American Legion Post 50 SAL 50 New York USA
CSC Lyman Leonard Adams, US Navy was born in November 1925. He joined the US Navy at age 17 on
February 5, 1943 and was sent for basic training at the US Naval Training Center at Farragut, Idaho.
The career Navy veteran went on to serve on nine US Navy ships, the USS Goodhue APA 107, USS
Hinsdale APA 120, USS Nero, YW-92, USS Maury, AGS-16, USS Jicarrilla ATF 104, USS Whidby FRS-395,
USS Mountrose APA-13, USS Montrose APA 212, and USS Begor APD-127.
During 25 years of service to the US Navy through April 30, 1968, Chief Adams served on shore at the
Amphibious Base, Terminal Island, San Pedro, CA.; the US Naval Training Center at Great Lakes Illinois,
the Naval Air Station at Argentia, Newfoundland; the Naval Administrative Unit at Saipan, Japan in the
Mariana Islands; and the Headquarters Support Activity in Yokosuka, Japan.
On July 27, 1972 Chief Adams married the former Marian J. Miller, who was born on Sept. 21,1912, and
was the mother of Marilyn Stiefvater of Pelham. Mrs. Adams died on Feb. 14, 2006 and is interred at
Arlington National Cemetery, Section 69 Site 2018 He lives in retirement in the Washington DC area.
(March 27, 2008)
Richard Amen served in the Navy during World War II as a lieutenant. He fought in several major
engagements in the South Pacific aboard the USS Bunker Hill.
A 50 year resident of Pelham Manor, NY he died December 2, 2001 at age 83. Mr. Amen was born in New
York and attended St. John's University earning a BA and J.D. degrees. His wife Bianca R. Amen
predeceased him. He is survived by two sons Richard Amen and Robert M. Amen, a daughter Adriana A.
Bonifer and nine grandchildren. A funeral was held at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church, and he was
interred at Gate of Heaven Cemetery. Journal News (Nov. 17, 2007)
Private Robert Balestreiri of 235 Wolf's Lane served during WWII and was discharged from Ft. Dix NJ on
October 28, 1945. The Standard Star October 29, 1945
Lt. Commander Joseph M. Baltz, US Coast Guard served in five major campaigns as of May 1944 when
he was promoted from Lt. He was the husband of Mrs. Mary Elizabeth O'Brien Baltz of Pelham. The
Standard Star May 4, 1944. (February 8, 2008)
Lt. Col. Anthony G. Barbieri served in WWII and Korea in the US Army. He grew up in the Belmont
section of the Bronx and graduated from Manhattan College in 1938.
He later joined the United States Foreign Service and served as Chief Security officer at US Embassies in
Switzerland, Spain, Germany, the Philippines, Mexico, England, Turkey and Uruguay. His job often involved
preparing for the official visits of American dignitaries to these countries. Among those that he managed
security for were Secretary of State Henry Kissinger, Dean Rusk, Jacqueline Kennedy and several
astronauts. One of his memorable assignments was to go to Uruguay in the early 1970s to help protect US
interests during terrorists riots there.
Lt. Col. Barbieri died in May 10, 1990 at age 74. He left a brother Gerard F. Barbieri and a sister Nel
Barbieri. The Pelham Sun May 17, 1990 (April 13, 2008)
Sergeant Anthony Bertoldi, was listed as missing in action on Nov. 17, 1944 in Germany while serving as
a tank driver with the US Army armored division 4 Company B, 3rd Tank Battalion. They had trained Camp
Atterbury, Indiana. In a letter written to his wife on Nov. 6th 1944, he sad that he was "Moving up". He was
taken prisoner until the end of the war. He received the Purple Heart and the Bronze Star.
Born in North Pelham, the son of Victor and Pierina Socini Bertoldi, he lived at 416 Fourth Avenue. He
graduated from Pelham Memorial High School in 1937 and worked as a baker in Mt. Vernon. He married
Dora Accorsi in August of 1940 and worked for the Hershey Chocolate Company when he was inducted on
June 14, 1941.
Sergeant Bertoldi, after his release from the Germans, returned to his home in Hershey where he worked
as a Postal Supervisor in the Harrisburg Post Office. He and his wife had two children; Anthony V. Bertoldi
of Hershey and a daughter Maria Condran also of Hershey, and six grandchildren. His brother Dominic
lived in Miami and a sister Mary Sachetillo lived in Pelham. He was a member of the Hershey Post 1357 of
the Veterans of Foreign Wars. He passed away on July 15, 2000 and was interred at the Hershey
Cemetery.
Standard Star Dec. 13, 1944. Hershey Newspaper Ancestry.com (Feb. 6, 2008)
Lt. Theresa Farenzena Blessing USAF originally from Bridgeville, Pennsylvania, she earned her nursing
certificate at General Braddock Nursing School and became a registered nurse. She then joined the US
Air Force and became a First Lieutenant Nurse. While stationed at McDill Air Force Base near she met an
injured trainer pilot, Richard Blessing. They were married on October 16, 1954. Richard went on to be
the Village Manager of Pelham. The couple had seven children and 14 grandchildren. Pelham Weekly
January 18, 2008 (January 22, 2008)
First Sergent John L. Bruckner, of 56 Fourth Street, North Pelham, was a graduate of PMHS and
attended New York University and worked for the Sanford Map Company. He was stationed at Bermuda in
a military police unit from February 1942 under October 1945. The Standard Star October 26. 1945
(March 7, 2008)
Joseph L. (JB) Buono Jr. , a graduate of New Rochelle High School, joined the Army prior to the start of
WWII and trained at the infantry base at Fort Benning, GA. He served with the 29th Infantry and later with
the famous 36th Division of the 7th Army. He married the former Lucille Caputo and they have two children
Barbara and Bruce.
Known as JB he fought in six major battles including the Salerno, Anzio and Southern France campaigns.
He was one of only eight soldiers from his unit of 178 not injured or killed in the battle at Colmar in France.
His unit received the Presidential Citation for their extraordinary heroism and dedication to duty. He served
in the 5th, 7th and 3rd US Armies. Additionally Mr. Buono was awarded the Combat Infantry Badge, the
pre-Pearl Harbor medal, and the Purple Heart.
After five years service in the infantry and 122 points of service credits he returned home to 726 Old White
Plains Road. After initially working at his father-in-law's tavern Cupsie's, JB went on to work at Iona College
as the head athletic trainer where he cared for generations of athlete's including future NBA star Jeff
Ruland. Iona College's baseball filed is named for him. Notes courtesy of Rich Petriccione. (April 2, 2008)
10
February 5, 1943 and was sent for basic training at the US Naval Training Center at Farragut, Idaho.
The career Navy veteran went on to serve on nine US Navy ships, the USS Goodhue APA 107, USS
Hinsdale APA 120, USS Nero, YW-92, USS Maury, AGS-16, USS Jicarrilla ATF 104, USS Whidby FRS-395,
USS Mountrose APA-13, USS Montrose APA 212, and USS Begor APD-127.
During 25 years of service to the US Navy through April 30, 1968, Chief Adams served on shore at the
Amphibious Base, Terminal Island, San Pedro, CA.; the US Naval Training Center at Great Lakes Illinois,
the Naval Air Station at Argentia, Newfoundland; the Naval Administrative Unit at Saipan, Japan in the
Mariana Islands; and the Headquarters Support Activity in Yokosuka, Japan.
On July 27, 1972 Chief Adams married the former Marian J. Miller, who was born on Sept. 21,1912, and
was the mother of Marilyn Stiefvater of Pelham. Mrs. Adams died on Feb. 14, 2006 and is interred at
Arlington National Cemetery, Section 69 Site 2018 He lives in retirement in the Washington DC area.
(March 27, 2008)
Richard Amen served in the Navy during World War II as a lieutenant. He fought in several major
engagements in the South Pacific aboard the USS Bunker Hill.
A 50 year resident of Pelham Manor, NY he died December 2, 2001 at age 83. Mr. Amen was born in New
York and attended St. John's University earning a BA and J.D. degrees. His wife Bianca R. Amen
predeceased him. He is survived by two sons Richard Amen and Robert M. Amen, a daughter Adriana A.
Bonifer and nine grandchildren. A funeral was held at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church, and he was
interred at Gate of Heaven Cemetery. Journal News (Nov. 17, 2007)
Private Robert Balestreiri of 235 Wolf's Lane served during WWII and was discharged from Ft. Dix NJ on
October 28, 1945. The Standard Star October 29, 1945
Lt. Commander Joseph M. Baltz, US Coast Guard served in five major campaigns as of May 1944 when
he was promoted from Lt. He was the husband of Mrs. Mary Elizabeth O'Brien Baltz of Pelham. The
Standard Star May 4, 1944. (February 8, 2008)
Lt. Col. Anthony G. Barbieri served in WWII and Korea in the US Army. He grew up in the Belmont
section of the Bronx and graduated from Manhattan College in 1938.
He later joined the United States Foreign Service and served as Chief Security officer at US Embassies in
Switzerland, Spain, Germany, the Philippines, Mexico, England, Turkey and Uruguay. His job often involved
preparing for the official visits of American dignitaries to these countries. Among those that he managed
security for were Secretary of State Henry Kissinger, Dean Rusk, Jacqueline Kennedy and several
astronauts. One of his memorable assignments was to go to Uruguay in the early 1970s to help protect US
interests during terrorists riots there.
Lt. Col. Barbieri died in May 10, 1990 at age 74. He left a brother Gerard F. Barbieri and a sister Nel
Barbieri. The Pelham Sun May 17, 1990 (April 13, 2008)
Sergeant Anthony Bertoldi, was listed as missing in action on Nov. 17, 1944 in Germany while serving as
a tank driver with the US Army armored division 4 Company B, 3rd Tank Battalion. They had trained Camp
Atterbury, Indiana. In a letter written to his wife on Nov. 6th 1944, he sad that he was "Moving up". He was
taken prisoner until the end of the war. He received the Purple Heart and the Bronze Star.
Born in North Pelham, the son of Victor and Pierina Socini Bertoldi, he lived at 416 Fourth Avenue. He
graduated from Pelham Memorial High School in 1937 and worked as a baker in Mt. Vernon. He married
Dora Accorsi in August of 1940 and worked for the Hershey Chocolate Company when he was inducted on
June 14, 1941.
Sergeant Bertoldi, after his release from the Germans, returned to his home in Hershey where he worked
as a Postal Supervisor in the Harrisburg Post Office. He and his wife had two children; Anthony V. Bertoldi
of Hershey and a daughter Maria Condran also of Hershey, and six grandchildren. His brother Dominic
lived in Miami and a sister Mary Sachetillo lived in Pelham. He was a member of the Hershey Post 1357 of
the Veterans of Foreign Wars. He passed away on July 15, 2000 and was interred at the Hershey
Cemetery.
Standard Star Dec. 13, 1944. Hershey Newspaper Ancestry.com (Feb. 6, 2008)
Lt. Theresa Farenzena Blessing USAF originally from Bridgeville, Pennsylvania, she earned her nursing
certificate at General Braddock Nursing School and became a registered nurse. She then joined the US
Air Force and became a First Lieutenant Nurse. While stationed at McDill Air Force Base near she met an
injured trainer pilot, Richard Blessing. They were married on October 16, 1954. Richard went on to be
the Village Manager of Pelham. The couple had seven children and 14 grandchildren. Pelham Weekly
January 18, 2008 (January 22, 2008)
First Sergent John L. Bruckner, of 56 Fourth Street, North Pelham, was a graduate of PMHS and
attended New York University and worked for the Sanford Map Company. He was stationed at Bermuda in
a military police unit from February 1942 under October 1945. The Standard Star October 26. 1945
(March 7, 2008)
Joseph L. (JB) Buono Jr. , a graduate of New Rochelle High School, joined the Army prior to the start of
WWII and trained at the infantry base at Fort Benning, GA. He served with the 29th Infantry and later with
the famous 36th Division of the 7th Army. He married the former Lucille Caputo and they have two children
Barbara and Bruce.
Known as JB he fought in six major battles including the Salerno, Anzio and Southern France campaigns.
He was one of only eight soldiers from his unit of 178 not injured or killed in the battle at Colmar in France.
His unit received the Presidential Citation for their extraordinary heroism and dedication to duty. He served
in the 5th, 7th and 3rd US Armies. Additionally Mr. Buono was awarded the Combat Infantry Badge, the
pre-Pearl Harbor medal, and the Purple Heart.
After five years service in the infantry and 122 points of service credits he returned home to 726 Old White
Plains Road. After initially working at his father-in-law's tavern Cupsie's, JB went on to work at Iona College
as the head athletic trainer where he cared for generations of athlete's including future NBA star Jeff
Ruland. Iona College's baseball filed is named for him. Notes courtesy of Rich Petriccione. (April 2, 2008)
10
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