By Mary Malloy
He was assigned to Ft. Dix for training, and then to Korea as a sergeant for nine, long months.
He was in active combat, in a specialized mortar outfit, dropping the "big shells" into the guns. "It was like World War II, we were in sandbags on the front line," said McCarthy. "It was mountainous, and 40 degrees below zero in the winter and tropical in the summer. I was a cook there."
McCarthy met and married Betty, and they had two children: Michael and Lauren. The McCarthys have been married for 49 years. Living in Lynbrook since 1959, he worked for LILCO, and now sells heating and air conditioning.
In command
McCarthy has been the Commander of the VFW Post #3350 in East Rockaway for the last eight years - and a member for twelve.
As Commander, he has revived the whole post, said Bill Torpey. "He drew the membership from six to 141 members," he said. "It is amazing, because some other posts are losing members. This is the hottest post around!"
Members of the post do many things. They alternate running the Memorial Day parade with the American Legion Post, and host many community affairs. They give scholarships to students from St. Raymonds, St. James, the high school, and to Eagles Scouts. They make contributions to the East Rockaway Fire Department and to Winthrop Hospital pediatric ward. They bring medical supplies to veterans who are hospitalized, and collect and distributed needed items to soldiers fighting overseas.
Returning vets
McCarthy and other members of the post want to make it more comfortable for veterans returning home. "They are not treated the right way," he said. One reason membership is down, he said, is because they cannot afford to live on Long Island.
"They should get a break on their taxes and be compensated when they come back," said Pat Iuliucci, Nassau County VFW Commander. "They should be getting the benefits that they are entitled to."
Iuliucci explained that benefits are based on income, and if they make too much money, they can't get the services. "We are talking with about six who just came back from the war, and they are not happy campers."
One of the returning soldiers said, that "they drop you off and say 'goodbye.'" Whether you like it or not, they are defending their country, they are in harms way," said Iuliucci. "They need to be treated better."
No vet should be denied medical care, said McCarthy, but they need to be pro-active about it. "They need to register when they come home from active duty" he said.
McCarthy wonders why the government can't just register them automatically. But until then, they need to utilize the services that are available to them.
"There is so much red tape," said Torpey. "The government makes it so difficult for them. They have to update their information every six months, just in case your income changes."
Iuliucci said that he attended a commander's meeting in Orlando, Fla. in August, and those attending wanted to knock out the "means test." Anyone wounded in action would receive full benefits. " Some of us have our own insurance, so we use that.
McCarthy said that the VFW does try to help newly-arrived military personnel to use the services that are provided for them.
"They need to do their part," he said. "No one will knock on their door."
His advice? "The minute when they are finished with active duty, get right down to the Veteran's Administration and to the vet center. They will not do it for you.
People should get more involved," said McCarthy. "Come to a meeting - if people get more involved and come to meeting, here, or at the village, with another group - they will not know what is going on."
Torpey pointed out that sometimes if a soldier is going back to active duty, they can't put a claim in just yet. "It could interfere with their military status," he said. "Some of the guardsman want their retirement pay."
If they join the post, McCarthy said, they will get help and advice that they need.
"It's like my second home here," he said. Being a veteran and doing something for your country gives rewards like I cannot describe."
Anyone interested in finding out more about the VFW Post #3350 can call them at (516) 887 8170 , or visit 164 Main St., East Rockaway.
Please see the Herald's "Veteran's Corner" on the Community Update page in this issue.
Comments about this story? MMalloy@liherald.com or (516) 569-4000 ext. 202.
