The Times Herald (Norristown, PA)
WORLD WAR II VETERAN GETS TRIBUTE HE DESERVES
Walter LaSota Jr.’s six great-grandchildren waved American flags as the Marine Corps Hymn played from a cellphone through a portable speaker.
They had come to the Muhlenberg Township municipal building to honor their dziadek (Polish for grandfather) for his service in World War II and its aftermath, service that until recently LaSota, 95, rarely spoke about. He served from May 1, 1944, to April 19, 1946.
The children made cards and posters to honor his service. They also wore T-shirts that said: “We love our Marine. He is our Dziadek.”
LaSota of Reading had come to the township building on Saturday expecting a celebration for his son Walter S., who has been a Muhlenberg planning commission member for 40 years. Instead, the elder LaSota was greeted by nearly two dozen family members along with presentations from Monsignor Edward Domin and Sgt Maj. Rocco DeCamillo honoring his military service.
LaSota’s son said his four children had long recognized and appreciated their father for his mentorship, assistance, and guidance when they celebrated his birthday, on Father’s Day and at Christmas. But as they got older they had never formally recognized the sacrifices he had made. That’s why the held the gathering on Saturday.
Domin prayed for blessings and thanked LaSota for his service to his family and country. Domin is pastor of LaSota’s church, St. Mary’s Roman Catholic Church in Reading, and St. Catharine of Siena in Exeter Township. He noted that LaSota was wearing the same hat he wears to church every Sunday. The baseball style cap says “6th Marine Division, WWII.”
DeCamillo, a Marine Corps reservist and Exeter police officer, spoke about the battle of Okinawa, which was the largest amphibious assault in the Pacific Theater of World War II. It would take three months for the U.S. to control the Japanese island. At the end of the battle 7,373 Marines, sailors and soldiers had lost their lives. About 32,000 were wounded.
LaSota fought in the battle of Sugar Loaf Hill, which has been called one of the toughest fights of the bloodiest battles fought in the Pacific Theater. The 1st and 6th Marine Divisions fought for the hill. LaSota received two Purple Hearts. One was for shrapnel injuries to his back and legs and the second for a bullet wound to his forearm. He served in the 6th Marine Division, which was disbanded at the end of the battle due to the number of causalities, according to his son Walter. He served in the 22nd Marine regiment.
After his first injury he spent about 10 days in the hospital and then returned to the battle.
“The fact that you stayed in the battle after you were wounded the first time, stuck around long enough to be wounded a second time, that says a lot about your service and sacrifice,”
DeCamillo said.
DeCamillo asked LaSota if he knew that his unit was recognized with an official presidential citation in 1948. LaSota did not. DeCamillo read that citation.