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<p>PLAINS TWP. &#8212; If the five-star license plate on the Cadillac isn&#8217;t enough proof Frank Nastawa traveled in high company during World War II, the general standing a few feet away from him in the photo surely is.</p><p>Nastawa recalled he was 25 when the photo was taken towards the end of the war at an airfield in Florence, Italy, where he was assigned as a driver for Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower, then the supreme commander for the allied forces in Europe. Serving with the 12th Air Force at the time, Nastawa, whose official title was &#8220;chauffeur,&#8221; had been with Eisenhower from the North Africa campaign through the invasion of the European mainland.</p><p>&#8220;I had it made,&#8221; Nastawa said.</p><p>Nastawa said he didn&#8217;t see combat but instead the aftermath and the results of the decisions Eisenhower made as allied commander. &#8220;(Eisenhower) wanted to see the damage done with the bombing,&#8221; Nastawa said.</p><p>Nastawa traveled from Toms River, New Jersey with his wife Alice to visit with family in Plains Township on Thursday and attend a picnic at the Polish American Veterans club on Oak Street. The club treated approximately 20 veterans from the Wilkes-Barre VA Medical Center to home-cooked meals and entertainment by the Wyoming Valley Barber Shop Harmony Chorus, and presented them a $1,000 check for their activities fund.</p><p>Sam Austin, commander of the PAV, said the money was raised from an annual golf tournament and the club has given the veterans approximately $4,000 over the past four years.</p><p>&#8220;We get them down here. We take care of them,&#8221; said Austin, 73, a U.S. Navy veteran.</p><p>&#8220;It&#8217;s a day out for these guys,&#8221; added PAV treasurer John Magda.</p><p>U.S. Army veteran George Sisko enjoyed another helping of beans as volunteer Angelo Croop of Hanover Township sat nearby. Sisko, of Wilkes-Barre Township, said he appreciated the effort of the PAV and marveled at the covered picnic area with tables, kitchen and concrete floor.</p><p>&#8220;It&#8217;s a beautiful place,&#8221; Sisko said.</p><p>At 95, Nastawa walks with the aid of a cane and lives at home with his wife, said his son Dennis Nastawa, 68, of Fort Lauderdale, Florida. The couple celebrated their 69th wedding anniversary this year. Dennis, who lived in Plains Township, said his dad drove a tractor-trailer after leaving the service and revered Eisenhower.</p><p>&#8220;My father thought he was the greatest guy,&#8221; the son said.</p><p>Shawn Nastawa, 40, of Plains Township has heard the story about the time his grandfather and other soldiers were swimming in a pool when Eisenhower strode onto the deck. The soldiers scrambled to get out, but Eisenhower didn&#8217;t want them to make a fuss over him and told them to &#8220;get back&#8221; into the water, the grandson said.</p><p>Frank Nastawa&#8217;s family, however, dotes on him and three generations &#8212; son, grandson and great-grandson, Shawn Jr. &#8212; accompanied him to the picnic, showing off the photo and medals earned for his service.</p><style>
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<div class="neCaption">Angela Croop, 16, a volunteer at the Wilkes-Barre VA Medical Center, joined U.S. Army veteran Harold Henry Brunn and others at a picnic the Polish American Veterans held Thursday in Plains Township. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/web1_TTL080516PAVPicnic1.jpg</photo0><caption0>Angela Croop, 16, a volunteer at the Wilkes-Barre VA Medical Center, joined U.S. Army veteran Harold Henry Brunn and others at a picnic the Polish American Veterans held Thursday in Plains Township. </caption0><photoCredit0>Aimee Dilger | Times Leader </photoCredit0></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/web1_TTL080516PAVPicnic2.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Frank Nastawa, seated, has told his grandson Shawn Nastawa, about his service in World War II as a chauffeur for Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower and the veteran showed off a photo Thursday at a picnic put on by the Polish American Veterans in Plains Township. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo1>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/web1_TTL080516PAVPicnic2.jpg</photo1><caption1>Frank Nastawa, seated, has told his grandson Shawn Nastawa, about his service in World War II as a chauffeur for Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower and the veteran showed off a photo Thursday at a picnic put on by the Polish American Veterans in Plains Township. </caption1><photoCredit1>Aimee Dilger | Times Leader </photoCredit1></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/web1_TTL080516PAVPicnic3.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">At 95, Frank Nastawa still remembers where and when the photo of him, far left at the rear of a car, was taken as he waited to drive Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower, fourth from the left, at an airfield in Florence, Italy near the end of WW II. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo2>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/web1_TTL080516PAVPicnic3.jpg</photo2><caption2>At 95, Frank Nastawa still remembers where and when the photo of him, far left at the rear of a car, was taken as he waited to drive Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower, fourth from the left, at an airfield in Florence, Italy near the end of WW II. </caption2><photoCredit2>Aimee Dilger | Times Leader </photoCredit2></div></div>
<div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By Jerry Lynott</p><p>jlynott@www.timesleader.com</p></bylineMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><shirttailMeta><p>Reach Jerry Lynott at 570-991-6120 or on Twitter @TLJerryLynott</p></shirttailMeta></div>

Veterans serve up food and fun in thanks to those who served