Page 3 - PGA Community News - May '22

May 2022 May 2022 PGA C.A.N.!, Page 3

From The Editor:

In Memory of Our Heroes

The month of May, When I first began working as an attorney, I worked of the press must always be preserved in our society to
we designate Memorial with Attorney William “Bill” Chalek, another of our insure our government is serving the interests of all our
Day to honor our deceased heroes. Bill was captured by the Japanese in the South citizens. We are indebted to our veterans for fighting for
veterans. I often highlight Pacific in World War II and was a prisoner of war. He our freedoms and I dedicate this column in memory of
the lives of our heroes who was forced to live in inhumane conditions – very often our heroes.
endured some of the worst in dark underground spaces for many hours at a time. He Until next month,
of life’s challenges during never gave me all the details but the food was limited James A. Cioffi, Editor
war time. thereby resulting in many years of health issues when our james@jcclaw.com
David served during service members returned home. Sleep deprivation, lack (P.S. Please provide me the stories about veterans
World War II. While he was of sunlight and hunger were common conditions for the in our community.)
near Nancy, France, he and prisoners of the Japanese military at that time.
the service members in his My father and his 5 brothers all volunteered to defend
patrol saved a group of orphans and the Nuns who cared the United States and its freedoms in World War II. My
for them. David and his buddies carried the children across father was a Navy “Seabee” (US Naval Construction Reminder From
a river by holding them over their heads to safety on the Battalion) stationed in the Aleutian Islands of Alaska. My
other side. father was a great storyteller. I remember him saying that Palm Beach Gardens
Unfortunately, the soldiers were captured by the the sun was so bright on those islands so they had many
German troops and sent to a Prisoner of War camp in different sun glasses for use depending on the time of day Police Department
Poland. David volunteered to work out in the farm fields and season. My father carried a card he received when he
harvesting potatoes so that he could be outside. The crossed the International Dateline. He told us that he met Adopt These Habits To
prisoners were served only a limited menu of vegetables a mermaid on that trip! Prevent Vehicle Burglaries
from the farm area. Each day, David would see a lone By the end of the War, 258,872 soldiers had served in
horse and anticipated it would sometime be a meal for the Seabees. They were skilled tradesmen. In the Pacific , • Please lock your vehicle doors every time – even
them. they built airfields, airstrips, piers, wharves, breakwaters, for a quick stop or at home.
The German soldiers forced the prisoners to walk seaplane bases, bridges, roads, command centers, fuel • Never leave items of any kind inside your
20 miles at times. Soldiers dropped from exhaustion on farms, hospitals, barracks and anything else needed by the vehicle. Hiding items doesn’t work!
David’s sides and behind him. He was forced to keep services. In the Atlantic, the Seabees’ biggest project was • At a minimum, if you must leave items, place
walking. He focused on survival and his family. It was the invasion of Normandy and the landing of the troops. them in your trunk.
under these adverse conditions that David realized we I have a book that shows all the soldiers in my father’s • Cell phone/iPod power cords, GPS holders and
have no control over the time and manner of our death. battalion. It is similar to the year books we received in other key sets act as neon signs.
Life is precarious and precious. high school. Fortunately, none of the Cioffi brothers were • Park in well-lit areas, stay alert and call in
David was a prisoner for 18 months. Toward the end captured and they all survived the horrors of war. The any suspicious activities to the police department
of the War, Hitler had ordered the death of all the POWs. family had a big celebration when they returned safely. nonemergency number: 799-4445.
Fortunately, the Germans surrendered before the plan was More than 16 million American men and women served
carried out. David had a young wife and 3 children ages in the armed forces during World War II. It is estimated
3, 2 and 1. Thoughts of his wife and children waiting for that 240,000 are still living. Please take time this month
his return, motivated David to continue to struggle to live to reflect on our veterans who served to protect us and our
during his imprisonment. way of life which offers unlimited opportunities. Freedom

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