Once Joe DeSantis closed his television repair shop in Fairview for good in 1995 after 45 years, the lifelong North Bergen resident knew that he needed some positive daily activity.
So he turned to his brothers at the Veterans of Foreign War Pouzenc-Griffin Post 337 in Fairview for some daily inspiration.
“I’m the junior vice-commander there,” said the 77-year-old DeSantis. “I go up to the Post every morning, six days a week, but never on a Sunday. We have a close Post, with a lot of guys there. We have coffee and Danish, play a little cards, pinochle, but never for money. It’s for bragging rights more than anything.”
DeSantis still keeps the memories of being a veteran near and dear, although his experiences as a member of the United States Army in World War II weren’t exactly pleasant.
In December of 1944, while serving with the United States Army’s 106th Division, fighting in the famous “Battle of the Bulge,” DeSantis was captured by German soldiers as a prisoner of war after serving just six days in France.
DeSantis was kept in a German prison camp for five months.
“Although I wasn’t tortured,” DeSantis recalled, “we weren’t treated too nice either. All we did was walk up and down the yard. I must have walked about 500 miles during those five months. We were fed once a day, but it didn’t help me, because I weighed 172 pounds when I got there.”
Five months later, DeSantis tipped the scales at just 97 pounds.
While many of the fellow prisoners, mostly British and Canadian soldiers (DeSantis was only one of two American soldiers held hostage), wondered whether they would get home alive, DeSantis said that he always kept the faith.
“I always kept a positive attitude,” DeSantis said. “The American bombers were flying over our heads every day. I was more worried about them than the Germans. But I kept the faith that we would be found. It was all about surviving.”
Back home, the DeSantis family knew nothing of their son’s whereabouts.
“My mother got a telegram around Christmas time that I was missing in action,” DeSantis said. “But she never heard anything about me from that point on.”
In April of 1945, British tanks approached the camp.
“The guard just put his rifle down and that was it,” DeSantis said. “We were liberated. It was such a relief.”
DeSantis then wrote a letter back home to his parents, to tell them that he was safe.
“When I came home, my mother was working at an embroidery shop,” DeSantis said. “She had no idea I was coming home. Her boss told me that I shouldn’t just sneak in to see her, that I should break it to her easy. Within an hour of me being home, there must have been 40 to 50 people at my house.”
Last month, as they celebrated their Loyalty Day, the VFW Post 337 decided to honor DeSantis as their “Man of the Year.” Mayor Nicholas Sacco also honored DeSantis by presenting him with a proclamation from both the town and a resolution from the State Senate.
“It really was a thrilling experience for me,” DeSantis said of the honors. “I was surprised that they were choosing me for the honor. It really is a nice Post with some really nice members. When the mayor came and gave such a great speech, it made me very proud.”
DeSantis’ daughter, Joanne, was on hand for the presentation from the mayor.
“I was glad that my wonderful daughter could be there for me,” DeSantis said. “It really was a great day.”
DeSantis said that he tries to keep in contact with a few of the soldiers he served with.
“Of our original group, there are only two other fellows still alive,” DeSantis said. “I still talk to them on the telephone.”
After reading an article in the North Bergen Reporter about the Veterans Day parade in May, DeSantis said that he reached out to talk to the Grand Marshal of this year’s parade, Tony “Smokey” Fortunato, to reflect on their experiences.
“We spoke for a while,” DeSantis said. “I’d never met him.”
DeSantis said that he doesn’t mind reflecting on his tough times during the war.
“It’s gotten to the stage where I don’t even think about it anymore,” DeSantis said. “It doesn’t even bother me. I’m just happy to be able to get up to the Post and see some of the guys.”
And they’re obviously happy to see him as well.