Veterans Day: Indian Harbour man shares memories of uncle lost during World War II

Editor's note: As Veterans Day approaches, Frank Calenda, 82,  of Indian Harbour Beach shares memories of his uncle, Sammy Speciale.

This is a story about a soldier.

Not just a soldier, a marine.

The picture shows my Uncle Sammy.  It was 1941, and I was only 4 years old. I don't remember much about him, but I do remember this.

War with Japan had broken out, and my uncle wanted to serve his country.  He

applied at the enlistment station in Cortland, New York, a small upstate town of about 10,000 people. 

He wanted to be a marine.

He was rejected. He was an inch too short.

I have two memories of him. One, that he was nice to me. I loved him as a child would love a nice person.

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The other memory was watching him each day hanging from a wooden bar across the door way, for hours at a time, trying to stretch his too-short frame.

He returned to the enlistment center and failed so many times, that the city newspaper picked up on it and would report his progress each time.

"Sammy is still three quarters of an inch too short."

"Sammy is still half an inch too short."

"Sammy is still a quarter of an inch too short."

One day, there were actually headlines in the paper, "Sammy Finally Makes It.  He's A Marine."

Both pride and fear filled the family, and I can remember my grandma hugging him and laughing and crying at the same time.

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Sammy went to war in the Pacific.

Just today, I was giving some of our old pictures to my boys that they, someday, might pass them on.

While looking at this framed picture, I noticed that behind the photo there was a short letter, neatly folded. 

I had never seen it before.

I unfolded that fragile paper and started reading his words.

At first, I had a very difficult time getting through it without tears, but finally, I did.

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 Here it is:

August 6, 1942

Dear Mom;

I'm writing this little note to let you know that I'm not the least bit afraid of what's coming. I'm aboard ship now and we go over the side tomorrow morning for the first American Offensive against the Japs. I'm proud and also happy to be part of it. All of us fellows are determined to do our best for what we think is right and are willing to die trying. I will always rest happy if I know you'll be proud to see me go this way. I promise that before I go I'll take my share with me. My love to all.

Keep your chin up.

Your loving son,

Sammy

Please don't take it hard because I'm happy and want you to be the same.

The battle ground was the island of Guadalcanal.

My Uncle Sammy served his country as a message runner, taking messages from one outfit to another when there was an order for radio silence or no radio contact at all.

He was reported "Missing In Action" on Oct. 8, 1942.

He was pronounced "presumed dead" shortly there-after. 

His “Unknown Soldier” resting place is in the Philippines.

Why am I sharing this with so many people?

Today we have so many, many men and women — heroes to me — who are of the same mind-set as my uncle.

They believe in what they are doing and they do it well.

Set this in your mind: These soldiers would, and actually did, die for you and our country.

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Would you?

We should all be thankful that we have men and women like this.

Finally, at this late date over 78 years later, I guess this is the only tribute I can give to a man I loved.

So, the next time you meet a soldier, retired or not, Thank him or her for their service. Not only that, shake their hand and look into their eyes wondering what those hands have done and what those eyes have seen.

Frank Calenda lives in Indian Harbour Beach with his wife, Edna.