Stationed in El Paso, Texas from 1957 to 1963 — during the U.S. involvement in Vietnam — U.S. Army Veteran Angelo Manzo of Levittown spent most days working as a radar operator, tracking the skies in case any planes flew in.
In his down time, when there wasn’t much to do, Manzo said he and some of his buddies would go into town or out for a swim.
“I had a good time in El Paso,” Manzo said, remembering how he met a couple of “flyers” with the U.S. Air Force who offered to take him up in their jet.
After Vietnam, in 1977, Manzo reenlisted to the U.S. Army Reserves, where he served in the military police brigade. Manzo worked in communications and took charge of the motor pool when the Reserves traveled to Egypt, Germany and Honduras.
In Germany, Manzo worked with U.S. military and German police to guard the Czech border. He said he very much enjoyed the German people and the bar houses of Stockach, where he was stationed.
Honduras was the only time he was disappointed. There, his battalion lost a young comrade. “It was a terrible country,” he said. “More people should go around and see how people in these poor countries live.”
After the Army Reserves, Manzo became a sanitation worker for New York City. In 1977, he married Louise. The two each had three children, so in 1982, they decided to move to Levittown where the couple — now married 37 years — raised 6 children, 12 grandchildren and 9 great grandchildren. Manzo joined the American Legion Post #1711 eleven years ago after a chance encounter with a fellow
Levittown veteran, Andy Booth. For the past eight years, Manzo has served as the resident historian of the Post and joined in all of the post’s major functions and charitable efforts. The Legion provides veterans with transportation to and from the VA hospital, and to schools to share their experiences and teach flag etiquette. For the Legion’s Thanksgiving Food Drive, Manzo and several other veterans with the Post pitch in to take care of the less fortunate living in Levittown.
“We do a lot for the neighborhood,” he said.
For more about American Legion Post #1711 or its programs, contact post1711@optimum.net or call 516-731-9114.
