American Legion Post 50 SAL 50 New York USA


Shelby Van Natta Timberlake Jr. USMCR  originally from Rye, was commissioned a Marine Lt. at Quantico,
VA in July 1942 soon after his graduation from Williams College.  He was deployed later that year for eighteen
months duty in the Southwest Pacific.  Returning home for leave, he married Mary B. Carreau from Pelham on
May 29th, 1944 at Huguenot Memorial Church.  The couple moved on to Orlando, FL after the wedding.  The
New York Times May 30, 1944  (January 12, 2008)

Roland Tiso Sr. grew up in Mt. Vernon.  During WWII was an infantry sergeant with the 71st Infantry Division,
66th Regiment in Europe.  He served within the Seventh Army which included the 5th, 14th, and 66th Infantry
units.  They progressed from France into Holland and were then transferred to Patton’s Third Army.  The 71st
was the lead Division in the move south to Czechoslovakia and was the US Army unit which progressed the
furthest eastward.  He moved his family to Pelham in 1961.  Interview February 19th 2008 (February 24, 2008)


Colonel Roland J. Tiso Jr.USA, (Retired) is a former Executive Officer to the Commander in Chief of
USCENTCOM, and served as the 2007 Pelham Memorial Day Ceremony speaker.  Col. Tiso is a graduate of
Pelham Memorial High School’69, the Virginia Military Institute’73, and the U.S. Army War College.

The Ranger and Master Parachutist has been deployed overseas to Korea; Panama, Somalia, Saudi Arabia,
Kuwait, Afghanistan and served as the Senior Liaison Officer and Adviser to the Multinational Division-Central
South, Camp Babylon, Iraq, from August 2003 to February 2004.  He retired from active duty in May 2004, and
is currently employed as an intelligence analyst and planner in the Intelligence Directorate of USCENTCOM.

Colonel Tiso’s numerous decorations include the Combat Infantryman’s Badge, the Defense Superior Service
Medal with three Oak Leaf Clusters, the Legion of Merit, and the Bronze Star with Oak Leaf Cluster.  Interview
February 19, 2008.  (March 1, 2008)


Vincent Tiso, was raised in Pelham, and was a member of the PMHS Class of 1966.  His Dad, Roland Tiso Sr.,
was a WWII veteran who served in  Europe.  Vince comments “I was raised to respect God, the Flag, our
country, and elders”.  

Served in the US Navy from Sept. 66 to Nov. 68 mostly on the heavy cruiser the USS Newport News during the
height of the Vietnam War.  He was at boot camp two weeks after his high school graduation.  He originally
wanted to be a Marine or a Navy Seal, but a slight vision issue limited his options, so he joined the Navy and
was assigned to the commissary.  His battle station was manning a five inch gun, the big cruiser's guns could
shoot a war head 14 miles and hit targets very accurately.  The ship was virtuously in continuous action during
his  time on board often shuttling between Hawaii, Australia, and the Vietnam coast.

Vince had a lot of experience handling firearms so he volunteered for shore duty in Vietnam and was given a
chance to work repairing various pistols and rifles.    His shore duty occurred during the Tet Offensive.   He
helped who ever needed assistance with repairing or cleaning their weapons.   “I preferred being on land in
Vietnam, and being productive using my knowledge of firearms, I was qualified with every weapon”.  

His brother Roland proudly described, “Vince was a marksman at shooting and an expert at handling pistols
and rifles.  He earned three battle stars during Vietnam aboard the USS Newport News while it was on “Yankee
Station” off the coast of Vietnam.  During part of that time the ship participated in the blockade of North
Vietnam”.  

After three years at sea on the Newport News, Vince served in the reserves for three years then turned down a
bonus to reenlist.  Vince now enjoys participating in military reenactments especially those which depict the
period of American history from Colonial, Revolutionary War and other American wars through 1840.  He works
as a building contractor and lives in Pine Plains NY.  Interview February 19, 2008 (February 24, 2008)

Sergent Anthony Vivalo, Michael Vivalo, and Joseph Vivalo Jr. were the sons of Mr. & Mrs. Joseph
Vivalo, of 6 First Street in Pelham.   During WWII, Anthony joined the US Army in 1942 and saw WWII service in
Ireland, Scotland, England, France, Germany, Austria, and Czechoslovakia with the infantry.  He earned two
battle stars, the combat badge, and a unit citation for expediting the removal of the 30th General Hospital from
Le Havre, France back home to America.  

Private Michael served with a field artiliery in the south.  Private First Class Joseph served with the Army Airy
Corps in Miami Beach during 1945.

Standard Star Oct. 26, 1945  (March 1, 2008)

Captain Raymond J. Van Wagner, Jr.,  an Army Air Forces pilot, received the Distinguished Flying Cross for
meritorious achievements in flying 300 hours over the treacherous Hump between India and China.  He
received the award at Assam, India after he had served seven months in the region.  His wife Florence lived at
the Pelham Arms Apartments in Pelham Manor.   The Standard Star April 27, 1945  (February 4, 2008)


Charles Theodore White USN was the son of Mrs. Theodora N. White and the late Edson J. White of Carol
Place and a 1963 graduate of PMHS.  He was commissioned an Ensign in 1967 after graduating from the US
Naval Academy at Annapolis where he was a member of the baseball team.  At Annapolis he played squash in
addition to baseball and was a member of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes.  Standard Star July 8, 1967.  
(Dec. 8, 2007)

Rev. Joseph Barnes Williams, left his position as associate rector at Christ Church in Pelham on May 1,
1944 to accept a commission as a chaplain First Lieutenant in th the Army.   Fr. Williams told a reception of 250
parishioners in his honor, "I count on you in the parish, to carry out my work at home while I am gone to
represent the parish in the armed forces."  More than 100 members of Christ Church joined the armed forces.  
Standard Star May 1, 1944.  (Nov. 17, 2007)

PFC Edward G. Witt USCG, the son of Mr. & Mrs. Henry M. Witt of 29 Sixth Street was a graduate of Pelham
Memorial High School.  He worked at Arnold Constable's before joining the Coast Guard Artillery, anti-aircraft
unit in early 1942.  In February 1944 he was able to visit his Pelham home on furlough before heading back to
Inglewood, CA.  The Standard Star February 16, 1944.   (February 22, 2008)


Henry "Bud" Firth Wood II, served in the US Navy during WWII.  A resident of Pelham, NY, since 1924, he
passed away on May 18, 2002. Mr. Wood was born on June 1, 1921 to Alma and Stacy Wood in Brooklyn. He
graduated from Colgate University. He was a longtime member of and active in the VFW, American Legion and
the Volunteer Liberty Engine & Hose Company No. 1 in the Pelham Fire Department. Mr. Wood was survived by
his widow Carolyn, brother Alden, nieces Patricia Wood and Nancy Howe, and nephew Rodger Wood..  
Interment is at the family plot in Ewing Presbyterian Church Cemetery, Ewing, NJ.  (November 30, 2007)

Sergeant William Edward Zarnfaller, US Army, a member of the 99th Division, was awarded the
Distinguished Service Cross for his actions on March 25th 1945 when he was responsible for capturing 67
Nazis and killing seven near Ellingen, Germany.  The Pelham Sun  reports, "It was the fall of this town that
subsequently led to the breakthrough of the armored divisions and the cessation of fighting".  After the Medal
of Honor this is the Army's highest award for courage.  The award was personally presented by Gen. George S.
Patton, Jr. on July 27, 1945.

Previously, he was awarded the Silver Star, the citation read, "On April 17th 1945, during an attack on Heimer,
Germany. Sergt. Zarnfaller fearlessly continued across a bridge when his company was forced back, killed two
enemy riflemen, in hand to hand fighting, and although wounded, aggressively plunged forward.  Exhibiting a
fearce desire....he reported back to his company with valuable information as to enemy positions.  Sergt
Zarnfaller indomitable fighting spirit and unanswerable devotion to duty are in keeping with the finest traditions
of the armed forces."  Sergeant Zarnfaller was hospitalized twice, the first time after being injured in a fake
surrender by the enemy and the second time with eight machine gun slugs in his body.  He was well enough by
July 4th, to compete in and win a shot-put competition in Germany.  

Zarnfaller was th son of Mr. and Mrs. William C. Zarnfaller of 747 Pelhamdale Avenue.  His parents received a
telegram from the War Department in early February of 1945 that their son had been wounded in Germany on
January 15th.   He went overseas in August of 1944 and was one of a group of picked men expert in all kinds of
arms, called the "Battle Babies" because their average age ranged from 18 to 20.  The 99th was responsible in
the Battle of the Bulge for stopping German General Von Rundstedt in the northern edge of the bulge in
Belgium.  

In a letter to his parents dated Jan. 11th 1945, Zarnfaller wrote he had been in action for five days and nights,
that his division had run out of ammunition, and he had to resort to his bayonet in an encounter with a German.

The 1943 Pelham Memorial High School graduate was a football, basketball player and track performer.  After
the end of the war, Mr. Zarnfaller attended Columbia University and New York University Law School.   He was a
member of the Westchester Bar Association and past master of Winyah masonic Lodge in Pelham.  The holder
of the American Service Medal, and the Purple Heart, he served as chaplain of Pelham Post 50 of the American
Legion. The resident of 759 Pelhamdale Avenue in Pelham died at age 57 on October 23, 1981.  He was
survived by his wife, son Donald, and daughter Judy.   The Standard Star February 3, 1945. The Pelham Sun
August 9, 1945 Ancestry.com  The Standard Star Oct. 24, 1981  (August  22,  2010)

13 of 160  April 27, 2008
History of Pelham Veterans.
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