Sat, Jul 05 2008
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Published May 15, 2008 10:31 pm - Fifty-nine World War II veterans were given royal treatment Wednesday night by members of the Conneaut American Legion Cowle Post 151. WW II vets honored by Conneaut American Legion By DORIS COOK - Staff Writer Star Beacon CONNEAUT— Fifty-nine World War II veterans were given royal treatment Wednesday night by members of the Conneaut American Legion Cowle Post 151.
More than 200 people filled the legion dining area at the post dinner event. Post adjutant Paul Nelson and Commander Tom Udell welcomed the veterans, their families and community friends. Udell said that Nelson came up with the idea for the WW II veterans salute three years ago. John Wojtowicz, 85, and his brother, George from Conneaut, sat with another WW II buddy, Joe White, 94, also from Conneaut. The trio sat and traded old war stories before the meal. Conversation swirled around the hall as the WW II vets and their families greeted everyone. “I served in the U.S. Army Engineers in the war. My outfit fought in the South Pacific. I enlisted and so did my brother, George,” said John Wojtowicz. George Wojtowicz said he served in the U.S. Navy on a cargo attack ship. He enlisted on his 18th birthday. White said he served in the U.S. Navy in both the Pacific and Atlantic theaters. Another Conneaut WW II Army veteran, Hubert Todd, had his wife, Muriel, and son, Brad, with him at the dinner. In his 80s now, Todd still has vivid memories of serving in the Battle of the Bulge and other Europe battles with an armored artillery unit. “I drove a 9-ton half-track and was attached to General George Patton’s army unit. I saw the general one day when I was on guard duty as he drove by in a jeep,” Todd said. Todd and his wife celebrated their 65th wedding anniversary this year. “After the war, Muriel and I raised our family in Conneaut. I retired from General Electric after 38 years,” Todd said. Guest speaker Ralph Dean, the Legion’s 9th District commander, told the large gathering WW II veterans deserve all the salutes and honors they get. He also shared a bit of history on how the nation’s Memorial Day celebration began after the Civil War. Nelson addressed the heroism of the WW II veterans, calling these aging men and women as the greatest generation. 
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