Patriotism, Our Military, and Our Veterans Past, Present and Yet to come!

This particular set of stories for the next few days will be centered on a subject I hold near and dear to my heart. Patriotism, our military and our veterans past, present, and yet to come. I am going to start off today with a few stories I heard growing up from my family, my uncles, my father, my cousins who served in WWII, the Korean  War, Viet Nam, The Gulf War, and Iraqi Freedom. Long span of wars and a lot of unthoughtful people tossing blame on our military for doing the job they were called to do.

World War II started in September 1939 and ended in September 1945. Why? It all began in Europe on September 3^rd 1939. The Prime Minister of Britain, Neville Chamberlain, declared war on Germany which would end up bringing many of the world’s countries together in battle. But Britain wasn’t alone when they declared war on Germany their ally, France also declared war on Hitler’s Nazi state. What caused Britain and France to declare war on Germany? It all started when Germany attacked Poland for no apparent reason. It was an unprovoked attack by Hitler in September of 1939 by 1941 Germany occupied much of Europe and North Africa.

There were actually two dates associated with the start of World War II the first being considered the beginning of the war was July 7^th, 1937. This was called the “Marco Polo Bridge Incident” which led to a prolonged war between Japan and China. Two years later in September of 1939 Germany invaded Poland. So why did the United States get involved? Actually we were brought into the war on December 7^th 1941. I am sure you all remember what happened on this day, on our own soil, Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, when the Japanese bombed our fleet.

President Franklin Roosevelt worked towards preparing Americans for conflict in World War II because he saw it as inevitable we would one day be pulled into the fight. He never expected the sneak attack from the Japanese that would pull us into battle. Even before the attack on Pearl Harbor he talked Congress into repealing the arms embargo provisions of the neutrality law this way arms could be sold to France and Britain. He pushed for military buildup as he prepared to stand with our allies in battle. So enough history lesson for today, I will continue more on the why and how of WWII tomorrow.

Now a little personal look at people who served during this time in my own family and friends during WWII. Today I want to talk about my Uncle Giavanni Bocchino who was awarded the American Campaign Medal, World War II Victory Medal and was awarded the Purple Heart.

My uncle is one of the many reasons I hold this great nation close to my heart. I heard stories growing up of how proud he was to serve, how young he was when entered service, and what he and his family sacrificed for him serving his country with pride and honor. His parents emigrated here from Italy proud to become American citizens and raise their children in a free land. 

My uncle Giavanni was inducted into the Army in July of 1942. He served his country with pride and much sacrifice. Born on December 3^rd, 1923 he married his neighborhood sweetheart, my Aunt Mary at a very young age which was the way back then. Before going off to war they already had two children, a son and a daughter. In the summer of 1944 before going to the Southwest Pacific my uncle was granted a leave to see his family, it would be the last time he ever returned home. On October 25, 1944 on the island of Leyte Giavanni Bocchino gave his life to protect his family and his country. He was twenty one years old. In January of 1945, just three months after his death, his youngest son was born. He never got to hold him, to sing him a song, or give him a hug but his children and wife went on with their hearts filled with pride because of Giavanni’s service and sacrifice. Even in death he was not returned home to be buried. Awarded the Purple Heart, Giavanni Bocchino of the U.S. Army is buried at Manila American Cemetery, Fort William McKinely, Manila in the Philippines.

There is a plaque set up in the middle of his hometown of Belleville, New Jersey that lists his name along with so many others who gave their all. So many forgotten military men and women who fought for this great nation, to keep us free and safe from terror. So many who would in the wake of the craziness going on around the world today, would once again take up arms to serve and protect. So many I don’t know the names of but to whom I am grateful because they gave me a chance to live a good life in a free world. To all I give my thanks and prayers for their service, dedication and ultimate sacrifice.

There are also those who served this country and were held as prisoners of war. Some became famous and even ran for office of this great nation while others came home and faded into the environment not wanting to be noticed. So many needing help and never received it. Some of these great men I had the pleasure of their company in life while growing up. One I loved with all my heart was my Uncle Joseph Gamarro.

The son of emigrant parents who came here for a better life from Italy, just like so many of that time and brother-in-law to Giavanni Bocchino. They settled in our little town of Belleville, NJ, in a section known as Silver Lake. My uncle left for war one man and came home another. Haunted by things he could not share and we could not see but we loved him all the same. 

Joseph Gamarro was Prisoner of war who was held in Stalag 9B near Bad Orb, Prussia. He was a Private in the U.S. Army Infantry during World War II. He didn’t wait to be drafted, he enlisted in the Army on June 10, 1941 at the age of 29. Three years after he enlisted Joseph Gamarro was captured by the Nazis while he was serving in Germany and sent to Stalag 9 along with 3, 057 other POWs. His capture was the first one reported to the International Committee of the Red Cross on December 20^th, 1944 with the last one reported on May 11, 1945. It is on these reports that it is estimated he spent 142 days, 5 months, in captivity. Granted it was one of the shorter durations recorded while others averaged about 363 days.

My uncle never talked about his time in the prison camp but a friend of the family, who was my Uncle Giavanni’s brother, Michael Bocchino did talk about that time they were held together as POW at Stalag 9. I remember when the TV show Stalag 13 was on television and Mike started talking to us about when he and my uncle were captured. I thought, “Wow they are heroes!” and they were. He told us they were held there with little food to eat, rags wrapped around their feet because the Germans wouldn’t give them boots to wear even in the cold. Blankets were scarce and medical attention was ignored. They were treated like animals in a cage but they never gave up. Their American pride and even arrogance angered the Germans who tried to break them but we all know American pride runs deep. He told us a story of walking in the winter snow, while in camp because the Germans wanted them outside, and their feet were only wrapped in rags. Mike suffered frost bite to his toes but went untreated while others lost more including their lives from illness.

Although my uncle never spoke of how he escaped from the camp his longtime friend, who I grew up calling uncle as well, did. He told us one night they cut a hole in the fence behind the barracks and a group of soldiers escaped. They were two of them. They helped each other out with my Uncle Joe holding Mike up with his arm over my uncle’s shoulders. His feet still not cared for from the winter months in captivity. It was in April of 1945 when they made their way away from the camp. As they ran they saw a barrage of tanks and soldiers so they took shelter behind some trees since they were too far away to tell who they were. To the joy and excitement of the escaped prisoners, as they grew closer they realized, it was the U.S. Army. They were safe as they cheered them on the prisoners were attended to and taken to safety. Those who could were returned to military duty, those who couldn’t were returned home. The story I was told was our Army invaded the camp and saved the other prisoners, Stalag 9 was no more. America was the victor but at what price.

So many of our veterans come home lost in their own world, angry and not sure why, unable to hold a relationship together, to keep their family together. So many unsure of what to do now that they are home and afraid to talk about it for fear of being seen as crazy.

I remember back then it being referred to as battle fatigue but we now refer to it as PTSD but it doesn’t mean we are able to help them anymore than we did then. As a matter of fact even the psychiatrists finally had to admit it wasn’t due to a psychological weakness during WWII but the distress of combat. You keep sending them back in again and again and it will eventually get to some who have seen and experienced more than others in some way. Back in WWII they saw as many as 50% serving suffer from some degree of battle fatigue. Since there was a shortage of psychiatrists during the war unspecialized medical officers were trained to recognize the signs of combat exhaustion and the various treatments for it. Back then they put some patients in safe areas to rest but they also used other forms of treatment like administering sodium pentothal to help induce the repressed battlefield experience, followed by suggestive therapy, figuring if you bring it to the surface and let them face it then they will be able to return to the battlefield. There were also some who felt disbursing liquor to soldiers would help. Just another way to drown the sorrows.

General George Patton would not accept battle fatigue from those who served under him. It is said he slapped two soldiers who were in a military hospital recuperating and yelled at the medical officer telling him not to admit them. His words were, “Don’t admit this yellow bastard…There’s nothing the matter with him. I won’t have the hospital cluttered up with these sons of bitches who haven’t got the guts to fight.” It is said President Roosevelt received thousands of letters about the incident, most of which indicated support for Patton believe it or not. Still Patton was reprimanded and rightfully so. He was ordered to apologize and relieved of his command of the Seventh Army. I am not saying Patton didn’t serve his time on the battlefield and make his way up the ranks but you cannot speak for what is going on in someone else’s mind. I am sure there are some today who would think Patton himself suffered from some form of PTSD with his anger issues and brashness.

The National Mental Health Act was passed in 1946. It was long needed because this act provided for the expansion of mental health facilities, including the VA centers. They were set up to treat mental health problems in our veterans but to get them the help you have to know the symptoms and they don’t always admit needing the help. Sometimes it will take a family, friend, or loved one to push them ever so gently in the right direction. There are those what would laugh at the sign of a veteran dropping for cover at the sound of a loud noise but that is a symptom of PTSD, paranoia, depression, loss of memory, lack of communication, anger for no apparent reason, distancing themselves from others, fear of getting too close to someone emotionally, and the list goes on. If you have a loved one you think needs help then visit a VA even if it’s on your own just to get information on how to get them help. Don’t wait till it’s too late. Many of our homeless today are veterans suffering, not sure where they fit into our society. As a nation we need to help them and get behind them. As you can see it has been going on for a long time.

I wish my Uncle had gotten the help he needed. Although he lived a full life he carried deep inside his mind and heart the terrors he faced every day in battle and as a Prisoner of War. There were times you would see him smile or hear him laugh but then his eyes would be cast over with a sadness. I remember him telling me one day it’s not something he liked to talk about but one thing was sure, he was proud to serve his country no matter what he had to go through. He loved America and all it stood for and he would do it again if asked.

May God Bless America and all the brave men and women who fight to keep her safe and thriving!