one of deep mourning, Chernow presented the
“Shawl of Reverence,” a scarf designed with the
signature stars-and-stripes and red, white and
blue hues of the American Flag. As each speaker
took their moment at the dais, Chernow would
bedrape the shawl upon their shoulders, but
with the caveat—and tell-tale Elfish grin—that
those going over their allotted time would be
stripped of the shawl.
World War II hero Joe Revman was the first
to test Chernow’s edict. Revman’s exploits
during the war are the stuff of legends, worthy
of cinematic treatment. As a 398th Squadron
radio operator and back-up gunner on a B-17
Flying Fortress—a four-engine heavy bomber
developed in the 1930s by Boeing—Revman flew
(Read: “survived”) 24 of the allotted 25 mission
tour of a 10-man bomber crew, when the mortality
rate of such was a scant 25%. A crash abruptly
halted Revman finishing his tour, one from which
the gallant airman was manually extricated out
of the burning wreckage. Revman was so tightly
wedged in the aircraft, his feet were pulled from
his combat boots, which perished with the rest of
the plane. This was the Veteran’s second crash.
The first occurred in Greenland early in his tour,
suffered during a botched attempted take-off.
Revman accounts beating the odds to the fact he
started his service toward the final years of the
war, when the once vaunted and feared Luftwaffe
had all but been wiped out.
Revman earned the prestigious Purple Heart
for injuries suffered in combat and his story
was forever captured in a video created by his
nephew, Brian Falk, a few years ago. The film
entitled, “Riding the Airwaves: Stories of a B17
Radio Operator,” has since been recognized and
accepted as a historic document by the Library of
Congress as part of its Veterans’ History Project
under the title, “The Joe Reveman Collection.”
Lieutenant Dan Broad, former commanding
officer of a B24 Liberator, flew 24 missions as
a member of the historic Flying Tigers of World
War II. He modestly claimed of not having faced
the harrowing combat conditions of his predecessor
at the dais, though the legendary tales
of the Tigers would belie that assertion. “We
were not worried so much, because they were
chicken,” Broad remarked of the enemy. “They
stayed out of the range of our guns.” Proudly he
held up a vintage photo of his former aircraft,
“Boomerang.” “The significance of the name
was that we always came back.”
NST Board President, Dr. Stanley Goldsmith,
talked of his service time during the Cold War,
a year of which he spent in a tank battalion.
Due to the nature of his service as an Airborne
Ranger in the storied Delta Force during the
Vietnam War, for which comrades sign a code
of secrecy, fellow Board Member Ed Phalen
was understandably mum about any specifics
around the missions of the elite hostage-rescue
and counter-terrorism unit. But he did deliver
the Ranger Creed in a solemn invocation which
left the audience speechless. “I was involved in
36 jumps… successfully,” he revealed. “I want
you to know, we did not lose that war.”
“The greatest casualty of war is being forgotten…
and tonight we are remembering,”
Chernow declared, before introducing Knitting
and Crochet Club President Judi Ross. For many
years, Ross and her knitting colleagues have convened
every Tuesday night in the large card room
by the Towers Theater and created blankets and
other items for area Veterans and their families.
Backed by projected images and short videos,
Event Organizer Joe Bartumioli spoke of his long
service with WWAST, the Wounded Warriors
Amputee Softball Team. As their name suggests,
everyone on the team was injured in the line
of duty and wears prosthesis of some sort. The
team of twenty travels across the country, playing
healthy teams of every caliber “to raise awareness,
through exhibition and celebrity softball
games, of the sacrifices and resilience of our
military, and highlight their ability to rise above
any challenge.” “The way you walk through life
is how you continue your service,” Bart said.
“Singing is how I connect with people,”
explained Russell Targrove. Hardly a stranger
to the assemblage, Targrove has performed
for many NST Social Clubs throughout the
years. What may have been news to his fans
is his founding of Voices for Veterans Corp,
a non-profit “started to honor U.S. veterans
nationwide through music events.” He led the
room in rousing renditions of “Stand By Me,”
“Proud to Be an American” and “America the
Beautiful,” at times inspiring the full house to
wave its collective arms while singing.
Chernow’s recitation of the poem, “A Veteran
Died Today” (Anonymous) held attendees spellbound
and proved more powerful in its quietude
and poignancy than the seeming show-stopping
performance of Targrove. And with former NST
resident and trumpeter Mart Fladell’s flawless
delivery of “Taps”—taped at a memorial several
years ago—proved a fitting coda to the night’s
WWII Veteran Sid Karmel served in Air Force beautiful memorial celebration.
administration
WAKE-UP CALL
Korean War Vet Howard Silverstein with
wife Jean
Korean War Veteran Howard Silverstein
recently moved to the North Shore Towers
community. He served in the Army as a Supply
Sergeant for two years (’53–’54) and owes a
twist of fate to his survival during a mortar
attack, which claimed the life of his bunker
mate. On the fateful day, Silverstein had just
overseen the movement of equipment “way up
there, North of 38 degrees” with his company,
Company L also known as “Love Company.”
The Master Sergeant was heading to the line to
say his goodbyes to the troops, so Silverstein
asked his Commanding Officer if he could
sleep in his bed that evening.
“He had the only inner spring mattress in
North Korea,” Silverstein said. “He wasn’t
using it so…”
The Master Sergeant was less than amused,
telling Silverstein the only reason he was getting
away with such a request was because
Silverstein was also a Sergeant. Fortunately,
Silverstein’s gambit worked and his request
was granted. Perhaps taking a cue from his
superior, the Corporal and only other soldier
sharing the bunker with Silverstein that night,
asked Silverstein if he could use his bed. Thus,
he and Silverstein bedded down for an evening
of comfy sleep.
Any pleasant dreams the pair may have been
having were abruptly halted, when a mortar
hit the bunker. According to Silverstein, the
Chinese manning the mortars were seasoned
combat veterans from WWII, who were quite
adept at targeting the deadly projectiles. It
was a direct hit. Silverstein’s comrade would
never dream again. There but for want of a
good night’s sleep in the most comfortable bed
in North Korea, Silverstein’s dreams would
have ended as well.
Silverstein suffered a head injury from the
blast, earning the Purple Heart, and cherishes
every day, knowing what might have been…
December 2018 ¢ NORTH SHORE TOWERS COURIER 13