Remembering Medford’s Veterans
There are 16,000 names on the four veterans’ memorials at Medford’s Honor Roll Park, honoring those who served in World War II and the Korean and Vietnam wars. The bulk of those names, 10,000-plus, are World War II veterans.
One of those veterans, Tom Convery, a veteran of all three wars, made it his personal mission to make sure their stories were told.
In all, Convery interviewed ninety-five WWII veterans, whose stories will forever be preserved in a massive oral history project with the Medford Historical Society and the Library of Congress.
Convery noted the importance of the project in preserving the history of the “Greatest Generation†for future ones. At eighty-two, Convery is considered a “kid†amongst the aging WWII vet population, having entered the war at just seventeen years old.
Convery said he learned from the experience, and enjoyed hearing so many different stories from so many Medford men and women that played different roles in the war.
There were the Fortunatos and Santoros, who between both families, sent fifteen men to fight in World War II.
School Committee member Fred Pompeo was injured during the Battle of the Bulge and was shot at by his own aircraft after being taken prisoner.
Former Mayor Jack McGlynn was a member of the top secret “ghost division,†charged with using inflated tanks and jeeps and special sound effects to beef up the appearance of America’s forces.
Adolph Alla earned a silver star after saving his colonel’s life at Iwo Jima.
Victoria “Ronny†Contariu served in both WWII and the Korean War.
Fred Solberg had one more mission to go when he was shot down and spent two years as a prisoner-of-war. Hear his incredible story in the video clip above.
All of these interviews have been aired on Channel 15 and will soon air on TV3, so stay tuned.
And when you’re enjoying tomorrow off from school or work because of the Veterans’ Day holiday, think about the statement that Convery used in closing each interview:
Have you thanked a veteran lately?