Marine threw his body on a grenade to save his comrades.


Having served during the Vietnam War, U.S. Marine Sgt. Richard W. Gresko of Newtown received the U.S. Navy Cross for throwing his body onto a North Vietnamese hand grenade. His action was an attempt to save the lives of three of his comrades.

Gresko, originally from Philadelphia, was 19 at the time of his heroic act. He was on a nighttime ambush on March 11, 1970 in Vietnam. Absorbing the impact of the explosion, Gresko somehow survived. He sustained life-threatening wounds to his legs and torso. Today, he has chronic neurological problems because of the grenade blast.

“I believe that the action I did that night — if it had been another Marine with the exact same thing, I think they would do the same thing. That action I did that night I did to protect the men. Believe me, you know what you’re doing. I did it to save my men.

“I’m here by the grace of God, Jesus. I did what I did. I guess I shouldn’t be here, but I am,” he said.

“If I had it to do all over again, I would do it all over again,” he said. “Sometimes the whole is more important than the one. That says everything.”

That goes not just for Marines, he asserted. “Not just Marines die, a lot of people do things to protect people. I love the country.”

It was tough in the hospital. “There were so many of us back then,” he said. “When I first got there, I was in the hallway. A lot of us were on gurneys. The wards were so full. I didn’t know that — Katey told me.”

Gresko said one of the best things he ever did was to marry Katey on March 29 1969. When Gresko came home wounded, she went to the hospital every day.

Though there were a lot of suffering soldiers in the hospital, they stuck together. “We call it esprit du coeur - it’s very tight comradeship. The highest compliment is to say you have that drive. Everybody thinks alike and everybody looks out for each other,” he said.

Discharged in June 1971, Gresko was in the Philadelphia Naval Hospital for 15 long months.

A big burly man with a raspy voice, Gresko limps and uses a cane. He laughs when he won’t divulge is age. His personality is a bit gruff, but humorous. There’s always a joke when he talks.

The fact that he saved his buddies’ lives is a major part of his life. Respect and love for his comrades has helped him cope with his injuries.

Gresko had been in the 1st Marines division, 3rd battalion, 5th regimen and India Company, 3rd platoon. “I was a rifleman. We called them grunts. Then a special unit was formed. There’s a unit called combined action platoon (CAP). What their job was — they would fence in the villages at night with barbed wire.

“Everything is around the village. It’s community.”

The Marines would go out with them to farm. “They were peasants. All they wanted to do was farm — to be free — not what we know as freedom, but what they knew was their freedom.” Gresko said the enemy was “really brutal.”

The villagers worked hard out in the rice patties. If there were rivers near them, they went fishing.

“I believe that a person should be free,” Gresko said. “I believe when I was in Vietnam, I was visiting. I was protecting them.

“We lived with the people,” Gresko continued. “You respect the elders and the religious shrines. We were CUP — combined unit pacification program. I was still with the 1st Marines Division. We had two or three villages.”

The villagers trained with the company. “We’d set up ambushes — killer teams with sometimes four or five,” Gresko noted. “If you have an ambush, they come to your aid. We’re in support of each other. There was no artillery fire — no air support. We could get choppers and medevacs.”
People working with them, who gave the Marines information, were on the hit list. “They went after them. Our job was to protect them and work with them. Sometimes you trained your enemy. They don’t hang a sign around their necks,” Gresko said.

When asked if he has any stories to tell, Gresko talked about being in the Highlands. “We couldn’t get re-supplied during the monsoon. It was about two days that we did without. It was so cold. (You would) wrap up together. You ate out of a box. Rations had a can full of peanut butter. It’s real small.

“For two days, we opened it up,” he recalled. “We each took a finger tip amount. We split that for two days. Now, that’s pretty outstanding.”

Former air traffic controller learned how to keep his eye on the target

By R. Kurt Osenlund, BucksLocalNews.com

Harry Niemann is modest about his military service. His tenure overseas was no shorter in length than those of most vets, but he insists he didn't see any action while positioned in Japan as an air traffic controller after the Korean War. But even though his tour of duty wasn't exactly harrowing, this 77-year-old has still done more for his country than most citizens ever will, and he's managed to parlay the lessons he learned in the Marines into an honorable protocol for everyday success. At his home in Holland, Niemann divulges the details of his time served and the prosperous life that's followed.

Born in Philadelphia in 1932 in the heart of the Great Depression, Niemann is the son of Harry II and Helen, who forked over less than $5 in pocket money to pay for his delivery in the charity ward at Jefferson Hospital. Niemann has two siblings: Charles, who now resides in Cherry Hill, and Gloria, who lives in Quebec City in Canada. He graduated from Philadelphia's Olney High School in 1949 with ambitions to attend college, but the horrific state of the economy put a damper on his plans. He took a job with an aluminum manufacturing company – a dangerous, difficult and boring position he immediately describes as “the worst job you could ever imagine.”

After toughing it out for two years, Niemann underwent a major upgrade, enrolling at Notre Dame University in 1952. While attending the prestigious school (from which he'd later graduate cum laude), Niemann joined the Platoon Leader Corps, the Marines' equivalent of ROTC that required he attend two six-week summer camps in Quantico, Va. while completing his education. In 1955, the same year he obtained his Bachelor's Degree, Niemann began basic officer's school in Quantico, an intense program that whittled 1,200 hopefuls down to 750 in a matter of six months. The following year, he finished two months of radar controller training at Tyndall Air Force Base in Panama City, Fla. before being shipped off to Korea.

“I landed there on April Fool's Day, of all days,” Niemann says, “and it was a joke on me, let me tell you. The base was a desolate, horrible place. I couldn't tell if the barbed wire was meant to keep people out or keep us in. It was total isolation.”

Since the Korean War was over, Niemann and the rest of the remaining Marines moved to a Naval Air Station in Iwakuni, Japan after two months. It was there that he would spend the rest of his tour of duty. As a radar control officer in the Marine Air Control Squadron (MACS), Niemann worked closely with fighter pilots, practicing maneuvers and simulating situations in which the aircrafts would close in on enemy targets.

“There was no enemy,” Niemann says. “I never even shot a rifle. But you still never knew when somebody would be coming in on you over there. That's even true today.”

During his time with the Marines, Niemann also visited exotic places such as The Phillipines, Okinawa and Hong Kong, be it for R&R or various training procedures. He returned to the United States in June of 1957 and remained active in the Reserves, eventually earning the rank of Captain.

“I learned discipline, organization and the ability to take orders from a superior without question,” Niemann says of the lessons bestowed upon him while in the service. “Being in the Marines teaches you a lot, but one of the main things it teaches you is that you can't be an individual in combat.”

Niemann notes that the motto of the Marines is Semper Fidelis: “always faithful.” It's a code of conduct to which he's held firm throughout his post-military life. On July 27, he'll have been married 52 years to his wife, Joanne, whom he met in Wildwood, N.J. in 1953 and wed when he returned home from Japan. He and Joanne have four children – Michael, Margaret, Ann and Brian – whom he supported while maintaining a 40-year career in the insurance business. He retired in 1997 as the underwriting vice president of a general accident insurance company in Philadelphia.

Today, the Niemanns enjoy traveling – they've visited nearly a dozen countries over the last 15 years – and spending time with their 11 grandchildren. Niemann also has a full roster of additional activities, which include serving as the vice president of the Liberty Bell Chapter of the First Marine Division Association; being a member of the Patriots Division of the Marine Corps League; serving on the Northampton Township AdHoc Advisory Committee; visiting the Northampton Tennis and Fitnees Club six days a week; and volunteering with Senior Adults for Greater Education (S.A.G.E.), through which he tutors Council Rock students.

“The Marines taught me how to set goals, organize myself mentally and physically, stay disciplined and keep my eye on the target. I applied that not just to business, but to every aspect of my life,” Niemann says, modestly, of course.

38-year Legion member was drafted but not sent overseas.



Just a year out of high school, David Matthews saw his birthday selected, and the 19-year-old from Newtown expected to be the second man in his family to serve his country overseas. Luckily for Matthews, a trip to the airport changed his life’s course.

“When I was drafted, I really didn’t realize what I was getting into,” said Matthews. “You didn’t know anything about what was going to happen. What you learned in the past had nothing to do with what was going to happen in the future.”

Matthews’ father served in the Navy on the U.S.S. Trumpeter during World War II, and took him to the bus stop before he headed to Fort Dix for basic training. Knowing that his father had seen the horrors of war, Matthews could see in his father’s face that he was heading into the unknown.

“I could see in his eyes that I could be in for trouble,” said Matthews. “I didn’t know what was ahead of me.”

After going through training at Fort Dix, Matthews was sent to Fort Meade. While waiting for his orders, he received a weekend pass, but instead of going home, he was assigned a task that would save him from going to Vietnam, and also put him in position to find out a secret order that would spare the lives of thousands of draftees.

“I had to go to the airport to pick up a three-star general,” said Matthews. “I was disappointed that I was going to the airport and all of these people were heading all over the world, but I couldn’t go anywhere.”

Matthews said that he and the general did not hit it off immediately, but they formed a solid relationship, which resulted in Matthews heading to West Point instead of Vietnam.
“I always dressed nicely, with a spit-shine on my boots, and this general comes off the plane in dungarees,” said Matthews. “I thought he would arrive in full uniform with all of his medals. It was an uncomfortable ride back to the base, but the next day we went flying in a helicopter and ended up hitting it off. He asked me to be his chauffer.”

Matthews said that he saw this as a great opportunity, but wasn’t sure if he could accept the general’s offer. That’s when the general let Matthews in on a secret that thousands of draftees would have loved to find out.

“I was joking with the general that I didn’t have my orders yet, but he said not to worry about it because he knew that nobody else was going to be sent over,” said Matthews. “I couldn’t tell anyone about it, but he let me know that anybody who was over there had to stay, but the rest of us wouldn’t have to go. You could say I got very lucky.”

Matthews went with the general to West Point, and helped with “sneak attacks” on the 82nd and 101st Airborne Divisions.

“They were out on training missions, and we would have to sneak up on them as if we were the enemy,” said Matthews. “We actually did catch them off guard a few times.

Matthews left the Army in 1973, and took some of his training home with him. While at Fort Meade, Matthews became part of the firing squad to honor fallen soldiers when they came home.
He has continued this tradition while as a member of the American Legion Post 440.

Matthews has been a member of Post 440 for 38 years, and will take over as the Post Commander in September, a position his father held in the 1950s.

“When I was eight years old, I got the job of raising the flag in the morning and taking it down in the afternoon,” said Matthews. “I’m a 38-year member of the post. The building was built to honor veterans, and I’d like to help keep it alive.”

During his time in the Army, Matthews was awarded the Expert Medal for rifle and grenade training, the Good Conduct Medal, and the Cold War Service Certificate.

Korean War Vet had long career in education.

By Tim Chicirda, BucksLocalNews.com


Bristol High School graduate Corporal Joseph DeFranco is truly a jack of all trades.
Upon graduating from high school amidst the height of the Korean War, DeFranco completed a two-year tool and die maker apprenticeship with Fallsington Manufacturing Company, following in the footsteps of his older brother, Fabio.

He confirms, "tool and die makers are a rare breed; I call it the king of trades."
DeFranco then began his two-years active duty, guarding the Wiesbaden Airfield, the home of Headquarters U.S. Air Force in Europe.

Wiesbaden Army Airfield is located southeast of the city of Wiesbaden, Hessen, Germany. It was selected as the site for Headquarters, United States Air Forces in Europe (USAFE) on Sept. 28, 1945, in large part due to its proximity to Frankfurt am Main, where the U.S. Seventh Army was headquartered.

Airmen from Wiesbaden distinguished themselves in support of "Operation Vittles." C-47s and C-54 "Skymasters" of the 60th Troop Carrier Group flew missions daily from Wiesbaden to Tempelhof in the beleaguered city of Berlin. During one day's operations more than 80 tons of food and supplies were airlifted from Wiesbaden.

DeFranco then went on to six years of inactive duty, earning his Army provided training and education, making him skilled in all areas of plastics, woodworking, metals, ceramics and printing.

DeFranco now lives with fellow Bristol High grad and wife Anna in Bensalem. The two are the proud parents of four college graduates.

Their children are church organist and Director of Music Joseph Edward; electrical engineer Judith Ann Mastrocola; Eagle Scout John Richard; and electrical engineer and track athlete Joanna Frances DeFranco-Tommarello, who is a Senior Lecturer of Information Science in the PSU Engineering Division of the School of Graduate Studies.

These four have presented Joseph and Anna with their treasured eight grandchildren ranging in ages from 15 to the youngest, who is two-years-old.

Joe's parents were also a large part of his life, and a huge influence. Donato and Rose DeFranco emigrated to West Virginia from Rosetta, Italy, later moving to Bristol when Joe was seven-years-old. Private Donato was a veteran of World War II, sparking young Joe's path.
Aside from Joe's military career, the veteran had a long career in education.

Joe has been involved in the education field for a half of a century, producing students prepared for the rigors of active citizenship and long-term success. When he finished college, he started teaching in the Bristol Township schools, Lafayette Elementary School, then Woodrow Wilson H.S., including two years of metal shop and woodshop.

He taught a total of eight years and then served in Administration as Supervisor of Vocational Education, a liason to any trade related classes, now called Career Tech, and retired in 1990. Though this was not much of a "retirement," as he has been working for the last 20 years in Career & Technical Education at Temple University.

The Temple Center for Professional Development in Career and Technical Education offers career-long services to Career and Technical Education (CTE) professionals throughout the seventeen counties that comprise the eastern region of PA. Its mission is to facilitate the professional development of all educators who work with career-bound students.

Joe started co-operative education in Bristol Township schools and made presentations to all of the area service organizations.

The Cooperative Education Program provides an opportunity for students to alternate semesters of academic study with semesters of paid, career-related, engaged-learning experience. A basic goal of this experiential-learning program is to help bridge the gap between academic study and its application in professional practice. Teeming with intellect, confidence and charisma, Joe has proven himself to be the main advocate to offer navigable paths and universal access to complete and competitive education.

In 1997, Joseph DeFranco was recognized in Harrisburg as Outstanding Post-secondary educator in the State of PA for his involvement in professional organizations, memberships and activities by the PA Department of Education.

Joe has been a wonderful resident, long-time educator and a brave veteran.

Police Chief served in U.S. Army Security Agency

By Petra Chesner Schlatter, BucksLocalNews.com


U.S. Army Spec. 5 Barry Pilla, 61, serves as the police chief of Northampton Township Police Department.

Forty years ago, Pilla was in Vietnam in the late 1960s. “I have a different outlook — I don’t know why. I was not in a field unit or in a direct combat unit. I was in a support unit.”

He had enlisted in the Army on January 15, 1968 “for a four-year hitch with the United States Army Security Agency.” Basic training was at Fort Dix, N.J. He went to Fort Gordon, Ga. for advanced training in communications.

In Vietnam, he served with the 509 Radio Research Group. “I did a tour and a half,” he noted. “I had the opportunity to work in a joint military unit with members of the Air Force, the Marines and the Navy.”We had a very diverse group. We worked on occasion with our counterparts.”
Pilla returned to The States on March 12, 1970. He then went to Fort Devens, Mass. where there was a training facility for his unit.

He was assigned to an administrative position in his training unit. He remained there until he was discharged in October, 1971. At that time, they were offering an early discharge to take a position in law enforcement.

When asked about Vietnam, Pilla said while some places were beautiful, “it had been ravaged for so many years by war. There were temples and more. That must have been a wonderful culture.
“The people for the most part were suspicious and anxious — and how could they not be after living in a war zone for so many years?” Pilla noted. When you struck up a casual relationship, he said, “They would let their guard down.”

Pilla talked about a picture he has of “two young kids” saluting him. “I saw them just about every day. The kids would be running around playing.

“My unit was associated with a Catholic orphanage,” he said. “We would visit on a monthly basis.” The men would give the children combs, mirrors or toys like paddle balls.
Pilla said his group would have a barbecue and spend the day. They would talk with the nuns and priest. “It was a diversion of what was going on,” Pilla said. “You could hear bombs going off occasionally, but this is what the kids were raised in.”

Pilla continued, “I was young. It made me look at life quite differently. I went over as a 19-year-old kid and came home as a 21-year-old adult. I had a much different mindset.”
The potential of being hurt by an explosive was always there. Pilla said the children would go to school and business was going on “while all this turmoil was happening.”

Pilla said he was “amazed how wonderful the human spirit is. It was quite a show and I had a front-row seat.” His pictures of Vietnam bring back memories, but not particularly bad ones, he said.

“As a young kid, I went over there,” Pilla said. “I really was given a gift. I was permitted to mature. I had the opportunity to serve with some wonderful and courageous people. And I met very courageous Vietnamese people who wanted peace as much as we did.”
Pilla said he went to Vietnam “for the people to be free.”

“As I was preparing to return home from Vietnam, we [soldiers] were all well aware of the dislike for the war,” Pilla said. “Additionally, we also knew that because it was an unpopular war, our return home wasn’t always met with cheers and gratitude for what we had done or been through.”

Despite the anti-war climate in the country, Pilla said he is grateful to his family and friends. He said the love and friendship of family, friends and neighbors meant he had a “wonderful homecoming.”

Pilla’s neighbors in his Bristol Township neighborhood, as well as family and friends, turned the street into a welcome home parade. They had strung banners across the street.
“Folks were standing on their lawns waving flags and some followed my car to our house to meet up with those already there,” Pilla recalled. “We had tons of food and a good time was had by all.”
He was glad to be home and see everyone. What really stands out to Pilla is his mother. She was the “happiest person in Bucks County. She told me that now she finally could stop worrying.”
Pilla and his future wife, Fran, pulled into the driveway of his parents’ home the day of the homecoming. The couple has a daughter, Lindsey.

As soon as he returned home, he interviewed for a police job. Pilla said he has always been a public servant. He is proud to have served in the military and is equally proud to serve in the police profession with “so many unsung heroes.”

He likened being a serviceman to being a policeman. “They are given a mission. They extract themselves. They’re there because they have a mission - that’s their task.”

When asked why he went into police work, Pilla said he always wanted to do. “As a kid, I was either going to be a cowboy, a fireman, a policeman or a disc jockey,” he said. “I love working with people. It just seemed like a natural fit for me.

“I was lucky enough to get into this profession,” Pilla said. “I consider it a privilege. I’ve been involved in this since 1971. I’m cruising in for a landing, but I still have a lot of gas in the tank.”
Pilla had received an early release from the Army and went right from the military into the Middletown Township Police Department in 1971. He was a uniformed police officer through 1974. He left Middletown and went with Northampton Township Police Department as an officer. He worked as a detective for a number of years and then became a lieutenant. He was appointed chief of police in 1994.