At age 21, Milton R. Simonds (above) completed
a U.S. Navy program at Tufts University. Simonds
(below) is a past commander of VFW Post 6393.


Bucks County resident was a U.S. Navy operations
officer — the third ranking officer on the ship.

By Petra Chesner Schlatter
BucksLocalNews.com Staff Editor

U.S. Navy Lt. Commander Milton R. Simonds, USN Retired, dedicated much of his life to the Navy.

For Simonds, the Navy gave him purpose and he looks back at his strides as a humble retiree. He does not look for fanfare.

He graduated from Tufts University in Medford, Mass., with a Bachelor of Science degree in engineering. Simonds also attended the Naval War College in Newport, R.I. He later earned an MBA from the University of Delaware.

A Yardley resident, Simonds went to college under a Navy program. World War II had ended in 1945 and the Korean War had started in 1950 before he entered the active service. He was on the rolls from 1947 to 1990 in one capacity or another.

Simonds spent many a day aboard numerous vessels, starting as a midshipman in 1947. He was commissioned an ensign upon graduation from college and reached the rank of lieutenant commander. He eventually retired as a reservist in 1973.

The array of assignments started on the battleship USS Iowa in 1948. “We went to Pearl Harbor out of the west coast.” In 1950, the year before he graduated from college, he was a midshipman on the destroyer USS Basilone out of Norfolk, Va.

From 1951-54, he was an ensign on the destroyer USS Compton out of Newport, R.I.

“We kept coming back to Newport and going back out again and again to Europe, usually for four- to six-month cruises.”

Next it was the light cruiser USS Roanoke from 1954-55 out of Norfolk, Va., as a lieutenant junior grade (LTJG), as the Combat Information Center officer. As a lieutenant, Simonds was on the minesweeper USS Adroit in 1957. The minesweeper went to the Virgin Islands out of Charleston, S.C. In 1959, it was a training cruise on the attack cargo ship USS Capricornus out of Norfolk, Va. to Ft. Lauderdale.

Simonds remembers being on the USS Compton which took him to Suda Bay, Crete, an island south of Greece. “We were visiting various European ports in Italy, Greece, Algiers and Spain.”
At one time, he was in Spain, Triest and Turkey. “When I was over there in 1951, it was under the rules and regulations of a U.S. Navy organization. There was a lot of antagonism at one point.

At that time, most of the people liked the Navy to visit and spend their money, but that isn’t why we were there.

“We were there to bolster the support of the people who had lived through the WWII era,” Simonds said.

“Some of the places I wouldn’t have believed existed,” Simonds said. “Turkey, for instance, was in very poor shape when we were there. I’d call it the infrastructure and organization.

“Southern France was beautiful —Cannes, Nice, Villefranche. They had pretty much recovered their livelihood in those areas. Villefranche is where the headquarters of the Sixth Fleet were at that time and is near Monte Carlo.”

Simonds said one of his most important jobs was when he was on the destroyer. He was operations officer, which is the third ranking officer on the ship. “The operations officer supervises the radar people, the communications people, the anti-submarine warfare and warfare and electronics people.”

He supervised court-martials and disciplinary efforts. “I was also an air controller on the destroyer collaterally — you do a lot of things at the same time. The air controller is a specific person who controls air strikes and searches from aircraft.”

About being in the service, Simonds said, “It was the proper way to serve the country. I was brought up in a Naval Air environment in my hometown of Brunswick, Maine. I just learned to love it, that’s all.”

Talking about the world in the 1950s, he said, “We were really getting into the Cold War era from the end of WWII. We were always kept aware of the possibilities that we would go back to war. The Korean War started the year before I graduated in 1950. We were at war in one area of the world already.”

About the Iraq War, Simonds said, “My personal opinion is that with all of the terrorism that is going on in the world, that it becomes our necessity to combat it wherever it occurs and to keep it away from our shores.”

Now, at age 77, he is involved as a leader with the VFW Post 6393 in Yardley-Lower Makefield as well as at the District level. The Post, with its 176 members, is located on Yardley-Newtown Road. District 8 comprises the 21 posts in Bucks and Lehigh counties.

While Simonds was commander of VFW Post 6393, his organization was awarded the title of All-Department (State) Post for two years. The Post met and exceeded what is required by the District.

Belonging to the Post means brotherhood to Simonds. “We’re all supposed to be comrades of the organization and as such we try to support each other in terms of operations and what their situations are,” he said. “Comradeship is the main theme because all the members have gone through a specific war or conditions of war that binds them together.”

Labels: Korea, Navy, Yardley

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

Vietnam veteran Bill Severns.

Severns poses with his N Division crewmates aboard the USS
Joseph Strauss. Severn served on the Strauss from 1968-1970.

Lifetime Bucks County resident’s ship was almost sunk on two separate occasions during the Vietnam War — once from rocket fire near the Mekong Delta and once from “friendly fire.”

By Bob Staranowicz
BucksLocalNews.com Correspondent

The Vietnam War was the longest military conflict in the history of the United States. U.S. involvement began in 1965 when troops were sent by President Johnson to prevent the South Vietnamese government from collapsing. Ultimately, the goal was never realized. In 1975, Vietnam was reunified under Communist control and in 1976 it officially became the Socialist Republic of Vietnam. In 1985, President Nixon said, “No event in American history is more misunderstood than the Vietnam War. It was misreported then, and it is misremembered now.”
Many Bucks County men and women served in Vietnam and one of them is William Joseph Severns.

Born on March 18, 1946, Bill lived in Willow Grove until 1957 when his family moved to Bensalem. After graduating from Bensalem High School in June of 1964, he joined the Navy one month later and was off to basic training in Great Lakes, Ill. Little did he know that one month after his enlistment, the infamous Gulf of Tonkin incident would occur. On Aug. 2, 1964, three North Vietnamese torpedo boats attacked a U.S. destroyer in the Gulf of Tonkin. Two days later, the U.S. Navy reported to Secretary of Defense Robert McNamara that another American destroyer was under attack by the North Vietnamese. In 2005, it was revealed in an official NSA declassified report that the Maddox first fired warning shots in the Aug. 2 incident and that there may have been no North Vietnamese boats at all in the Aug. 4 incident.

Bill enlisted in the Navy because of his interest in nuclear submarines. He attended Basic Enlisted Submarine School, Basic Nuclear Power School and Nuclear Power Prototype Training. After training, Bill was off to Vietnam on four separate six-month tours. He was assigned to the destroyers USS Radford from 1966-1968 and the USS Joseph Strauss from 1968-1970. The mission of the 7th fleet included gunfire support, search and rescue, carrier escort, escort to the USS New Jersey and PBR (Patrol Boat River) / SEAL insertion and extraction support. All of these duties were in support of the mission in Vietnam.

Bill was fortunate in that he only had to set foot on Vietnam soil for supply missions in DaNang and Saigon. His main duties were on-board his assigned ships, one of his more interesting being his responsibility for the desalination plants. These are the systems that converted sea water into feed water for the ship’s boilers and drinkable water for the crew.
I asked Bill what he missed the most while away from home, I received the answer that I get a majority of the time: he missed his family and friends. He also missed social life and his 1965 Pontiac GTO.

There are many enjoyable and many unpleasant experiences that one lives through while being away from home. Bill enjoyed the sea experience, travel to different ports and escorting the USS New Jersey. Some of his favorite ports of call were Australia, Japan, Taiwan and Hong Kong.
The unpleasant duties of his service included the monotonous routines, the sometimes unbearable heat, the unpleasant smells and standing watch. His worst duties also included gunfire support off North and South Vietnam.

Even though Bill didn’t serve in-country, he did have several close calls. His ship was nearly sunk on two separate occasions. One incident involved hostile rocket fire off the coast of Vietnam near the Mekong Delta. The other was from “friendly fire” when a US plane dropped four bombs while evacuating a North Vietnamese coastal mission. The latter incident was the basis for a three month dry-dock situation so that shrapnel could be removed from radar and other above-deck equipment.

Some of the more rewarding experiences that Bill shared with me include surviving storms at sea, crossing the equator and just watching the many flying fish and porpoises that always followed the fleet.

When Bill returned to California from Vietnam, he experienced protests similar to those witnessed by many other returning Vets. He saw the “Baby Killer” signs and dealt with the verbal harassment. When he returned to college, he soon noticed that Vets gathered with other Vets and avoided normal fraternities and mainstream clubs.

After his active service, Bill received an AA from Bucks County Community College and then earned a BS in Elementary Education from Trenton State College — now the College of New Jersey.

Some of the awards and medals Bill received include the Navy-Marine Commendation Medal, Navy Achievement Medal, Combat Action Ribbon, Navy Unit Commendation, Meritorious Unit Commendation, Navy Reserve Meritorious Service, National Defense, Vietnam Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism, Navy Marine Overseas Medal, Navy Sea Service, Armed Forces Reserve Medal with Silver Hour Glass, and the Republic of Vietnam Service Medal.

Sixteen years after Bill was discharged from the Navy, he decided to enlist in the Navy Reserve initially as a part-time job. He has recently retired from the reserves as a senior chief petty officer after 26 years of total combined service. He is also retired form the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board. He works part time as a driver for the Office of Military Affairs of Bucks County taking veterans to and from Philadelphia and Coatesville medical facilities.

Bill is also involved with many veterans organizations, including Vietnam Veterans of America Post 210 where he serves on the Education Committee, the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 175, the American Legion Post 148, the Navy League, Chief Petty Officer Association and the Tin Can Sailors Association. He is also the director of the NERA (Navy Enlisted Reserve Association).
Bill’s father, who passed in 2006, was a World War II veteran. His dad saw combat in Anzio, Salerno, North Africa and Monte Cassino while serving with the 5th Army.

Bill lives in Doylestown and has been a lifetime Bucks County resident. He is married to his wife of 30 years, Susan Hesch, a courageous breast cancer survivor. They have a son, Zachary, who is a graduate of Central Bucks High School West. Zachary spent 15 years with Tiger Schulmann’s Karate program and has earned a third degree black belt.

Bill should be very proud of his 26 years of service to his country and Bucks County should be grateful for his service and the service of all Veterans.

Bill is a driver for the Bucks County Veterans Van. If you would like to help in keeping the Veterans Van up and running, your donation is tax deductible and will go only to the operation of this vehicle as there is no administration cost.

For information, call 215-345-3885. If you wish to make a contribution, please make your check payable to: County of Bucks Veterans Transportation. Mail To: Department of Veterans Affairs, Neshaminy Manor Center, Bldg. K, Doylestown, Pa. 18901.

Labels: Doylestown, Navy, Vietnam