American Legion Post 50 SAL 50 New York USA
Corporal Ronald Orvec, US Marine Corps. served in the Marines from May 1959 until April 1963. He
initially trained at Paris Island, SC then sent to infantry school and was assigned to Camp LeJeune, NC. He
went on a Mediterranean cruise stopping at Gibraltar, Barcelona, Italy, and Turkey. Later he was sent to
Okinawa, and then Arlington, Virginia. During the increase of tensions between the US and the USSR, his unit
was sent to Camp LeJeune and soon after was sent by train to a port to be sent to Quantanimo Bay Cuba.
They were told no details but all understood something big was going on. His unit stayed at Quantanimo for
the duration of the Cuban Missile Crisis, He commented, "We were ready to fight, it did not happen, thank God,
it could have been World War III". Public provided 100% support during that period.
At the end of his time in the Marines, the military was gearing up for Vietnam. He was promoted to Corporal E4
and was making $90 per month, much less than civilian jobs paying $100 per week, so because of the low pay,
he left the Marines in April 1963.
Ron received decorations for Good Conduct, National defense, Armed Forces Expeditionary Forces, Cold War
Veteran, and Overseas Service.
Interview with Tom Cartelli 2007. (May 9, 2009)
PFC David Urban, US Army drafted into the US Army at age 18 years 11months old. "The draft was the norm
of the day, I went in with 70 other guys". He went through basic training at Fort Dix NJ, infantry school and
communications training where he learned to climb telephone poles to install wiring for telephones. He was
sent to Korea in 1953 and served with the 8th Army headquarters unit and the 96th Field Artliery. His job was
to setup communications for artillery. He was promoted to private First Class. They slept in tents with the
temperature often at 25 degrees below zero. "We were not in any major battles, but did see a few fire fights."
In 1954 he witnessed the transfer of American prisoners from North Korea when they were allowed to walk
across a bridge into South Korea. David said "It was a sad sight to see the shape they were when they
crossed the bridge, but it was ok, we were getting them back.
Of what his military service taught him, "You learn to respect people".
David Urban was decorated with the United Nations, the Korean War medal, the National defense Medal, a
Presidential Unit Citation, a six month combat ribbon.
Interview with Tom Cartelli 2007 (May 10, 2009)
(2)
initially trained at Paris Island, SC then sent to infantry school and was assigned to Camp LeJeune, NC. He
went on a Mediterranean cruise stopping at Gibraltar, Barcelona, Italy, and Turkey. Later he was sent to
Okinawa, and then Arlington, Virginia. During the increase of tensions between the US and the USSR, his unit
was sent to Camp LeJeune and soon after was sent by train to a port to be sent to Quantanimo Bay Cuba.
They were told no details but all understood something big was going on. His unit stayed at Quantanimo for
the duration of the Cuban Missile Crisis, He commented, "We were ready to fight, it did not happen, thank God,
it could have been World War III". Public provided 100% support during that period.
At the end of his time in the Marines, the military was gearing up for Vietnam. He was promoted to Corporal E4
and was making $90 per month, much less than civilian jobs paying $100 per week, so because of the low pay,
he left the Marines in April 1963.
Ron received decorations for Good Conduct, National defense, Armed Forces Expeditionary Forces, Cold War
Veteran, and Overseas Service.
Interview with Tom Cartelli 2007. (May 9, 2009)
PFC David Urban, US Army drafted into the US Army at age 18 years 11months old. "The draft was the norm
of the day, I went in with 70 other guys". He went through basic training at Fort Dix NJ, infantry school and
communications training where he learned to climb telephone poles to install wiring for telephones. He was
sent to Korea in 1953 and served with the 8th Army headquarters unit and the 96th Field Artliery. His job was
to setup communications for artillery. He was promoted to private First Class. They slept in tents with the
temperature often at 25 degrees below zero. "We were not in any major battles, but did see a few fire fights."
In 1954 he witnessed the transfer of American prisoners from North Korea when they were allowed to walk
across a bridge into South Korea. David said "It was a sad sight to see the shape they were when they
crossed the bridge, but it was ok, we were getting them back.
Of what his military service taught him, "You learn to respect people".
David Urban was decorated with the United Nations, the Korean War medal, the National defense Medal, a
Presidential Unit Citation, a six month combat ribbon.
Interview with Tom Cartelli 2007 (May 10, 2009)
(2)
| Stories of Pelham Veterans Post WWII |
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