Honoring the Greatest Generation
Eighteen veterans of World War II, all a century old or on the verge, were honored Friday at Stage AE on Pittsburgh’s North Shore – three of them posthumously. They were celebrated for their military service during a global crisis eight decades ago, one that has been ingrained on the survivors’ minds since.
“Rocky Bleier’s Roll Call for the Greatest Generation” not only was a testament to the valor and perseverance of these centenarian veterans and their peers who have passed away. The program also encompassed active-duty service members, military leaders and elected officials.
A well-known military leader was among the attendees: Lt. Gen. Gus Pagonis, a Charleroi native now residing in Evans City, Butler County.
Pagonis, 84, served for 28 years in numerous command and staff capacities, but may be best recognized as the director of American logistics during the Gulf War in 1991.
The Greatest Generation is generally defined as Americans born between 1901 and 1927, who came of age during the Great Depression and World War II.
A standing-room crowd of about 550 attended the event, emceed by KDKA Radio’s Larry Richert. It was a well-organized, impeccably-timed salute to the military as Friday was the 81st anniversary of D-Day, the invasion of Normandy, and just ahead of the 250th birthday of the U.S. Army.
The Jazz Ambassadors of the United States Army Field Band, the official touring band of the U.S. Army, enhanced the event with rousing renditions of Greatest Generation-era hits.
“This may be the last roll call for some of these great veterans,” said Dr. Terrie Suica-Reed, a coordinator of the event and a civilian aide to Dan Driscoll, secretary of the Army. She also is president and CEO of Phase 4 Learning Center.
“We need to honor those who have selflessly given to us all,” she added. “This was a great team effort to feature the Army’s birthday while honoring 18 World War II veterans and their families. This is a historic moment for the Army and everyone attending this night.”
Betty Digby was among them on Friday. A vibrant 100-year-old, Digby wanted to join the military as a 19-year-old from the West Liberty section of Pittsburgh. World War II had begun, but she needed parental consent to sign up. Months later, while out to lunch on her 20th birthday following D-Day, she joined the Women’s Naval Reserve, which later became WAVES.
“Someone said, “What will your parents say when you get home?” she said, laughing. “They said nothing. I lived in a house with my grandmother, and this was important to her.
Eight decades later, Digby has no misgivings. “This is the best thing that has happened to me. I had grown up during The Depression and this was something I wanted to do. It was a privilege to serve,” said Digby, who has resided in her Upper St. Clair home for the past 50 years.”
Her late husband, David Lee Digby, fought in World War II.
So did Ralph Conklin of Sycamore, Greene County, who was unable to attend the event after sustaining a knee injury.
He enlisted in the Navy soon after graduating from the former Center Township High School in 1944. He was a gunner’s mate third class on the USS Kenneth M. Willet, a destroyer designed to escort and protect ships navigating in convoys. His ship made seven trips between Humboldt Bay, New Guinea and Leyte Gulf in the Philippines from December 1944 to February 1945.
On New Year’s Day 1945, his ship brought down an attacking enemy torpedo plane near a merchant ship. That may not have been Conklin’s scariest military moment, though. He was on board when the Willet navigated through a typhoon, which he later said frightened him “worse than the Japanese flying over.”
Back home, Conklin married Jeannette, now his late wife. He owned and operated a number of businesses, including Greenridge Oil Co. He has three sons, four grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.
Bleier, a popular former Pittsburgh Steelers running back, was chairman of the “Roll Call” event. He can certainly empathize with perils facing military personnel, having been wounded in both legs and his right foot in Vietnam in the 1960s.
One of a large cast of speakers, Bleier spoke specifically about the demands upon those who served with the Greatest Generation. “They fought a war on two fronts, Europe and Japan. No matter what, everyone wore their (military) patches with pride.
“There were patches representing the Army, Navy, Coast Guard and Marines. We cared for the wounded, sent the dead home in body bags, and we were afraid to die.”