Jeannette World War II veteran remembers another May holiday: V-E Day

As Americans honor the men and women who died while serving in the military Monday, there's another important day in May to many World War II veterans, including 96-year-old Joseph Folino of jeannette: May 8, 1945.

On that historic day, the Allies accepted the surrender of Nazi Germany and brought the war in Europe to a close.

"One thing that disappoints me, they don't announce it anymore," Folino said, recalling the days when the Victory in Europe, or V-E Day, anniversary was celebrated.

Now, it passes as just another day, he said.

"I don't think that's right, because thank God, I made it back," he said. "But how about my buddies? Some of them are still laying over there."

In 1942, Folino was drafted into the Army. The 21-year-old railroad worker left his hometown and traveled south for basic training in Kansas, Texas and Louisiana before deploying to Europe with the 691st Tank Destroyer Battalion.

He went on to fight in the Battle of the Bulge, the final Nazi counteroffensive that began Dec. 16, 1944, and stretched through the end of January 1945.

The weeks were long and cold. The enemy was tough enough, Folino said, but the weather was worse.

Rations froze in the can. There wasn't hot water for coffee. The cold corned beef hash was miserable, and building a fire was a treat.

If someone got hurt, they were more likely to die of hypothermia than their wound or injury, Folino said.

"When you're young, you don't know," he said. "Whatever comes, you take it, and that's it."

Folino served with the same group of men from the time basic training started in 1942 until the end of his deployment.

"We went in as a group, and we were discharged as a group," he said, recalling a speech a colonel made early on: You're going to be like a big family, and you're going to have to get along, he told the young soldiers.

"We helped each other out, and that's what you have to do," Folino said.

Such help included visiting the families of soldiers who didn't make it home.

Had the war with Japan not ended, Folino would have been sent to the Pacific. Instead, he remained in France and returned to the United States by the end of the year. He was discharged Dec. 19, 1945, and came home to jeannette.

Folino recalled a fellow soldier from Aliquippa whose wife had a baby girl before he deployed. He was killed when his unit was ambushed.

"Never saw a picture or nothing of her," Folino said. "That stands out."

Today, Folino is one of few surviving local veterans who fought in the Battle of the Bulge. A local chapter of Veterans of the Battle of the Bulge dissolved four years ago. In recent years, the VFW Post 33 has taken charge of supporting those veterans.

Folino continues to share his story because he wants Americans to know what soldiers experienced during combat, and how lucky the country was not to experience the horrors of war at home.

He will soon be honored with the prestigious French Legion of Honor. The award recognizes veterans who risked their lives during World War II to fight on French territory.

Though Folino could have traveled to Paris for the ceremony, he chose to stay local to care for his wife of 69 years. He will instead be honored at an upcoming ceremony at Soldiers & Sailors Memorial Hall & Museum in Pittsburgh.

Folino said he wants to share the honor with the soldiers he served with.

"I don't know why they waited this long; I shouldn't have got it," Folino said. "What about my buddies? They're all passed away. They should have got it just like me."

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As cultural memory grows dim, vet keeps V-E Day in his heart

As Americans honor the men and women who died while serving in the military Monday, there's another important day in May to many World War II veterans, including 96-year-old Joseph Folino of jeannette: May 8, 1945.

On that historic day, the Allies accepted the surrender of Nazi Germany and brought the war in Europe to a close.

"One thing that disappoints me, they don't announce it anymore," Folino said, recalling the days when the Victory in Europe, or V-E Day, anniversary was celebrated.

Now, it passes as just another day, he said.

"I don't think that's right, because thank God, I made it back," he said. "But how about my buddies? Some of them are still laying over there."

In 1942, Folino was drafted into the Army. The 21-year-old railroad worker left his hometown and traveled south for basic training in Kansas, Texas and Louisiana before deploying to Europe with the 691st Tank Destroyer Battalion.

He went on to fight in the Battle of the Bulge, the final effort of the Nazi offensive that began Dec. 16, 1944 and stretched through the end of January 1945.

The weeks were long and cold. The enemy was tough enough, Folino said, but the weather was worse.

Rations froze in the can. There wasn't hot water for coffee. The cold corned beef hash was miserable, and building a fire was a treat.

If someone got hurt, they were more likely to die of hypothermia than their injury, Folino said.

"When you're young, you don't know," he said. "Whatever comes, you take it, and that's it."

Folino served with the same group of men from the time basic training started in 1942 and throughout his deployment.

"We went in as a group, and we were discharged as a group," he said, recalling a speech a colonel made early on: You're going to be like a big family, and you're going to have to get along, he told the young soldiers.

"We helped each other out, and that's what you have to do," Folino said.

Such help included visiting the families of soldiers who didn't make it home.

Had the war not ended, Folino would have been sent to the Pacific. Instead, he remained in France and returned to the United States by the end of the year. He was discharged on Dec. 19, 1945, and came home to jeannette.

Folino recalled a fellow soldier from Aliquippa whose wife had a baby girl before he deployed. He was killed when his unit was ambushed.

"Never saw a picture or nothing of her," Folino said. "That stands out."

Today, Folino is one of few surviving local veterans who fought in the Battle of the Bulge. A local chapter of Veterans of the Battle of the Bulge dissolved four years ago. In recent years, the VFW Post 33 has taken charge of supporting those veterans.

Folino continues to share his story because he wants Americans to know what soldiers experienced during combat, and how lucky the country was to not experience the horrors of war at home.

He will soon be honored with the prestigious French Legion of Honor. The award recognizes veterans who risked their life during World War II to fight on French territory.

Though Folino could have traveled to Paris for the ceremony, he chose to stay local to care for his wife of 69 years. He will instead be honored at an upcoming ceremony at the Soldiers and Sailors Memorial in Oakland.

Folino said he wants to share the honor with the soldiers he served with.

"I don't know why they waited this long; I shouldn't have got it," Folino said. "What about my buddies? They're all passed away. They should have got it just like me."

Jamie Martines is a Tribune-Review staff writer. Reach her at jmartines@tribweb.com, 724-850-2867 or on Twitter @Jamie_Martines.