32 Commercial St. Suite 2, Honesdale, PA 18431
ROBERT O'NEILL
"Bob" or "Oats" as some would call him, served as a Private 1st Class in the Marine Corp during WWII and the Army Occupation in Japan as a sharpshooter. He was transferred to Naval Base in Portsmouth, NH where he met his wife, Lucille. Bob received the Good Conduct Medal, WWII Victory Medal. After returning to Honesdale, he worked as a Postal Carrier in Honesdale, a truck driver for GLF, Armored Carrier/American Courier/Purolator. After retiring in 1985, he continued to work part-time as a salesman for Edward J. Schwartz Buick in Honesdale.
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311 Terrace St
WILLIAM DONALD ORR
A veteran of the U.S. Army. William served in WWII. He was an Ammunition Bearer 607. He attained the rank of Private First Class. William saw action in France and Germany. He earned and was awarded the Good Conduct Medal, American Theater Ribbon WWII, Victory Ribbon, Distinguished Unit Badge, Army Occupation Medal (Germany), and the European-African Middle Eastern Theater Ribbon. He was also awarded a Combat Infantry Badge and was a Sharpshooter M-1 and an Expert Carbine. William went overseas on the Queen Mary and returned home on an Italian luxury liner. After his service, he returned to Wayne County where he was a lifelong resident. He worked as an auto mechanic.
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1515 Main St
DONALD T. PENDER SR.
A veteran of the U.S. Army. Donald served from 1948 (end of WWII) and into the Korean Conflict. He was an infantryman stationed in Korea and attained the rank of Corporal. He earned and was awarded the WWII Victory Medal and the Army of Occupation Medal (Japan). After his time in the service, Donald attended St. Joseph University and Penn State University. He worked as an engineer for the state of Pennsylvania. He also became a real estate broker. He sold advertising and worked in sales at B & B Dodge. In 1980 he built and operated Shurway Food Mart with his sons. The supermarket filled the grocery needs of Greeley and the surrounding communities until it's closing in 2011. Don was a faithful member of St. John the Evangelist Roman Catholic Church, Alert Hook & Ladder Fire Company, VFW, American Legion, and DAV. He was Chairman of the Wayne County Redevelopment Authority and Director of the Wayne County Veterans affairs for over 30 years. Don passed away in 2005.
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Near Sunrise Avenue on Willow Avenue
ELTON W. POTTER
A veteran of the U.S. Army. “Potter,” as his friends called him served in WWII as a Medical Corpsman and attained the rank of PFC. He was stationed in France. Elton earned and was awarded the Good Conduct Medal and the European-African Middle Eastern Service Medal. He was a resident of Wayne County for over 70 years. He returned here after the war and was a self-employed poultry farmer and house painter. Elton enjoyed playing baseball. He played for many leagues in Wayne County and also the New England League in the 1930s as a pitcher. Elton was recorded in the National Baseball Hall of Fame library as a pitcher in the New England League in 1929. He was inducted into the Wayne Area Sports Hall of Fame in 1999. He was recognized for hurling a three-hit shutout against Honesdale in 1930, causing them their only loss of the season. He was an avid bowler in his retirement years in the Honesdale-Prompton League as well as in a Senior League. Elton passed away in April 1989
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Near Green St Designs on Willow Avenue
DONALD PRITCHARD
A veteran of the U.S. Marine Corps Don served in WWII he was a combat infantryman and attained the rank of Sergeant. He fought on Iwo Jima and other islands. He was there to see the flag raised on Iwo Jima. One evening while digging in, Don was holding his rifle up and suddenly heard a loud explosion and felt pain above his left eye. He thought he had been shot. The bullet struck the shaft of the rifle and the broken shaft had hit him in the head. Sounds, to this writer, like his rifle saved his life. When he had some liberty time he was able to take in some USO entertainment with big-name stars performing. Upon completion of his military service, Don returned to Wayne County where he was a lifelong resident. He worked for a time for Murray Company before starting the Don Pritchard Oil Burner Service.
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Near A & B Homes on Willow Avenue
JOHN PYKUS
A veteran of the U.S. Army. John served two tours in the Korean Conflict. He worked in field artillery as a member of Battery C 38th Field Artillery Battalion. He attained the rank of Corporal. John earned and was awarded the Korean Service Medal with 3 bronze campaign stars and a Distinguished Unit Citation. After his time in service, he returned to Wayne County where he was born and spent most of his 93 years. John was a dairy farmer. He also worked for the PA Dept. of Transportation and in later years Honesdale High School custodian. John passed away on December 5, 2016.
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Between Dave's Super Duper and Salvation Army on Willow Avenue
PETER RAPP
Navy bound to the Fighter Squadron One Twenty-Six as a Jet-Aircraft Servicer/Aviation Machinist's Mate Jet. Peter served his country with honor. He returned home to work at Moore's Business Forms in Honesdale, Waste Management, and drove trucks for several years.
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East Park St. near YMCA
ROBERT L. REAGAN
A veteran of the U.S. Army. Bob graduated from Honesdale High School in June 1965 and was drafted into the army in September 1966. He reported to Fort Gordon, Georgia for basic training at that time. After completing basic training, he reported to Fort Dix, New Jersey to train with the military police. On completion, he was shipped to a missile base in Dallau, Germany, and served there until his discharge in August of 1968. After working for Highhouse Oil he purchased the Sunoco station where Turkey Hill stands today. After a few years, he purchased what is now the uptown Amoco station and operated there until selling the station in 1980. He then went to work for PPL until his retirement in 2009.
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Near Wayne Bank on Willow Avenue
torre reese
Lifelong Wayne Co. resident, Torre joined the Navy in 2008. Serving as Office 2nd Class until his Honorable Discharge in 2013. During his stint in the Navy, he was stationed at Jacksonville Naval Air Station Florida. Trained as an Aviation Machinist Mate. Upon leaving Navy life he pursued a career in Aircraft Maintenance.
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Corner of Court St & 9th St
Richard d. robbins
Wayne Co. native living in Seeleyville/Honesdale all his life. Richard entered the United States Army, serving his country from 1957-to 1959 as a Private 1st Class. During his time in the Army, he was assigned as Supply Handler and was stationed at Fort Knox, KY. Upon returning home he took employment at the local A&P store and was the owner of Bullock's Market, North Main St. Honesdale for over 20 years. In retirement, he also followed a calling in the mission field and did work in Africa and Mexico.
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Corner of Park St and Main St
john "jack" roberts
A veteran of the U.S. Army. Jack was a member of the 1260th Command Unit during WWII. He attained the rank of Sergeant. He saw action in Central Europe, Ardennes, and Rhineland. He was taken prisoner in the Ardennes drive in December of 1944 and was forced to march 175 miles in 7 days. Jack remained a POW until his liberation by Russian soldiers in May of 1945. He earned and was awarded the European-African-Middle Eastern Service Medal and the Good Conduct Medal. Jack was very quiet about his service and only mentioned his diet of bananas and rugged travel while he was a POW. He was a lifelong resident of Honesdale. He was an avid bowler and was in many leagues. He worked as a Maintenance Engineer at Farview State Hospital. Jack passed away on May 13, 2002, which coincidentally, was the exact date of his POW liberation only 57 years later.
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Between 5th St & 6th St on Church St
meredith (roesing) robinson
A graduate of Honesdale High School, Meredith served in the Navy under the U.S. Navy Judge Advocate General's Corps. Attaining the rank of Commander, her service spanned 1991-to 2011. Meredith served as an Attorney in the JAG with 3 years as Commanding Officer, U.S. Naval Legal Office, Europe, Africa, and Southwest Asia, heading offices in Naples, Italy; Sigonella, Sicily; Rota, Spain; and Manama, Bahrain; and overseeing all defense and legal assistance services in those areas. She served as Officer-in-Charge, region Legal Service Office, Mid-Atlantic, Detachment Groton; Staff Judge Advocate, Submarine Group 2; and Branch Head of Personnel Law and for Standards of Conduct/Government Ethics within the office of JAG; among other positions throughout her 20-year career. During her service, she was stationed in Illinois, Guam, Washington, DC., USNS COMFORT, Connecticut, Europe, Africa, Southwest Asia, Italy, & Mid-Atlantic. Meredith was located in Connecticut after leaving the Navy raising a family and serving on numerous boards and volunteering her services to multiple organizations. Working with various federal agencies to write Final Agency Decisions in response to Equal Employment Opportunity complaints.
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Between 9th St & 10th St on Church St
roland rosler
A veteran of the U.S. Army. Roland served during WW II, in Korea, and Vietnam. He attained the rank of Chief Warrant Officer 3rd Class. He worked as a Radar Missile Technician. His overseas duty stations included India, Korea, and Japan. His stateside duty stations included Maryland, Alabama, Pennsylvania, and North Carolina. After his military service, he returned to Wayne County and worked at Farview State Hospital.
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307 Erie St
patrick j. rotundo
A veteran of the U.S. Navy. Patrick was a Fire Control Technician and attained the rank of Petty Officer 2nd Class. He was stationed in the state of Washington. After completing his military service, Patrick worked for government contractors.
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Near Good Cheer Pet Grooming on Willow Avenue
lawrence f. rudloff
A veteran of the U.S. Army. Larry served during WWII. He was stationed at Fort Hood, Texas. After his time in the service, he worked as an accountant for the N.B. Putman Construction Company in Honesdale.
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301 Terrace St
charles e. rutledge
Charles "Chub" was a 1st Sergeant in the Army of the United States. Served during WWII performing Photo Reconnaissance with Squadron in the Pacific Theater. Chub was awarded The Good Conduct Medal, The American Defense Service Medal, American Theater Service Medal, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Service Medal, European-African Middle Eastern Campaign Medal, and Victory Medal. Charles was Honorably Discharged and returned to Wayne Co. He became self-employed as a lumberman and then went on to serve his community as Damascus Township Supervisor and Secretary.
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East Park St near YMCA
frederick r. schweighofer
A veteran of the U.S. Army. Ric served during the time of the Vietnam War. His work was in Computer Technology. He was stationed in South Carolina. After his time in service, Ric returned to Wayne County where he was born and raised. He worked as a butcher. He owned a local grocery store (Bunting's Market) and locker plant.
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Across from Tryon St on Willow Avenue
john j. seelig
A veteran of the U.S. Army. “Jack”, as he was called, was the first person from Honesdale to be drafted, on Jan. 28, 1941. He said it was the only thing he ever won. He was in the 2nd Infantry Division, United States Army, nicknamed the Indian Head Division, due to the design of their black badge with a cartoonlike head of a Native American on a white star. The patch was created by the unit’s troops during World War 1. His jacket is at the Wayne County Historical Society. The unit landed on Omaha Beach on D Day plus one, June 7, 1944, and was in Germany in October. In early April 1945, the division occupied Hadamar, liberating a psychiatric clinic that was a major killing center for the Nazi euthanasia program for the physically and mentally disabled. The unit provided aid for the remaining inmates. They then liberated Leipzig-Schönfield concentration camp, a subcamp of Buchenwald, on April 14, 1945, where they interred the uncovered corpses in graves. On the following day, troops liberated Spergau/Zöschen labor education camp in Zöschen. The division continued into Czechoslovakia in early May, taking the city of Pilsen on VE Day, May 8th. The unit remained in Pilsen until they returned to the US on July 10, 1945, to train for a scheduled invasion of Japan. The division was still in training when victory over Japan was announced on August 14, 1945. Jack returned with the following awards: Combat Infantry Badge, The Bronze Star Medal, Army Good Conduct Medal, The American Defense Service Medal, and The Army Atlantic Pacific Campaign Medal. He would never talk about his awards or the reasons for receiving them.
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At entrance to Dime Bank operations center on Sunrise Avenue
lou seelig
A veteran of the U.S. Army. Lou served his country from 1964 until 1990. He was a platoon leader and comptroller. He attained the rank of colonel. Lou had several duty stations. His stateside stations included Ft. Devens, MA, Ft. Benjamin Harrison, IN, Carlisle Barracks, PA, Syracuse, NY, Harry Diamond Laboratory, MD, Leavenworth, KS, Washington, DC, and the Pentagon. Overseas saw him in Sinop, Turkey; Stuttgart, Germany; and Vietnam. He earned and was awarded the Combat Infantryman Badge, Defense Superior Service Medal, Legion of Merit, the Bronze Star, the Purple Heart as well as, 5 Meritorious Service Medals, 3 Army Commendation Medals, Department of Defense Staff Badge, Army Staff Badge along with numerous campaign and service medals from his time in Vietnam. Lou related a story of his time in Vietnam when on a mission in February 1966 they were searching an area south of their Phuoc Vinh base camp. They were barely a quarter mile into the jungle when they found a huge cache containing tons of rice packed in burlap bags. He identified it as coming from the United States intended for the peasant villagers. It was pilfered by the VC from the Saigon shipping docks. They called in for a large truck which was brought in by Chinook helicopter. There were no signs of VC in the area, so they decided to load up the tons of rice and return it to the people for whom it was intended. It took several days to move the rice to be shipped out. It remained quiet in the area with no VC contacts. After several days of loading the truck, they called for the Chinook to return to pick it up. By this time not having seen any VC they became a bit complacent. Moments after the Chinook took off with the truck all hell broke loose. They began taking heavy enemy fire from around the entire perimeter that had been set up. They returned fire but the firefight intensified as the Hueys landed to pick up the soldiers. The first group boarded the helicopters firing on the run. The rest continued suppressing fire. This cut their strength in half as they waited for the next helicopters to land. When this was done there were still three men to be evacuated, Lou and two others. They made a desperate call and one of the Huey's returned immediately after dropping its load. It was only minutes but seemed like hours. The helicopter landed some 40 yards from the men. They were running and shooting hoping the VC were not good enough marksmen to hit fast-moving targets. The machine gunner was shooting his M60 machine gun from his hip like John Wayne in a movie. He was the first to arrive at the helicopter and dove so hard that when he landed on the helicopter he slid completely across and out the other side. When Lou and the other soldier got to the helicopter, they were surprised not to see him there when almost immediately he climbed in from the opposite side. That was the closest they had come to being a POW or being killed. Believe it or not, they had a big laugh after it was all over. Lou currently resides in Virginia.
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215 Terrace St
