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TEANECK VOICES' SPECIAL

MEMORIAL DAY EDITION



PUBLISHED BY TEANECK VOICES

5/25/2023

Contents:


2023 Memorial Day Special Edition


Announcements:


Contacting Teaneck Voices

2023 Memorial Day Special Edition

Teaneck Voices is publishing this special issue to Recognize and Honor the women and men – so many of them so young – who gave their lives while serving in the United States Armed Forces. They risked all so the rest of us could enjoy the fruits of democracy and community that we nurture here in Teaneck.


A 20-year-old Private Writes Home

                                                                   

It was 1942-3. The United States had entered World War II the previous December, and young men were lining up to enlist in the armed services to fight for freedom and democracy. Meyer (Mike) Weintraub, 20-years-old, from the Bronx, New York City was one of them. He joined the Army Air Force and left home for training in Nebraska in August 1942. Phone calls were expensive, so young soldiers wrote home. Here are clips from some of Mike’s 72 letters to his sister and brother-in-law.


           Now for the news I am hesitant to write. Oh well, I might as well be a man. I am now an aerial gunner. Wipe that pained look off your face, it’s really not that bad, even though you think its real dangerous. I’m not writing Mom about this until I get the okay from  you. If you don’t want her to know at all, that’s okay with me too.


Those of us who pass this course go on to Gunners School to become a gunner in the top turret [in a B-17]. I climbed into one of those turrets today and was amazed at the small amount of protection provided for that Gunner. From his shoulders up to his head is totally unprotected and the rest of his body just partially to the bargain. He does not wear a parachute, although there is one in the plane for him.


           I realize now we are within weeks of going overseas and I haven’t shot one round from   my upper turret. We had P-47’s buzzing us, and if they had been enemy pursuits, I would  have been dead after their first pass. So here we are, really green, and, at present, I  doubt very much if I’ll ever live to see the end of this war.


           I just completed the hardest week of my life – it’s called air fatigue. All told we got about 20 hours of high altitude, and breathing oxygen for all that time is hard. It’s even a big  effort to take each breath.


           Everybody’s on edge, and the pilot told me to see if I can keep the enlisted men under     control. I know if I lost my head now, our crew would just cease to be.


           How is my niece? I’m missing the best part of seeing her grow up. But as long as I can     make sure she will be able to grow up in peace and have everything coming to her, just        the way we had it, I’ll consider myself a pretty lucky guy. Not only for her, but for all of   you who made my life at home so pleasant.


           Well, I’ll see if I can go to sleep now, and perhaps dream of home.


Mike went overseas as a member of the 8th Air Force, 100th Bomb Group known as the “Bloody Hundredth.” He was killed on his first mission, flying as the top turret gunner, fighting the enemy for 45 minutes until shot down by 2 German fighters as his plane was returning from the successful Schweinfurt Raid on December 30, 1943. Sgt. Meyer M. Weintraub, awarded the Purple Heart, is buried in the American Military Cemetery in Epinal, France.

 

Honoring Teaneck Residents

Who Lost Their Lives While Serving

in the United States Armed Forces


We Introduce a Few to Remember the Many


The month of May is recognized as National Military Appreciation Month and Memorial Day is Monday May 29, 2023. Teaneck Voices would like to shine a light on and honor the residents of the Teaneck community that have honorably served our country. 

 

Throughout our country’s history many of our residents have received the special call to military service and unfortunately many have also made the ultimate sacrifice. Our fallen heroes are deservingly memorialized throughout the Township of Teaneck. There are monuments and plaques on the Township Municipal Green; the Municipal Building; Teaneck High School main lobby and additional information within the Library and other local and county archives. 

 

In addition, a special Gold Star Honor Roll pays tribute to these fallen heroes and is announced each year at our Township’s annual Memorial Day ceremony. Teaneck Voices would like to recognize all of our lost military heroes as we highlight a few below.

 

Honoring - William A. Burgess, U.S. Army 

 

William A. Burgess

World War I

U.S. Army

Private, 1st Class

Age: 21

 

Born on October 13, 1897.

In the late 1910’s the Burgess family moved to Teaneck, New Jersey. On June 26th, 1916, William signed up for the Army as part of the American Expeditionary Forces. After basic training he joined the 114th Infantry Regiment, 29th Division and in June of 1918 was shipped to Brest, France. By late September, Burgess’s Regiment departed for the Argonne Front as part of the Grand Offensive, and more specifically, the Meuse-Argonne offensive. On October 16th, 1918, during the Battle of Montfaucon, PFC Burgess was killed. He was buried in the Meuse-Argonne American Cemetery. 

 

 

Honoring - John W. Ziegler, U.S. Army Air Corps 

 

John W. Ziegler

Age: 25

World War II

U.S. Army Air Corps

1st Lieutenant

 

Born on November 12, 1918. After living in West New York for a period of time, the family moved to Teaneck. John, who was referred to as Warren or “Zieg”, attended Teaneck High School (Class of 1937). He was described as being dapper and debonair. He was also recognized as being the best dressed male, best male dancer and most versatile. Zieg enjoyed bowling in his spare time. Prior to enlisting in the Army Air Corps in May of 1942, John worked for the Eclipse Aviation Corp. in Teterboro, NJ. Sometime during the early 1940s, he became the husband of Shirley Ziegler. While serving in the Air Corps, Lt. Ziegler completed 18 missions. He piloted a B-17 Flying Fortress Bomber and was awarded an Air Medal and Oak Leaf Cluster. On 5/27/44 the valiant Lt. Ziegler was killed in combat when his bomber collided with another plane south of Dieppe, France. He was buried in Grove Cemetery which is located in a small town in Albany County New York called Coeymans.

 

 Honoring - Warren Sheets, U.S. Marines

 

Warren Sheets

Age: 21

World War II

U.S. Marines

Private First Class

 

Born on November 23, 1922. Warren was born in Weehawken New Jersey to Helene and Harold Sheets. He attended and was a graduate of Teaneck High School (Class of 1940). Warren was a pitcher on the High School baseball team and played on the basketball team. He was employed by the Bankers Trust Company of New York City prior to his enlistment in September 1942. Private Sheets served in Company H, Second Battalion, 22nd Marine Regiment as a machine gunner. His father was a machine gunner in World War I. He was killed in action in a battle at Eniwetok in the South Pacific on 2/19/44 and was awarded the Purple Heart Medal. This courageous soldier is buried in Hackensack Cemetery, Hackensack, New Jersey.

 

 Honoring - Donald H. Becker, U.S. Navy 

 

Donald H. Becker

Age: 23

Korean War

U.S. Navy

Aviation Cadet

 

Born on May 2, 1929. Donald attended Teaneck High School (Class of 1947). He is recalled by old school friends as being tall, quiet and friendly. He was a popular young man known for his attractive smile. In the Teaneck High School Yearbook (1947) he is described as “Big Don”, who has curly brown hair and a friendly smile. He admires girls with personality and a sense of humor. He is further described as being well known and well liked. He planned on going to college and becoming a successful draftsman. On 10/23/50 Donald enlisted in the United States Navy. When he was 24 years old, this Navy air cadet was only weeks away from completing flight training prior to heading off to fight in the Korean War. On 2/2/53 Navy Air Cadet Becker’s plane collided with another near Corpus Christi Air Field in Texas. 

This brave Navy Aviation Cadet is buried in Hackensack Cemetery in Hackensack, NJ.

 

Honoring - Gregory Alton Watson, U.S. Navy 

 

Gregory Alton Watson

Age: 20

Vietnam Conflict

U.S. Navy

Yaoman, Third Class

 

Born on December 13, 1946. Gregory graduated from Teaneck High School in 1964. He was described in his High School Yearbook as being an unselfish and understanding person. He was interested in sports, music and in humanity in general. He planned on majoring in psychology in college. Gregory was a member of the High School Track Team. He joined the Navy in 1966 and attained the rank of Yeoman 3rd Class. On 11/3/67, while serving on the aircraft carrier, USS Coral Sea, during his second tour of Vietnam, Yeoman Watson died of cardiac arrest following emergency surgery. This valiant Yeoman was awarded the National Defense Service Medal and the Vietnam Campaign Medal. He is buried at George Washington Memorial Park in Paramus, NJ.

 

 Honoring - Michael K. Pleasants, U.S. Navy 

 

Michael K. Pleasants

Age: 27

Peacetime

U.S. Navy

Petty Officer, Second Class

 

Born on December 31, 1993. Michael was member of the 2012 Teaneck High School graduating class. While at Teaneck High School, he was a member of the BYO, Track and Wrestling teams and the Teaneck Terpsichoreans. He received an academic scholarship to Hampton University in Virginia. Michael volunteered for several years alongside Mayor Lizette Parker on the Teaneck Youth Advisory Board. In 2015 he enlisted in the United States Navy. He was twice selected as Navy Sailor of the Quarter and distinguished as Navy Sailor of the Year. He was decorated with many medals and commendations. During his active military service he earned two college degrees graduating with an A.S. degree from Bergen Community College and a B.S. degree from Pennsylvania State University. Michael was involved in a wide array of entrepreneurial endeavors that included business and finance. In May 2021, Yeoman Second Class Petty Officer Pleasants died in a vehicle accident in San Diego, California. This outstanding sailor was posthumously awarded the Navy / Marine Corps Commendation Medal for his meritorious service. Second Class Petty Officer Michael K. Pleasants is buried in George Washington Memorial Park, Paramus, NJ.

 

WE ARE GRATEFUL FOR THEIR SERVICE

AND HONOR THEIR MEMORY

The Regular Weekly Edition of Voices Will be Published Monday May 29

ANNOUNCEMENTS

T Creek Conservancy Reopening Events registration process

Reservations recommended

via email tix@puffinfoundation.org  or by phone 201-836-3499.

Include your last name, name of the event, # of seats, phone #, and email address for confirmation.

Contacting Teaneck Voices


By Email: teaneckvoices@gmail.com

By Phone: 201-214-4937

By USPS Mail: Teaneck Voices, PO Box 873. at 1673 Palisade Ave. 07666

Teaneck Voices' Website is www.teaneckvoices.com


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