationed at Johnson AFB in Japan just before the end of the Korean War as part of FEAF (Far East Air Force). As an immigrant, he was proud and honored to serve the country that welcomed him.
Submitted by his daughter, Holly Karpinich Lione of Clinton, NJ
Submitted by his niece Carly Cherwinski
Anatole "Tunny" Lague of West Warwick RI served in North Africa and Italy during WWII.
Submitted by his granddaughter, Robbie-Lynn Mwangi
Carl Lamers Sr. served in the European Theatre of Operations from 1943-1945.
He was a Master Sergeant in the US Army, serving in the 456th Service Air Group, Base Service Squadron, 8th Air Force.
He landed in Europe on June 8th 1944 at Utah Beach. He served in England, France, Holland and Germany.
Submitted by his son, Carl Lamers Jr.
Walter Wesley Lance at Camp Dix NJ
Submitted by his grandson, Jesse Walter Landon
Captain Jesse Walter Landon, at Fort Bragg NC
Jesse Warren Landon receiving an award in Antwerp Belgium during WWII.
Submitted by his son, Jesse Walter Landon
Enlisting on October 1, 1946, he served as an Educational Instructor for Mechanical Engineers stationed in the American sector of Germany after WWII. He went on to work as an Engineer for the Army as a civilian until 1981.
Submitted by his son, Steven Lione of Clinton, NJ
Lt Adam A. Mackow with his B-17 Crew in 1944. last man in the front row.
Submitted by his son, Adam W Mackow
Cpl Adam W. Mackow, I Corps. Photo taken in Quang Tri Provence Vietnam in 1969
Photos taken between 1944-1945 in the field during WWII.
Sgt. Milito is located on the left in the second photo.
Submitted by his nephew, Mark LaRue
Chester Tomson owned the mill that is now the Red Mill Museum Village from 1905-1928. His grandsons, brothers Sgt. Marshall Moss and Pfc Tommy Moss, both fought in World War II. Sadly, they were both killed in action. Twenty-one-year-old Marshall died in Germany on January 19, 1945 and twenty-year-old Tommy died in Iwo Jima on March 5, 1945.
Photo from the Red Mill Museum Collection
Chester Tomson owned the mill that is now the Red Mill Museum Village from 1905-1928. His grandsons, brothers Sgt. Marshall Moss and Pfc Tommy Moss, both fought in World War II. Sadly, they were both killed in action. Twenty-one-year-old Marshall died in Germany on January 19, 1945 and twenty-year-old Tommy died in Iwo Jima on March 5, 1945.
Photo from the Red Mill Museum Collection
Edward B Murphy was a signal officer on an aircraft carrier in the Pacific theater.
Submitted by his son, Ed Murphy
Corporal Anthony "Tony" Nanni, Sr. served in the Army as the chief photographer at Finney General Hospital in Thomasville Georgia, from 1942 to 1945. The hospital was one of sixty military hospitals across the United States built to treat and rehabilitate injured soldiers from the front.
Despite being an all-star athlete at Lambertville High School, his enlistment was rejected twice: due to an injury as a child, which left him blind in one eye. Upon the third attempt, he was accepted for service, but not permitted to deploy.
In his role, he photographed injuries and surgeries of returning wounded servicemen, as well as camp activities like USO visits from stars like Cary Grant (two photos included).
His wife, Marie Botti Nanni was the base commanding general's secretary during their time there (bonus photo of her at her typewriter on the base is attached).
After the war, they returned to Lambertville and remained in Hunterdon County. He continued photography as a career and hobby, co-founded the Lambertville-New Hope Rescue Squad, and served as mayor of Lambertville, and other public service roles.
Tony passed in 2000, and Marie passed in 2022 at the age of 100.
Anne Burke O’Neill was an operating room nurse during WWII She once got into trouble for consorting with enlisted men. The men in question turned out to be her five brothers who she outranked. One of the six children and the only daughter of Irish immigrants Patrick and Rose Raleigh Burke of Troy, NY. All six siblings served in the US Navy during WWII.
Submitted by her goddaughter Nora Burke Klippstein
Richard Pierce, flag collector and author of ‘The Stars and Stripes: Fabric of the American Spirit,’ is also a dedicated Red Mill Museum Village volunteer. He holds a degree in Political Science from Rutgers University and is a recipient of the prestigious Loyal Sons Award for extraordinary service to his alma mater. He served in the U.S. Army and Army Reserves.
Born in Jersey City on April 20, 1922, Alfred Ponterdolph was stationed on a naval destroyer in the Pacific Ocean, trading fire with Japanese fighter pilots from behind a 20 mm gun. Sharks in the water all around him gave Ponterdolph even more incentive to do his job.
Ponterdolph, who turned 102 in April 2024, said there were days during World War II he was unsure if the bloodshed would ever end. But there was one thing that kept him going during his service: his positivity.
Ponterdolph served in the U.S. Navy from 1942 to 1945. He was one of the commissioning sailors on the USS Philip (DD 498), a naval destroyer built in Kearny in 1942 that saw action in the Pacific.
Ponterdolph was a Seaman Second Class and Radio Man Third Class who was part of the Solomon Islands Campaign (1943-1944), the Mariana and Palau Islands Campaign (1944), the Philippines Campaign (1944-45) and the Borneo Campaign (1945).
Submitted by his daughter, Kerrie Ponterdolph Delli Santi
"My grandfather Vincent Pregot (third from right) is holding my mom, Bernadette They were celebrating in Coney Island, Brooklyn. after his discharge from the Army where he was an Infantry Officer. My mom was born while he was away, so my mom was just getting to know her dad!"
Photo taken on VJ Day Victory over Japan Day 8/15/45
Submitted by his granddaughter, Gabby Pfitzner
Rudolph P. Price Jr. was an A-4 Skyhawk pilot for the Navy in Vietnam from 1964 to 1970. He did two tours and flew his missions from the aircraft carriers USS Coral Sea and USS Ticonderoga. Honorably discharged Rudy became a pilot for Delta Airlines until his untimely death in 1985 in Dallas, TX.
Submitted by his sister, Donna Sekula
Rudolph P. Price Sr. served as a Lieutenant in the 65th Armored Infantry Battalion 20th Armored Division in World War II. A bronze star recipient he saw action in the European theater and the liberation of the Nazi death camps. He was also involved in the Korean War eventually retiring as a Major after 20+ years of military service.
Submitted by his daughter, Donna Sekula
During World War II, Carmen Quelly served in the Army Air Corps as a tail gunner on a B-25 in the Burma-China Theatre. Originally from Plainfield, he moved to Glen Gardner in the 1970s, and was active in the Glen Gardner Fire Company until age 79. His great-grandson, Carmen Stevens, is a rising fifth-grader at Clinton Public School.
Submitted by Jennifer E. Nanni
Submitted by his brother, Michael Ragozine
Grateful that in recent years the Vietnam era vets are finally being recognized. Anthony chose to join the Army National Guard after high school. While he was not called up to active duty (as he might have been) he was trained for it and the possibility was always there. He was however called up to help maintain order during the racial riots of 1967 in Plainfield NJ
Submitted by his spouse, Marion Abele Sampaio
Having to wait until he turned 21 per his parents’ request, Bernard M. Sekula joined the Marines on August 3rd , 1942. As a Private 1st Class, he served in the South Pacific from Dec 1942 to Dec 1944 seeing action at Guadalcanal and Bougainville in the British Solomon Islands. He probably would have remained a Marine had his brother Ed not been killed at Okinawa.
Submitted by his son, Bernie Sekula
Daniel R. Sekula, a Major in the US Army active reserves, is currently on assignment in Kosovo. He has previously served his country during his deployments to Iraq (2005-2006) and Afghanistan (2007-2008) and more recently as a bilateral affairs officer in the Republic of Georgia (2020-2023). Daniel is a recipient of the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, 3 Meritorious Service Medals and the Department of State Meritorious Honor Award.
Submitted by his parents, Bernie and Donna Sekula
Jeremiah Shea, Philadelphia PA. Jerry served in the Navy, from 1944 to 1947, with a stint in the Brooklyn Navy Yard. He completed his education and officer training at Yale University in 1943. In 1948 he received his Master's Degree at Catholic University while teaching at the US Naval Academy Prep School in Bainbridge MD.
Submitted by his son, Daniel Shea
Frank Stanley served in the US Marine Corps. This photo was taken in 1945
Submitted by Jack Stanley
Photo taken in 1961
This photo shows 1st Lt. Thomas Stanley claling for artillery support as he led Marines of K/3/5 through the battle of Okinawa in April 1945.
Submitted by his son, Jack Stanley
Daniel Sullivan was in the Army National Guard.
Submitted by his niece, Carly Cherwinski
Richard Sullivan was in the Army National Guard.
Submitted by his niece, Carly Cherwinski
1921-2003
5th AFF 8Tth Photo
Recon/42-25
Evelyn Tietze (née Laverty), originally of Mine Hill Township, NJ, served during WWII as a WAVE (Women Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Service in the Women's Naval Reserve).
One of her jobs was to deliver payment to sailors at the dock in New York City, where she was living at the time. She was required to carry a pistol with her for protection!
She received full military honors at her funeral in 2014.
Submitted by Jennifer E. Nanni
Feb 1966. My Dad is Frederick Vath and he was a Maintenance Shop Officer in the Army/ 1st Cavalry. He was visiting the Zoo in Saigon, Vietnam and the local kids were happily leading a tour of the zoo for him. He has proud memories of his time in Vietnam and current is doing well and enjoying living in Spring Lake NJ.
Submitted by his, daughter, Gabby Pfitzner
Richard Sullivan was in the Army National Guard.
Submitted by his niece, Carly Cherwinski
1921-2003
5th AFF 8Tth Photo
Recon/42-25
Evelyn Tietze (née Laverty), originally of Mine Hill Township, NJ, served during WWII as a WAVE (Women Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Service in the Women's Naval Reserve).
One of her jobs was to deliver payment to sailors at the dock in New York City, where she was living at the time. She was required to carry a pistol with her for protection!
She received full military honors at her funeral in 2014.
Submitted by Jennifer E. Nanni
Feb 1966. My Dad is Frederick Vath and he was a Maintenance Shop Officer in the Army/ 1st Cavalry. He was visiting the Zoo in Saigon, Vietnam and the local kids were happily leading a tour of the zoo for him. He has proud memories of his time in Vietnam and current is doing well and enjoying living in Spring Lake NJ.
Submitted by his, daughter, Gabby Pfitzner
"During World War II, Lebanon Borough native Major Willard R. Young Jr. served a vital role, originally at Fort Dix in Pemberton Township, NJ and culminating at Camp Shanks in Orangeburg, NY. As Chief of the Adjutant Division at Camp Shanks, Young served as the communications hub of his post, preparing and distributing orders, handling all classified documents, providing night staff duty their daily instructions, serving as gatekeeper to the Commanding Officer, and even serving as Custodian of the camp's headquarters. It's a position that's unsung yet vital, as any organized war effort requires an organizer.
Young went on to become a successful businessman and 20-year Mayor of Lebanon Borough. In his retirement, he served as the Chairman of the Board for the Hunterdon Medical Center. During his lifetime, he was married to his wife Helen for 57 years and was a father to two children and grandfather of five.
Submitted by his granddaughter, Diana Helen Kennedy