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Wilkes-Barre man’s death ruled homicide

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Analysis: Clemson, ‘Bama, Ohio St and … Washington to CFP

<p>PLAINS TWP. &#8212; The pace has slowed for William Cordy from when he was a young soldier with the 1st Infantry Division in World War II.</p><p>The 99-year-old Avoca native shared a few war stories Thursday between bites during a picnic at the Polish American Veterans club.</p><p>For the past four years the club has feted and fed veterans, many who came by bus from the Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center for the afternoon outing. A crowd of approximately 80 vets, their family members and VA staff attended.</p><p>Cordy, who lives at Wesley Village in Jenkins Township, enjoyed his first picnic and sat with others under the pavilion at the club grounds.</p><p>&#8220;I was too busy to think about anything,&#8221; Cordy said of his initiation into the war while still in his teens. &#8220;We were in everything that went on over there.&#8221;</p><p>From North Africa Cordy crossed the Mediterranean Sea to Sicily and on to England. &#8220;We were supposed to be in reserve,&#8221; Cordy said, but the division played a critical role in the D-Day invasion of June 6, 1944.</p><p>The blood of troops injured and killed trying to make it to Normandy Beach colored the water red, Cordy recalled. On the European continent he fought in the Battle of the Bulge and the Battle of Hurtgen Forest.</p><p>&#8220;I was one of the youngest in the beginning when I joined,&#8221; Cordy said. &#8220;I was one of the oldest when I came out.&#8221;</p><p>Cordy worked as a truck driver after the war. He met and married his wife Nance, who also served in the Navy with WAVES. She passed away in 2010.</p><p>The Army gave 96-year-old John Wrazien the opportunity to travel. He had no choice as an infantryman in WWII.</p><p>&#8220;I think I was in 17 countries,&#8221; said Wrazien. The Dupont native&#8217;s trip was a short one to the picnic from the VA Medical Center.</p><p>So was Charlie Anistranski&#8217;s. He wore a red beret with an Airborne pin front and center and listened as the Sounds Abound barbershop quartet serenaded the picnickers.</p><p>&#8220;I was in the Army 22 years,&#8221; said Anistranski, 93, who grew up in the Heights neighborhood of Wilkes-Barre. During his career he made more than 300 jumps, almost half of them at night.</p><p>&#8220;Never broke a finger,&#8221; Anistranski boasted, holding up his right hand. &#8220;Know why? Dummies don&#8217;t get hurt,&#8221; the retired colonel said with a smile.</p><p>At 77, Sam Booker was a youngster compared to some of the others. The Marine veteran from Oklahoma City has been receiving treatment at the VA Medical Center far from home, but close to his daughter who lives in the Stroudsburg area.</p><p>Booker didn&#8217;t see combat like some of the other veterans. His duty was stateside and he appreciated the opportunity the Marines gave to a high school dropout. &#8220;I was fortunate through the GI Bill to get a degree in business administration,&#8221; Booker said.</p><p>His good fortune continues with his anticipated release next month from the VA to return to his house and home in Oklahoma City, Booker said.</p><p>It&#8217;s a pleasure to host Booker and the others at the PAV, said post commander Sam Austin, a Navy veteran.</p><p>&#8220;The reason we do this is we&#8217;re just giving back,&#8221; Austin said.</p><p>The club presented a $5,000 check to the VA for the vets.</p><style>
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<div class="neCaption">Guests at the annual veterans picnic at the Polish American Veterans club in Plains Township Thursday afternoon applaud after the barber shop quartet Sounds Abound performed &#8216;God Bless America.&#8217; </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/web1_TTL082319vets2-1.jpg</photo0><caption0>Guests at the annual veterans picnic at the Polish American Veterans club in Plains Township Thursday afternoon applaud after the barber shop quartet Sounds Abound performed &#8216;God Bless America.&#8217; </caption0><photoCredit0>Aimee Dilger | Times Leader </photoCredit0></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/web1_TTL082319vets4-1.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Veterans at the annual picnic held by the Polish American Veterans club in Plains Township listen to a barbershop quartet Thursday afternoon. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo1>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/web1_TTL082319vets4-1.jpg</photo1><caption1>Veterans at the annual picnic held by the Polish American Veterans club in Plains Township listen to a barbershop quartet Thursday afternoon. </caption1><photoCredit1>Aimee Dilger | Times Leader </photoCredit1></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/web1_TTL082319vets3-1.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">WW II Army veteran John Wrazien 96, talks with friends at the annual picnic at the Polish American Veterans club Thursday afternoon in Plains Township.  </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo2>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/web1_TTL082319vets3-1.jpg</photo2><caption2>WW II Army veteran John Wrazien 96, talks with friends at the annual picnic at the Polish American Veterans club Thursday afternoon in Plains Township.  </caption2><photoCredit2>Aimee Dilger | Times Leader </photoCredit2></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/web1_TTL082319vets1-1.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Retired Col. Charlie Anistranski 93, enjoys the food and camaraderie at the Polish American Veteran club&#8217;s annual veterans picnic Thursday afternoon in Plains Township. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo3>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/web1_TTL082319vets1-1.jpg</photo3><caption3>Retired Col. Charlie Anistranski 93, enjoys the food and camaraderie at the Polish American Veteran club&#8217;s annual veterans picnic Thursday afternoon in Plains Township. </caption3><photoCredit3>Aimee Dilger | Times Leader </photoCredit3></div></div>
<div class="metaInfo"><subheadMeta>PAV fetes and feeds vets at annual picnic</subheadMeta></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>