Oral History

Oral history is talking history, it is the recording of people's memory. Our oral history project is intended to bring history to life as Bayonne residents narrate their experiences on war, culture and heritage. The first phase of our oral history collection is the Veterans' History Project and the second contains the reminiscence of Bayonne residents as they walk down memory lane.

This collection contains a wealth of information and we are pleased to offer these to our community.

Veterans' History Project

There are 19 million war veterans now living in the United States, but everyday we lose about 1,500 of them. The United States Congress created the Veterans History Project , and was signed into law by President Clinton on October 27, 2000. VHP is designated to collect first-hand-accounts of U.S. veterans and to preserve their unique experience for future generations.

Here are personal narratives of some of the War Veterans of Bayonne; the tapes are arranged in alphabetical order by last name.

A prior appointment is necessary to hear these compelling accounts of war.

The interviews took place in the Archives of the Bayonne Free Public Library.

Antinoro, Stephen War: WWII Branch: Army Service Location: Germany Highest Rank: Private First Class
Ballwec, Owen E. War: Korean Branch: Service Location: Highest Rank:
Barulli, Larry War: Korean Branch: Service Location: Highest Rank:
Bednarski, Henry War: WWII Branch: Army 117th Cavalry Service Location: European Theater Highest Rank: Sergeant
Benedetto, Eugene War: Korean Branch: Marine Corps Service Location: Korea Highest Rank: Lance Corporal
Berens, Gerald War: WWII Branch: Army Service Location: Central Pacific Theater Highest Rank: Private First Class
Brelinsky, Michael War: WWII Branch: Service Location: Highest Rank:
Mayor Dennis P. Collins War: WWII Branch: Service Location: Pacific Theater Highest Rank:
Cook, Vincent War: WWII Branch: Army Service Location: European Theater Highest Rank: T-5
DeFrank, Joseph War: Vietnam Branch: Service Location: Highest Rank:
Ege, Frederic S. War: WWII Branch: Medical Service Corp. AUS Service Location: SW Pacific Theater Highest Rank: Lieutenant Colonel
Ferrante, Serafino War: WWII Branch: Army Service Location: France & Germany Highest Rank: Private first Class
Gironda, Vito War: WWII Branch: Service Location: Highest Rank:
Glowacki, Alfred War: WWII Branch: Service Location: Highest Rank:
Goldman, Edward War: WWII Branch: Army-Medical Corps Service Location: Belgium & Germany Highest Rank: T-5
Harris, Henry War: WWII Branch: Navy Service Location: European Theater Highest Rank: MOMM. First Class
Hennessey, James War: WWII Branch: Army Service Location: European Theater Highest Rank: Private First Class
Herbert, Edwin War: Korean Branch: Service Location: Highest Rank:
Kowalczyk, Edward War: Korean Branch: Air Force Service Location: Korea Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
Lazarov, Harry War: Korean Branch: Army Service Location: Korea Highest Rank: Sergeant First Class
Ormsby, John War: Korean Branch: Service Location: Highest Rank:
Newman, Irving War: WWII Branch: Service Location: Highest Rank:
Pipolo, Joseph War: WWII Branch: Navy Service Location: Africa & Europe Highest Rank: Seaman First Class
Powers, Edward F War: WWII Branch: Navy Location: Highest Rank: Fireman Second Class
Rooney, John War: Vietnam Branch: Service Location: Highest Rank:
Rossnick, Gerald H. War: WWII Branch: Air Force Service Location: Highest Rank: Private First Class
Ryan, Francis War: WWII Branch: Air Force Service Location: India, Burma and Tinian Island Highest Rank: Sergeant
Sanchez, Henry War: WWII Branch: Navy Service Location: European and Pacific Theater Highest Rank: Seaman first Class
Schimel, Beatrice War: WWII Branch: Service Location: Fort Jackson, South Carolina Highest Rank: Corporal
Shumann, Gerald War: Korean Branch: Service Location: Okinawa, Japan Highest Rank:
Silvocka, Frank War: WWII Branch: Service Location: Highest Rank:
Sullivan, Ralph War: WWII Branch: Army Air Corps Service Location: European Theater Highest Rank: Private First Class
Yoffredo, Gil War: Korean Branch: Army Service Location: Korea Highest Rank:
Zare, George War: WWII Branch: Army/Air force Service Location: Europe Highest Rank: Private First Class