Wayne Francis Gonnella

U.S. Army •May 1944- April 1945 •World War II
PFC

Their Story

My father served his country and was wounded in Luzon Philippines. In an ambush for the truck they were riding in he was shot and severely wounded. As a result he limped his entire adult life. Half his kneecap was gone, a burst up his thigh and across his back. The other soldiers returned fire and my dad was lifted to a ship hospital. Our entire lives he lived by example. He never complained about his pain or disability, it didn't define him. He was a great man and stood proud.

“I am 1 of 10 children. Our family always took summer vacations. Usually camping in a big 10 man tent. We all had our own air mattresses and I think Dad got them from army surplus because they all had built in bellows you had to pump up with your foot. We camped in out of the way campgrounds and state forests for a week of ruffing it. No TV no phones , just swimming, fishing and shenanigans in the tent at night. Several rounds of a muppet song, s'mores and fires, and uno games by lantern light”

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