Veterans tell their stories

Frank Saccoccio

Korean War veteran

US Air Force

A jet engine mechanic, Saccoccio of Johnston was stationed at Albuquerque, NM where he worked on jet fighters from the F84 to the F104. At the time, the Air Force didn’t issue ear protectors, or for that matter ear plugs, which Soccoccio attributes for his partial deafness today. He remembers the advent of afterburners and how planes had to be “chained down” during engine tests. Also, Saccoccio , who continues to run his own appliance service business under his name, reassembled fighters that had been flown through atomic bomb clouds after A bomb tests in the Pacific. He loved the service. “I met a lot of nice guys,” he says. “We see each other once in a while and I hear from them.”

Robert Steinhilber

Korean War veteran

Navy

Steinhilber of Narragansett worked aboard a seaplane tender. The planes were not armed and used for surveillance and reconnaissance. He said the planes would be lifted to the fantail of the tender where they were worked on before being returned to service. As the tender was off shore, Steinhiber did not experience any combat duty. He found it interesting that while in the service they were still pulling both American and Japanese planes that had been shot down during the battle for Okinawa in WWII.

Robert Maricano

Korean War era veteran

US Army

Marciano, of West Warwick was stationed at the Army medical hospital in Aurora, Colorado. As that was close to the “summer Whitehouse” of President Dwight Eisenhower, Marciano said he tended to the president when admitted in 1954 with a heart problem. Marciano worked a number of jobs after leaving the service including several at Green Airport including food service, shuttle bus driver and security. His son, Robert Jr., served as his guardian.

Joseph D’Errico

WWII Veteran

US Army

D’Errico of Johnston served as a lineman. Being close to allied headquarters and the advance following D-Day he regularly saw General George Patton and recounted the story when a jeep flipped over trapping a serviceman. Fellow servicemen rushed to help, but stopped and stood erect, saluting when Patton appeared on the scene. Patton wanted to know what happened and then commanded, “get your hands out of your asses and help that man.” He is pictured here with Larry Gemma, his son in-law who served as his guardian for the trip.

Jack Lynch

WWII veteran

US Army

Lynch who lives on Cape Cod served in Europe during the war. Asked if he saw much action. Lynch said he was on the front lines. “We were breaking ground every day,” he said. As for what was the most incredible scene from the war, Lynch said it was being in England prior to the invasion and seeing the sky filled from horizon to horizon with circling planes, gliders and blimps staging for the attack. “It was the most amazing scene.” Soon thereafter he recalls planes returning with their engines missing and trailing smoke. “At least they made it back.”

Leo Beland

WWII veteran

US Army

Beland was 20, a resident of Central Falls, when he enlisted in the Army. Beland’s leg was raked by a German machine gunner while fighting in France. His leg broken and bleeding profusely, Beland was still conscious when a German soldier came up to him and point his luger at his head the bullet pierced his ear and the hand that was under his head. He was left for dead until 14 hours later when a German patrol found him and evacuated him to a hospital. He was then taken to another hospital outside Reims where he was held a prisoner. Told that Reims is known for its champagne, Beland, who worked as an auto mechanic after the war, said he never touched the wine, “I’m a Manhattan drinker.” He is pictured here with his guardian, Shawn Clark.