By Tim Chicirda
BucksLocalNews.com

Isadore Brosbe, more affectionately known as “Izzy,” has been known throughout his life in Bristol Borough as a local, friendly pharmacist in town, serving residents for the past 61 years.What many do not know about Izzy is that he was also a pharmacist in the United States Army. However, Army T-4 Sergeant Brosbe does not have fond memories of being stationed overseas in his field hospital outfit, which he describes as being “like a M.A.S.H. unit.”

Izzy’s entrance into the United States Armed Forces was not too simple, as the Burlington High School graduate was turned away by the U.S. Navy when he first applied.

A small, young man, Brosbe was turned away because he was 20 pounds under the required minimum weight limit. This would not stop Brosbe, however.

Upon learning that he was a bit too thin to help defend his country, Izzy approached the first hurdle of his military career, loading himself with an extreme amount of calories.

Brosbe went home and began a streak of drinking gallons upon gallons of milk-shakes and eating a large amount of banana splits.

Soon enough, Izzy had packed on the much needed pounds and now enlisted in the U.S. Army.

Brosbe served as an Army pharmacist in both North Africa and the China Burma India Theater.

According to Izzy’s wife of 62 years, Harriet, “He doesn’t like rice to this day.”

Brosbe and his men spent many of their military days flying over “the Hump.”

In World War II, the Hump was the name given by Allied pilots to the eastern end of the Himalayan Mountains. Here, American forces flew from India to China to resupply the Flying Tigers and the Chinese Government of Chiang Kai-shek. The region is noted for high mountain ranges and huge parallel gorges, and transverses the upper regions of the larger rivers of South-East Asia.

Izzy and company also flew over northwestern Burma, which was heavily patrolled by enemy Japanese forces.

Brosbe recalled the various types of geographical locations and weather conditions he faced, while in the Army, though according to him he “only suffered minor injuries, nothing major.”

Brosbe also had many connections to the military, aside from his own membership.

Izzy’s younger brother, Edwin, joined the U.S. Army just months before the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941. Four years younger that his big brother, Edwin currently lives in Oregon and is retired from his job as a Veterans Administration research bacteriologist.

Bacteriologists study and investigate a group of single-celled micro-organisms that are classed as bacteria. Edwin’s job may have included designing and conducting experiments, understanding health and safety issues, making observations and drawing conclusions, writing reports and scientific papers and presenting papers at scientific meetings and conferences.

Izzy’s youngest daughter Geri was taught art by renowned local sculptor Joseph Pavone, who was profiled on this very page before as a local veteran hero.

Upon returning home from his military service, Izzy owned Brosbe’s Drug Store in Bristol Township from 1948 until 1986, before selling the business.

One of Brosbe’s most famed customers was none other than Bristol Borough’s most prolific politician, Senator Joseph R. Grundy.

Izzy often tells a story about the time Senator Grundy took him to his side of the political spectrum.

Often referred to as “Mr. Republican,” Senator Grundy asked Brosbe if he was registered to vote.

After telling the Bristol legend that he was not, Grundy replied by asking what time the drug store opened up.

After Izzy told Grundy that he opened at 7 a.m., Grundy said, “You’re opening up at 9 a.m. My driver will be downstairs at 7 a.m. in the Buick to take you to Doylestown to register Republican.”

And the rest is history.

And despite your affiliation with either political party, this story relays the message that Grundy often had for society: to truly care and be active in both local and national politics.

This is what Brosbe did. He was a great citizen at home and a hero overseas.

Labels: Army, Bristol, WWII

Joseph Pavone’s artwork helped beautify Bristol, but before that, he was a U.S. Armed Forces photographer in Germany.

Bucks County artist and sculptor got his inspiration
while stationed in Germany during the Korean War.

By Tim Chicirda
BucksLocalNews.com Editor

Many people in both Bristol Township and Bristol Borough are familiar with the great artistic mind of Joseph Pavone, but many do not know that he is, in fact, someone who needs to be recognized for his military history, as well.

Pavone is known for his work as a sculptor and artist. His creative abilities have helped to beautify both the township and the borough. But, before all of that, Pavone was a member of the U.S. Armed Forces.

Corp. Joe Pavone was drafted into the Korean War under the U.S. Army Signal Corps. Pavone was a MOS-Army Photographer in Germany.

Pavone’s career in the military began with training in a nearby Fort Monmouth, N.J., photo school.

Some of the things that Pavone photographed were installations that were moved behind the Rhine River in Germany. Pavone used a 4x5 speed graphics camera, a model primarily used in the 1940s.

While in Germany, Pavone’s real interest took shape. While stationed in Karlsruhe, Germany, at the foot of the Black Forest, Pavone studied art under famous oil painter Helmut Meyers.
While continuing his civic duties, Pavone was exposed to an extremely creative environment, where he learned and began building inspiration for his later projects.

“I was always interested in art ever since I was a baby. [I] used to draw ever since I can remember,” said Pavone, “I drew my way through school.”

After arriving back home, the 1945 Bristol High School graduate began painting and sculpting. However, when the 1990s rolled around, Pavone really began to make Bristol Borough and Township enriched in beautiful history.

In 1991, the Bristol Lions Club erected the Joseph R. Grundy Monument outside of the Grundy Library. The head and shoulders of Bristol’s most important historical figure stands proudly with his back to the Delaware River, making it a beautiful scene.

Grundy was a United States Senator, Bristol Councilman, wealthy industrialist and philanthropist. Grundy always believed in local involvment in small towns, something surely followed by Pavone.

Another important historical figure honored by Pavone was Christopher Columbus in 1992. In fact, Pavone commissioned the Columbus 500 Foundation, honoring the five-century anniversary of the famed 1492 voyage to America.

The monument, created by Pavone, is in place to honor Italian Americans who followed Columbus’ link from Europe to America. It stand among all of the beautiful monument along the Borough’s wharf.

Pavone’s most recent and veteran-based monument stands in Bristol Township, directly outside of the Municipal Building.

Unveiled in 2006, the Bristol Township War Dog Memorial has attracted many war veterans honor not only fallen soldiers during war time, but the pet companions who were very important in many wars.

According to Bristol Township, over the course of our nation’s military history, tens of thousands of War Dogs served during World War I, World War II, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, the Persian Gulf war, and also more recently in Bosnia, Iraq and Afghanistan.

American Wsar Dogs are credited, not only with companionship, but with courageously saving soldiers’ lives. It is estimated that around 10,000 U.S. and allied lives were saved during the Vietnam War alone.

The dogs tracked, tunneled and found mine and booby traps, among many of their other duties.
Pavone’s work did not end there though. Pavone is also credited with the design of many other things in Bristol Borough, including part of the newly renovated Bristol Borough Hall and the famous “Welcome Friend” sign upon entering the borough.

“Welcome Friend” has became the motto and a staple of Bristol Borough.

Anyway that Pavone can give history back to the people of his home town is great deed in his eyes. Pavone is a member of the Memorial Foundation and the Bristol Cultural and Historical Society in Bristol Borough.

The 1969 Bristol Borough Citizen of the Year still resides in Bristol with his wife Phyllis. All of Pavone’s children live nearby as well.

Pavone continues to live through the words of one of his inspirations, Joseph Grundy: “If a man does not take pride in his own town, he isn’t likely to give a rap for his country.”

Labels: Army, Bristol, Germany, Korea

Bernie D’Ascendis was a steward for the
U.S. Navy. He is pictured here in 1971.

Bristol Borough native had a dream of becoming a clown,
but he took on a much more serious role with the U.S.
Navy in 1971 — protecting American tanks in Iceland.

By Tim Chicirda
BucksLocalNews.com Editor

Bernie D’Ascendis’ acts of service did not end after he was discharged from Iceland in 1972. A former United States Naval Steward, D’Ascendis now is heavily involved in politics and entertainment.

Born in Bristol Borough, D’Ascendis always had a dream of being a clown to bring a smile to the faces of young children, but in 1971, Bernie took on a much serious role in the United States military.

D’Ascendis was stationed in Iceland during the end of the Vietnam War. According to D’Ascendis, the duty of the U.S. Navy in Iceland at the time was to protect American tanks around the border of the Soviet Union.

D’Ascendis recalls how horrible Iceland was at times. Described as “very dormid,” Bernie and his crew enjoyed six months of light and six months of darkness. During the light months, D’Ascendis remembers 23-hour baseball sessions.

Often encountering volcanic rock and blistering, high winds, D’Ascendis does not have the fondest memories of Iceland.

“Iceland wasn’t a fun place to be,” he said. “I remember cockroaches crawling across our backs."

Iceland had been occupied by United States military forces from 1941 until 2006. A NATO ally nation, Iceland was protected by America from Nazi Germany at first. It was later protected by D’Ascendis and company from the Soviet Union. In recent years, it has been protected from things like terrorism, international crime, and drug trafficking, according to the Defense Department.

America still protects Iceland, although they are not stationed there.
Bernie would take care of many of the incoming and outgoing naval officers and cooking was one his specific duties.

“I always got a lot of enjoyment out of cooking,” said D’Ascendis.

Though cooking may not be scene as such a dangerous duty, D’Ascendis gave his gave much of his body and health for our country.

D’Ascendis developed Ulcerative colitis, a form of inflammatory bowel disease. The acquisition of the disease was later determined to have been service-related. Ulcerative colitis symptoms usually include ulcers, or open sores, in the colon.

A doctor suggested that D’Ascendis get a colostomy bag, but he refused, claiming that he wanted to go out and try to work, and that is just what he did.

Remaining with the federal government, D’Ascendis worked 13 years with the United States Post Office in Philadelphia.

Now living in Bensalem, D’Ascendis performs another valuable service, as he is now known as “Bernie the Balloon Man.”

Continuing his dream of being a clown, D’Ascendis donates much of his time to kids. Married 15 years to wife Allison, but with no kids of his own, Bernie loves to go out and put a smile on the faces of youngsters.

D’Ascendis performs at parties, parades and events. In fact, Bernie the Balloon Man will offer his service free of charge to VFW or other Veteran-related events.

Now a very lucrative side job, balloon sculpting was taught to D’Ascendis from Spiffy’s Clown School, although Bernie does not enjoy the make-up of the traditional clown.

Bernie’s father-in-law, George Davenport, the President of the Falls Township Lions Clubs, often will give Bernie ample opportunity to give back to his community.

Bernie is also very involved with politics nowadays. A very loud supporter of Congressman Patrick Murphy, D’Ascendis is a part of the representative’s campaign team, creating red, white and blue balloons for many occasions.

“I will do anything to get [Patrick Murphy] votes,” said D’Ascendis.

And, over the course of his life, this has been the case for Bernie D’Ascendis: doing anything for the greater good.

D’Ascendis gave his body and health for our country in Iceland. Bernie has been active in politics, pushing for what he believes will help our country. Bernard has dedicated 13 years as a postal employee. And, Bernie the Balloon Man has given time and energy to putting a smile on the faces of the youth of this nation.

Participating in many walks of life, Bernard D’Ascendis should be saluted for all that he has done.

Labels: Bristol, Navy, Vietnam