Free Tax Assistance for Combat Zone/Hazardous Duty Area Veterans

The Illinois CPA Society's CPAs for the Public Interest, in partnership with the Internal Revenue Service, offers the Military Service Tax Preparation Project to provide free personal income tax return filing assistance to members of the US Armed Forces who have recently returned or are still serving on active duty in a combat zone or qualified hazardous duty area. This news item was provided by Niles Reference Librarian, Darlene Fox, who regularly edits the Niles Reference Department's blog Good To Know.

"Hundred Years of Boot Camp" Great Lakes Naval Station

In the Friday, July 1st, issue of the Chicago Tribune writer Robet McCoppin recounts the proud and consequential history of the Naval Station Great Lakes, founded 100 years ago. On page 10 and 11 the reader can view a timeline, and pictures of such famous graduates as Michael Monsoor, the Fighting Sulivan Brothers, Carl Brashear, George Halas, and the Golden Thirteen.

Located about 30 miles north of Chicago on Lake Michigan, the training center has graduated 3.5 million recruits at a current rate of 35,000/year. The performance of sailors from the Midwest during the Spanish-American War is reported to have led military officials to chose a Great Lakes training site for the ocean-going navy.

A helpful timeline accompanied the articles in the newspaper on page 10.

Annual May Remembering Our Veterans Display

The military artifacts on display in the east and west exhibit cases have been loaned for exhibit during May.

The exhibit coordinator is Al Aronson, a World War II Army veteran of the ‘Bloody Bucket” Keystone Division in Europe and a participant in the Veterans History Project* at Niles. The VHP interview transcripts have been posted on the library’s website and are available in the Reference Department for reading.

VHP participants Gus Habighurst* (WWII-CBI), Niels Larsen(Korean War)*, Jerry Levin*(WWII-Pacific), and Matthew Wojtaszek (WWII-Europe)* as well as Mike McNulty (Viet Nam), Ralph Ponfil (Korean War), and Chris Reuscher have all loaned items for this year’s exhibit which for the first time takes up two windows and includes items from the Viet Nam War.

Patch Coverage of Veterans Breakfast

Pam DeFiglio of patch.com for Niles chronicled the annual breakfast in grand fashion with engaging text and well-chosen photographs. Pam also filed a spin-off, separate story, focusing on D-Day paratrooper, Matthew Wojtaszek of Niles.

4th Annual Veterans History Project Breakfast

The breakfast was held in the auditorium of the Niles Public Library District on Wednesday, November 10, 2010. The veterans appearing in the picture are from left to right in the first row: Sam Schechter, Paul Schneller, Irv Blaszynski, Gus Habighurst, Martha Shipp, Bill Shipp, Judith Carlson (for Norman Berkman). In the second row from left to right are: Robert Morris, Mike Kozyra, Walter Tymczuk, Max Kolpas, Matthew Wojtaszek, Irving Abramson, Jack Weinberg, Dick Vana, Donald Spitzer, and Al Aronson. In the third row are from left to right, Robert Barsky, Martha Barsky, Charles Matz, Harry Webber, Kenneth Radnitzer, Matthew Potoczek, Russell Zapel, Michael Czapar, Chuck Jacobs, Jerry Levin and Tim Vana. Eugene Kopacz also attended the breakfast. The picture was taken by Sasha Vasilic, the Publicity and Graphic Design Coordinator of the Niles Library. The delicious breakfast was donated by George Alpogianis of Kappy's Restaurant in Morton Grove. Library Director, Linda Weiss, welcomed the veterans, their guests and community members. Chris Hanusiak, the President of the Friends and a veteran, followed Mrs. Weiss to the lectern and announced a contribution to the Honor Flight Program in the name of the veterans. November 10 is the birthday of the Marine Corps and the day on which Gus Habighurst was captured by Japanese in World War II.

Chance meeting of WWII 82nd Airborne Paratroopers

is described in today's New York Times on p A13, in the article entitled “World War II Memories and an Instant Connection, Chance Meeting of Two D-Day Glider Pilots ." It recounts the recent meeting in an hospital surgery of Benjamin Klein and Victor Allegretti .

Niles's Matthew Wojtaszek also served in the 82nd Airborne and is a participant in the Veterans History Project through the library. His transcript can be read and heard via the library's website at http://www.nileslibrary.org/vhp/.

Remembering Okinawa, 65 Years Later 5th clip

Veterans History Project Matthew F. Wojtaszek

Mr. Wojtaszek's interview can be read, listened to, and searched at http://www.nileslibrary.org/world-war-ii-europe

Veteran's History Project Interview Mr. Chester F. Rogala

TRACES Bus-eum Visits Niles Public Library

Touring the Midwest, the expert driver and guide Irving Kellman piloted the traveling 40' museum bus from St. Paul to its 3 hour stop at the Niles Public Library on Sunday afternoon March 16th. The visit was scheduled as a Veterans History Project event to increase awareness of the the valuable collection of service memoirs.

Veterans History Project Breakfast

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Originally uploaded by Niles Public Library District

Mr. Cary Czarnecki, Niles Library Administrator, introduces the History Singers, Kathryn and John Atwood. They entertained the audience with songs from World War I and II and conducted a sing-a-long.

More photos of the November 7th morning event at the Niles Public Library can be viewed at this photo sharing site.

Veterans History Project Breakfast Welcome Banner

Thomas F. Hill

Battle of the Bulge and the 106th Division Background

Albert Dominick

Donald L. Lewan

Norman Karel

Mike Kozyra

Edward Hawker

John DeCecco

Tom Davidson