Curran Honors Veterans from Lynbrook and East Rockaway with Special Ceremony

Assemblyman Brian Curran (Lynbrook-21st AD) recently recognized and honored 15 local veterans at his annual Veterans’ Hall of Honor event at the St. Mary’s/Maris Stella Council #2228 Knights of Columbus in Lynbrook.

This year’s honorees from Lynbrook are Francisco Arias, Albert Krapf, Michael Mattera and Warren Toellner; and Richard Bilello and Stephen Owen from East Rockaway. Family members and friends were invited to celebrate. Thanking the veterans for their service and patriotism to their country and community, Curran presented each with an official New York State Assembly Proclamation.

“This is always a special event that gives our community the opportunity to celebrate and honor our brave men and women, like Francisco, Albert, Michael, Warren, Richard and Stephen, who sacrificed so much to ensure our freedoms and way of life,” said Curran. “With Veterans Day nearly upon us, it is important to take the time to recognize and thank our veterans every day. We owe everything we enjoy today to those who are called to serve, and each of our veterans deserves our gratitude and respect. This recognition is but a small token of appreciation for everything they have achieved for this great nation and its citizens.”

Born in El Salvador as an only child and raised by his mother, Francisco E. Arias became a legal U.S. resident, moving to Lynbrook in 1964. After graduating from Lynbrook High School, Francisco was drafted on May 14, 1970 and received his basic training at Fort Dix, later learning light weapons infantry at Fort Polk, and was ordered to Vietnam before being sent to South Korea.Francisco served overseas for 14 months and four days, earning the rank of E5-SP 5 Sergeant Infantry before being honorably discharged on May 13, 1976 with six years of service to this nation. After returning from service, Francisco worked for Nassau County as a recreational therapist before being employed by LILCO (National Grid), retiring in 2011, and married his wife Lucy in 1978, together raising their daughter Andrea.

Albert L. Krapf, Sr. was born on Sept. 11, 1924 and has spent most of his life in Lynbrook. Drafted into the U.S. Army Air Force in March 1943, Al went to basic training in Miami Beach, Fla. – the largest basic training center of the Army Air Force during World War II – and then was sent to Lowry Air Force Base in Denver, Col. and finally Gunnery School in Las Vegas, Nev. Al and his crew first flew to Brazil, where they adopted a monkey as a pet and crew mascot. He then went to Africa and finally to Italy as a member of the 15th Air Force 484th Bomber Group, bombing German manufacturing sites and factories that produced and stored war materials. Al has not forgotten a particularly dangerous mission when they discovered a 500 pound bomb that could not be dislodged from the plane’s bomb bay, so they opted to disarm the bomb instead of parachuting out, and were ultimately successful and able to land the plane safely.Al flew 52 sorties with his crew, with the navigator and tail gunner both lost to injuries, before he was honorably discharged in September 1945. Al has been married to his wife, Gloria, for 72 years and together they have two children, six grandchildren and five great grandchildren.

Michael Mattera served as a Spec. Fourth Class of the U.S. Army 4th Infantry Division in Vietnam from 1967-1968. Stationed in Pleiku, Central Highlands, Michael contracted malaria 11 times and was wounded by enemy fire. As a result of his injuries Michael was awarded the Purple Heart as well as other meritorious awards, including the Combat Infantry Badge, the Air Medal, the Army Commendation medal with oak leaf cluster, Army good conduct medal, the National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal with four bronze stars, Vietnam Campaign Medal and the Army Presidential Unit Citation, among others. After returning from service, Michael served as a postal worker in Lynbrook, retiring after 30 years, and married his wife of 44 years, Jojo. Together they raised children Jennifer and Michael and are grandparents of Maggie, Quinlan, Donovan and Owen.

Stationed aboard the U.S.S. North Carolina from April 1941 to May 1947, Warren Toellner spent World War II stationed in the South Pacific. As the first American battleship commissioned in two decades, the North Carolina gained notoriety for shipbuilding technology, making it one of the first to receive radar. The only battleship in the naval force in the South Pacific, the North Carolina joined the fight against the Japanese, landing U.S. Marines on the islands of Guadalcanal and Tulagi in August 1942, initiating the battle for Guadalcanal. Participating in the battle of the Eastern Solomons, the North Carolina was fired upon by Japanese dive and torpedo bombers. During 8 minutes of action, the ship shot down between 7-14 enemy aircraft, jarring the detonations of 7 near misses, and fired 841 5-inch shells, 1037 rounds of 1.1-inch ammunition, 7425 rounds of 20-mm shells and 8641 rounds of .50 caliber machine gun bullets, resulting in the loss of 100 Japanese aircraft and the U.S. Navy claiming victory. One sailor was killed during the attack, but Toellner was among the survivors and witnesses to the battle, eventually leaving the military to live a long and happy life with his wife of 43 years, Elsa, working for the New York Police Department for 32 years.

A lifelong Long Islander, Rich Bilello graduated from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, where he served as a Cadet Commander, as well as the U.S. Army’s Defense Language Institute, Airborne and Nuclear Weapons Training Schools. Rich served both domestically and internationally on active duty and in the reserves, reaching the rank of CPT. In addition to his military service; Rich earned his MBA from NYU’s Stern School of Business and spent 20 years in the healthcare field, leading several corporate restructuring efforts for U.S. and global businesses and organizations. Rich and his wife Holly settled in East Rockaway because it had the “hometown” feel they desired and raised two children together, Austin and Olivia. Rich is a member of the East Rockaway American Legion, helping high school students participate in the legion’s oratory contest, he volunteers for the Lynbrook Little League and Lynbrook Cyclones, served on the East Rockaway Zoning Board and Library Board, and is currently a village trustee.

One of eight children, Stephen Owen was born and raised in East Rockaway, graduated from East Rockaway High School and shortly after was drafted into the U.S. Army. Stephen was sent to Fort Jackson for ten weeks of basic training, and was shipped to Fort Bliss for advanced training. Stephen was deployed to Vietnam, setting up base camp in Phuba and joining the 3rd Marine Division, running operations from Da Nang to the D.M.Z. Six months later, he was transferred to the First Cav Air Mobile based in Natrang, South Vietnam to work on helicopters. After finishing his tour, Stephen started his own auto towing company, which has been in operation for 30 years, and also became a member of the Oceanside Fire Department. Stephen is married to his wife of 25 years, Kathy, and is father to Stephen and Michele and has two grandsons.

Photos: Assemblyman Brian Curran's Office