Thomas Clements
In Motion Staff Writer
Daytona State College hosted “An Evening of History” Feb. 26 at the DSC News-Journal Center, honoring surviving veterans of World War II. Of the 16 million Americans who answered the call in the “Great War,” today their numbers have receded to 850,000.
Packed almost to capacity, the audience consisted of both older residents, students and other WWII veterans. After introducing the panel, LoBasso asked that other veterans of the war to stand up and almost a dozen did so. Interviews were conducted by LoBasso and retired DSC professor Dr. Ram Nayar was moderator.
Dr. Tom LoBasso, DSC President and an Army National Guard veteran, introduced the veterans and welcomed guests to the event. LaBasso described the evening as “history as it happened from those who lived it.” A panel of six WWII veterans, five men and one woman, were presented with the help of the Veteran’s Museum and Education Center, based in Ormond Beach.
Panel members were escorted to the stage by uniformed members of the ROTC from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. The ROTC provided the Color Guard, representing each of the branches of the U.S. military.
Interviews with the veterans revealed fascinating stories like that of 1st Lt. Morgan Welch, 96, of the U.S. Army. Welch participated in several battles in the Atlantic and Pacific arenas. As a member of the 4th Infantry Division he helped spearhead the Utah Beach invasion, which was part of the June 6, 1944 D-Day invasion that led to the end of the war.
Welch described his self as green when they hit the beach and how quickly he learned the hardships of battle. Serving under Gen. Theodore Roosevelt Jr., Welch recalled the calm demeanor of the general as “He stood there directing traffic on the beach and was never hit.”
In battles across Europe, Welch was wounded twice and never went to an aid station. He credits a gift from his mother for saving his life, a copy of the New Testament in a steel jacket.
“I could hear ae bullet coming and knew that I was going to be hit. When I awoke there was no blood, just a large bruise and the steel jacket bent up in my breast pocket. I still have it and it’s in a safe deposit box”.
In 1957, Welch became the first chairman of the Board of Trustees of Daytona Beach Junior College. He secured classroom space at the old Princess Issena Hotel beachside before ground was broken for the first building at the College’s current location. The institution honored both his service as a veteran and as the college’s founding father during the event.
Panel member Master Sgt. Joe Garber, 93, of the U.S. Army Air Corps. Garber told of how he and his crew had to parachute from their disabled plane at 25,000 feet. He was captured and spent 300 days in two German prison camps. At 145 pounds when he was captured, he suffered from severe malnutrition and he was only 89 pounds.
Of the more than 150,000 woman that served in the Women’s Army Corps or WACs, Sgt. Jennie DeAngelis,
93, was one of only 48 women chosen to serve in combat. Her unit was critical in identifying supply and personnel needs at the Battle of the Bulge just six miles from the front lines. DeAngelis was awarded a Bronze Star and was honored for her role in inspiring women for military service.
Sgt. Ken D. Miller, 90, of the U.S. Army trained as a medic. Dr. Miller recalled an incident of running through heavy mortar and machine gun fire to rescue a wounded soldier from a foxhole. He and a fellow medic had to carry the soldier while on their knees, the bullets were so close, they “snapped” as they flew by, he recalled.
Master Sgt. Ed Robertson, 96, of the U.S. Marine Corps served in the Pacific Theater at Guadalcanal in the Solomon Islands. While under heavy fire, Robertson, then a corporal, left his covered position to retrieve a wounded hospital corpsman, saving his life. For that heroic action, he was awarded a Silver Star and recommended for the Navy Cross. He later was given a field promotion to sergeant. Robertson also told of how they used a pair of Doberman pinscers dogs to take out two enemy sharpshooters who had had them pinned down.
Finally there was Pfc. John Brinkley, 87, of the U.S. Marine corps, who joined the 2nd Marine Air Wing attached to the Fleet Marines. The self-proclaimed “baby of the group,” he did not turn 17 until eight months after the war. Later, he went on to serve in the Korean War as a member of the Air Force obtaining the rank of Staff Sergeant. Brinkley is now the president of the Veteran’s Museum and Education Center. After several years and much effort he was pleased to announce the opening this spring of a new museum of military history on Beach Street in downtown Daytona Beach.
The Daytona State College Symphonic Band opened the ceremony with the National Anthem and “America the Beautiful.” Special thanks was given to Julie Miller, a Professor Emeritus of Mathematics, who organized the evening. The event was recorded by WDSC and will air at a later date.