caption, page 11:

 

 

Program

Several veterans spoke with students at Putnam High School. Left to right: Vietnam veteran Barney Seney, WWII veteran Gerry Salvas (Navy SeaBees), WWII veteran Peter Trama (Merchant Marines), WWII veteran Victor Lippiello (Army paratrooper) and Vietnam-era veteran, Ron Coderre. Courtesy photo.

 

 

 

Students

see WWII 

up close,

personal

Special to the Putnam Town Crier

As part of the 70th anniversary celebration of World War II, which is organized by the Aspinock Historical Society, three veterans of the war spoke to students at Putnam High School on, June 4.  The program was organized by Putnam High School history teacher Brian Germain, whose classes are studying the aspects and implications of the war as they relate to our country today.

The panel of World War II veterans included 88-year-old Gerry Salvas, 90-year-old Peter Trama and 95-year-old Victor Lippiello.  They were joined by American Legion Post #13 Past Commander Norman “Barney” Seney and Incoming Commander Ronald P. Coderre, who moderated the program.

Salvas, a U.S. Navy veteran, was a member of the SeaBees, serving on the island of Okinawa in the Pacific Theater.  He was 17 years old when he enlisted.  Salvas brought scrapbooks, maps, artifacts and original newspapers that he’d preserved dating back to the war years.  His collection was a history lesson in itself for the students.

“The battles on Okinawa were fierce.  We were on duty 24/7 with very little rest.  Our role was to construct whatever was necessary in support of our troops.  My time in the SeaBees served me well in later life,” Salvas told the audience.

Trama, a United States Merchant Marine, was 20 years old when he enlisted.   The ships he served on were responsible for transporting goods, supplies and fuel to the troops in the war zones.  The ships were often targets of the German u-boats.  He brought a ship’s manual, which each crew member received, that he’d preserved from the war.

“I was on ships that delivered materials around the world.  Many of our boats were blown out of the water by the enemy subs.  After the war I remained in the Merchant Marines for another seven years.  I still maintain close contact with one of the mates I served with during the war,” said Trama.

Lippiello, a U.S. Army veteran, was serving when the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor.  As a 21 year old his enlistment was extended and he served for the duration of the war.  As a paratrooper, he made 22 jumps.  Two were combat jumps in which he landed behind enemy lines.  He addressed the question of what it was like to jump behind enemy lines.  Lippiello brought a framed photo of himself in full paratrooper paraphernalia, which was circulated through the audience.

“Was I scared when I was dropped behind enemy lines?  You bet I was.  But it was part of my duty and I did it faithfully without question,” Lippiello said.

The more than 100 students, faculty and administrators were spellbound as the men humbly unveiled stories of their experiences that had most likely never been told previously.  The trio openly fielded and addressed questions from the audience during the two-hour program.

Following the speaking program the audience was invited to meet the men individually and speak with them.  Handshakes, embraces and tears were shed as the students and their teachers thanked the men personally for their service to the country during World War II.

During World War II 35 men from Putnam gave their lives in defense of the country.  The committee responsible for the celebration of the end of World War II has a planned program with special events scheduled every month concluding in December with Wreaths Across America, commemorating these men and all those who served during the war.  They are also sponsoring World War II movies at the Putnam Public Library, which are open to the public at no charge.

Members of the committee include Fabiola Cutler, Louise Pempek, Amy Chizen, Jeanne Benoit, Brian Germain, William and Terry Pearsall, Donald Steinbrick, Susan Miour, Ronald Coderre, William Hull and Barney Seney.