Honoring Troy’s Veterans Joseph H. Schongar
Every Sunday through Veteran’s Day, The Record will publish brief profiles of the brave men and women honored by their family and friends with banners hung around Troy through the work of the Troy Military Banner Committee. To honor a veteran, contact the committee by email at troybanners@gmail.com, on Facebook at www.facebook.com/troymilitarybannercommittee or through its website at www.troymilitarybanners.com.
Douglas E. Anderson
Anderson was born May 29, 1920, grew up in Lansingburgh and graduated from Lansingburgh High School. On December 26, 1941, he enlisted in the U.S. Army and rose to the rank of staff sergeant, serving as a radio operator mechanic (gunner) in the Army Air Force in the Pacific theater for 15 months during World War II and participating in several battles and campaigns, including Luzon, New Guinea, the southern Philippines and the western Pacific. Anderson earned the Air Medal for “meritorious achievement in sustained operational combat flights in the Pacific from August 28, 1944, to July 15, 1945.” He also earned the American Service Medal, the Asiatic-Pacific Medal, the Good Conduct Medal and the World War II Victory Medal. He was honorably discharged Dec. 5, 1945 and went on to attend Ithaca College using the GI Bill.
After graduation and additional training as a physical therapist, Anderson returned to the Capital Region and worked until his retirement as chief of the physical medicine and rehabilitation department at Samaritan Hospital in Troy. He died Aug. 10, 1979.
Anderson’s banner can be found at 558 5th Ave. Schongar enlisted in the U.S. Army, along with his twin brother, Alfred, at the age 17 following their two older brothers, Charles and George. The twins were sent to Okinawa, Japan, as part of the first occupational forces, with Joe assigned to run the gas station on the base.
Schongar also became a paratrooper, receiving extra pay for each jump, which he sent home to help support his family. While in Japan, Schongar also learned to ski and was able to visit Sapporo, where the Winter Olympics had been scheduled to be held in 1940 — and were later held in 1972. He used to amuse his kids by teaching them to count to 10 in Japanese. Schongar’s banner can be found at 683 5th Ave.