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MEDIA -- Four Navy veterans shared their experiences during World War II, from enlistment to tight bed quarters to the harrowing effort of recovering dead bodies and dodging kamikaze attacks to the euphoria of going home.

Jeff Freeman, director and historian of the Pennsylvania Veterans Museum, said Saturday’s open discussion was the first in a series to be held every second Saturday of the month. January’s will focus on women in the service.

This session centered on the naval years of Ed Buffman, chairman of the Pennsylvania Veterans Museum, who served on the USS Missouri, Al Orlando of Broomall, a motor machinist on a minesweeper, "Big" Fred Shahadi of Nether Providence, a former chief petty officer on a minesweeper, and Angelo Marsella of Brookhaven, who served on an LST.

Buffman joined the Navy, following in the steps of his father.

Six days after Pearl Harbor, Shahadi went to the recruiting office in his Philadelphia workplace and signed up.

During his time in the Navy, Shahadi said he saw a lot on the bridge, where his battle station was. "I could see the gliders so close enough to see them crash," he said.(this was on D-Day '44)

During the discussion, Buffman read part of his handwritten journal, recalling an April 16 of yesteryear.

On that day, the Japanese attacked the USS Missouri and two planes dived toward the ship, one from the starboard side and the other at the tail.

One missed the ship, but when it crashed into the sea, Buffman said, "I could feel the ship shake. As the plane blew up, the wing hit the quarterdeck."

The pilot was cut in half, and, although not all participated, some on Buffman’s ship honored the enemy. "We buried him at sea the next day," he wrote. "We did give him a military burial the next day."

Of that particular day, Buffman wrote, "That was a day that was really in hell. You kind of get used to it."

Sleeping was not easy for most.

"We slept five high in racks, practically," Orlando said.

Unless you were like Shahadi, who had a thick mattress, a drop-down table, a fan and a light. "I was in luxury," he smiled. (these were just the Chief's quiarters)

The bread, however, became memorable for its nuggets.

With bugs everywhere, the insects got into the dough as the men made their bread.

"You would either eat these or take them out," Buffman said.

Shahadi had no hesitation, "That was crunchy. That was good."

While on shore leave, Orlando said he’d stack two cartons of cigarettes underneath his bell-bottoms and he "crammed all the Hershey bars that we could carry with us."

Buffman recalled other moments of leave as a fraternal prank in San Francisco left a buddy with a punch.

Orlando recalled more somber moments as his convoy was attacked by Germans while in North Africa. One of the ships carrying 2,000 Americans was hit and Orlando’s crew quickly responded.

"We picked up 605 sailors," Orlando said. "The rest of them drowned."

Shahadi recalled one Christmas Eve in which a British LCT had capsized. On his way to midnight Mass, he was called back to his ship to assist, only to find that 904 of the 2,000 Brits had died of hypothermia in the cold waters.
(Correction: The Christmas Eve episode was the torpedoing of the MS Leopoldville - a converted troop transport carrying 2000+; US ARMY NOT 2,000 BRITS - unfortunately approx 800+ US ARMY personnel did die of Hypothermia)

( The British LCT capsizing -on 5 June '44 was a rescue in 45 to 50-foot raging seas - a day before D-Day...as a matter of fact, D-Day was post-poned 1 day because of that monstrous storm. We had better results - all 45 aboard the British LCT were rescued before it capsized)
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When it came to ask what their happiest moment was, the consensus was clear.

"Going home," Shahadi said.

©DelcoTimes 2006