Members of
World War II generation are known for being more than a little reticent about sharing their experiences. They were reared in an era when doing one’s duty – national, family or otherwise – was simply expected. "Make no complaints; expect no accolades" was unspoken credo. While their reluctance to emote is not surprising, it has left a bit of a void in our understanding of their noble deeds, performed both on battlefield and on homefront. Only in recent years have these stalwarts begun to receive their due appreciation. Why belated fanfare? One could argue that baby boomers finally recognized that subject of World War II could be, well, marketable. Tom Brokaw’s book, "The Greatest Generation," Steven Spielberg’s film, "Saving Private Ryan," and Tom Hanks’ HBO miniseries, "Band of Brothers" have given new perspective to most globally significant war on record.
Now, as members of Generation X and beyond get their first real taste of world conflict in wake of September 11, efforts of those who literally saved world more than fifty years ago are no longer irrelevant lessons in a tattered history book. At long last, we want to hear more of their stories. And, indeed, every member of this generation has one to tell.
Seven Lives for Seven Brothers In Italian-American community of Niagara Falls, New York, sending multiple sons into battle was a fact of life. But Vincenza DeBiase, a spirited mother of 11, went above and beyond call of duty, watching as five of her seven sons were called to serve.
The Niagara Falls community persevered through life on homefront with limited access to meat, shoes and gasoline – no easy task for DeBiase family of thirteen. Vincenza and James DeBiase’s oldest son, Jim, was married and not eligible for duty. He did, however, serve his community as an air raid warden. And though their youngest son, Don, was not yet of age to serve, he diligently followed his brother each night to turn off neon air raid sign. Meanwhile, Frances, Eleanor, Evelyn and Grace were like so many daughters and sisters of era, relied upon to stabilize family, to help raise their younger siblings and even to put food on table.
With each draft notice that arrived, pall over DeBiase home darkened. Throughout World War II, Vincenza proudly flew a flag in her window displaying five stars, one for each son in uniform: John, Pat, Lou, Ben and Joe. Over a period of five years, she saw her sons wounded in every way that a person can be – from physical agony to indelible emotional scars. Nearly six decades later, even some members of their own family are about to share in their experiences for first time.
Lieutenant John DeBiase – 1917-1985 Among first citizens drafted in 1940, John was rock of DeBiase family. He was first stationed in Pacific on offshore islands of Hawaii, and later trained in armored artillery at Fort Sill, Oklahoma. In 1944, John was sent to France with 3rd Army, where he served as a First Lieutenant under General Patton.
John, a gifted writer, frequently exchanged letters with family back home. Each word he penned was carefully crafted to reassure his anxious parents and siblings that all was well. Fortunately, many of John’s letters have survived. One of his typically upbeat notes contains a telling afterthought: "…which reminds me, it’s a darn good thing I am here, what with all my younger brothers growing to six feet and more, I’ll need every bit of strength I can accumulate to handle them. I hope I get home before Donald grows up or I’ll have to take a back seat all way around at home." The underlying message to his mother was, "Don’t worry, we’re all coming back."
John’s inner strength was genuine. Rumor has it that he once saw an officer standing upright in clear view, making himself an easy target. He yelled to man, "Get your ass down before you get it shot off!" That man was none other than General Patton.
But tragedy struck in 1944 when John fought in Battle at Metz on German soil. A severe wound resulted in amputation of half of his leg at Saarbrucken, in November of that year. In February 1945, he wrote several letters home that omitted details of pain and fear he endured in that bloody, life-altering moment on a muddy German battlefield. Instead, John’s letters spoke of wonderful hospital care, and fact that he had, "everything I need and more." His accounts of moving around in his wheelchair contained not slightest trace of bitterness or melancholy.
At that very moment, John’s younger brother, Joe, was MIA. John wrote home an uncharacteristically frank letter saying, "I’m hoping and praying he’s a prisoner, but I’m afraid he isn’t. I guess we have to face that it was almost bound to happen to one of us – only I hoped it would have spared Joe, Louie and Pat." He would have switched fates with his brother in an instant. Back home, a distraught Vincenza canceled Christmas.
John was discharged in December 1945, receiving both Silver Star and Bronze Star. And, for leaving his leg on a French battlefield, he was awarded Purple Heart.
Major Patrick DeBiase – 1919-present Blessed with DeBiase head for business, Pat graduated from Niagara University in 1942. But in September of that year, he was sent to Quarter Master Depot in Indiana. It was there that he met his soul mate: Joyce Garrett.
In November 1943, Pat was transferred to Camp Lee, Virginia where he expected to stay. So he and Joyce made plans to be married in April 1944. But war conditions changed, and a new assignment was pending. Further complicating matters, Pat was a staunch Catholic, while Joyce had been raised a Southern Baptist. At time, Catholic Church would not perform such marriages in church – although couples could be married by a priest in sacristy. Like many young couples, Pat and Joyce hoped to wed before uncertainties of war muddied their future. Luckily, they found a priest in Maryland who agreed to marry them, even though they were not members of his parish.
As if situation weren’t tenuous enough, Pat had no leave time and was due to report back to camp in three days. So, Joyce took train from Louisville to Richmond where they exchanged vows. The nation’s capital served as a brief honeymoon site, before Pat had to hurry back to Camp Lee. Two months later he received a wire signed by General Eisenhower to report to London by plane ASAP.
As an officer, Pat summoned all of his resources to locate his brothers during his many supply trips throughout Europe – a tough task given tight secrecy during that period. Eventually, Pat met up with Joe in northern England just before he landed on Omaha Beach. He found Lou in southern England before he left for France and invasion of Marseilles. And he was able to catch up with John in Paris, just before he left for his ill-fated assignment in Metz, Germany.
Pat retired from Officer Reserve in 1946, and received Bronze Star for his Service of Supply activities during Battle of Bulge.
Corporal Benjamin DeBiase 1921-1997 Ben was drafted into Army Corp. of Engineers in 1942. His experience would prove to be least physically grueling of any member of DeBiase family – but no less challenging. Ben arrived at basic training prepared to endure a service commitment as intense as those of his friends and brothers. But during his training in mountains of Tennessee, Ben came down with a case of frostbite severe enough to earn him a medical discharge. He was sent home to his family without ever leaving U.S. soil.
