BRICK – Members of the Winding River Village Social Club served up more than just breakfast on the morning of Veterans Day – they provided a forum for a special tribute as well as the dedication of a new Wall of Fame for the veteran heroes of their community.
Elaine Dunzelman and Marissa Koch served as the club’s co-chairs of the well-attended event held at the clubhouse. Veterans who live in that section of the township came out to not only share breakfast but to also to share stories about their time serving in the military.
“I joined in1966 when all my friends and my brother were being drafted. My father was a Marine and my son is a Marine,” Marine veteran James Barra said. He served from 1966 to 1970. “We all thought we were doing great stuff, but when we came home, we were scared to even say we fought in Vietnam.”
“I’ve lived here for eight years now (in Winding River Village). This is very nice. I think this is the fourth year they have been doing this,” said Barra, who left the service as a sergeant. “I was real gung-ho at the time but once I got to Vietnam, I saw what a mistake that was.”
He was at the event with his sister Nancy Malinowsky who also lives in Winding River Village. She was very proud of her brother’s past service in the U.S. Marines which recently noted its 250th anniversary earlier in the week.
“He served in Okinawa until 1968 when he was transferred to Vietnam until 1969,” she said. “My brother was shot in the leg in Vietnam.”
Barra’s 95-year-old neighbor, Will Sanders, was also present for the event. He is a World War II Army veteran. “I was in the Army for two years and served in Tokyo. It was quite an experience. It didn’t seem like it at the time but looking back it was wonderful.”
Andrea Grez of Brielle was there, visiting her sister who lives in Winding River Village. She brought photos of her son and her father who served in the military. Her son Jordan Lin Grez was a Marines Lance Corporal of the 3rd Battalion. “He was the youngest of my three sons. His middle name is Lin, he was named after his grandfather. He was killed in action in the war in Iraq. He was a combat engineer and his duty was to diffuse roadside bombs.”
Grez explained, “his vehicle went over a roadside bomb and he and six other boys were killed.”
Her father Army Private First Class Conrad Lindemann fought in World War II. “He served in France. He was shot in eye. He didn’t lose his sight but the shrapnel was too close to his brain so they couldn’t operate. He suffered terrible headaches for the rest of his life.”
Army Air Corps veteran Ray Nickerson, 96, who lives in the Lake Rivera section of the township, served in 1946 and 1947. “I was a paratrooper.” His love of jumping out of planes later led to his becoming a skydiver after he left the service.
A number of club volunteers decorated the clubhouse in red, white and blue. A decorative cake was also part of the meal that included homemade pancakes, eggs, sausage links, biscuits, fruit, pastries, coffee and tea.
Dunzelman was particularly proud to introduce her grandson Andrew Santos who is preparing for his entry into the U.S. Marines next year.
The 17-year-old Paramas student told The Brick Times, “I will be going July 21 to Parris Island (for training) and after that it will be 13 weeks and I will be going into infantry training.”
Dunzelman said she was extremely proud of her grandson who is carrying on a family tradition of service in the armed forces. Her older brother Raymond Fico served in the U.S. Navy during the Korean War while her younger brother Richard Fico served in the Army during the Vietnam era.
The ceremony included a reading describing the purpose of the missing man table and the unveiling of a wall of fame featuring photos of resident veterans in uniform from their service days. Santos had the honor of presenting to veterans challenge coins and thanks to club member Bob Decker, Vietnam War mugs he donated.
Brick Township singer Ron Brooks who is well known around Ocean County for his strong baritone voice and singing patriotic songs sang the National Anthem. Members of the Brick Memorial High School Choir were there and sang several songs starting with “America the Beautiful” and concluding with “Mansions of the Lord” which concluded the program.
