Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, November 9, 1995 TAG: 9511090020
SECTION: NEIGHBORS PAGE: E-4 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: ELLEN DAVIES SPECIAL TO THE ROANOKE TIMES
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
A former member of the 82nd Airborne Division, Grimando spent more than a fourth of his four years of military service assigned to a glider outfit in Europe.
And, although 50 years have passed since the end of World War II, Grimando says memories of the war have not dissipated. He and the other airborne veterans are linked by experiences through the Roanoke Valley All Airborne Chapter of the 82nd Airborne Division Association.
"Our uniqueness is a difficult thing to describe, because paratroopers are a different breed of military people," says Grimando.
The 50 members of the Roanoke Valley chapter, which was organized in 1991, are engaged in a membership campaign to attract any airborne veterans from World War II through Desert Storm.
"I have a list of about 90 people in this area who were airborne veterans," that the association is trying to recruit, says Grimando, a charter member of the Roanoke chapter.
Nationally, the association was established during World World II as the division was preparing for the Normandy combat drop. At that time, the association's focus was to help maintain bonds of friendship that were formed during the war.
Today, while membership has expanded to include veterans of any airborne division, the original goals of the association remain, says Grimando.
"Comradeship and brotherhood," says Grimando. "Those are the two key words in describing the 82nd Airborne Association."
"Airmen check each other's equipment and make sure everything is all right before the jump," says Grimando. "The bond that is created among these men is just so outstanding that you don't find this type of comradeship in many other military outfits."
Grimando, who moved to Roanoke from New York after retiring from a company that did defense jobs, says the organization has given him an outlet to speak about his wartime experiences.
Grimando enlisted in 1941 so he could complete his year of compulsory military service before getting married. His Army time was extended after the bombing of Pearl Harbor.
"I accepted the extension," says Grimando, who got married in 1942. "After Pearl Harbor it was fight, fight, fight all the way."
Grimando says he doesn't have fond memories of the war, only the unique situations and times of bravery and stress that united the men.
"The war was not enjoyable when I was in it," says Grimando. "But, I am a different type of fellow because of it."
"When I was approached in 1945 about joining the association, I thought it was a nice idea so that we all wouldn't lose touch with each other."
Ironically, Grimando says, even though he has developed many new friendships with other veterans, he has long since lost contact with his best Army buddy.
After spending two years with his friend George Weber, Grimando says they tore a dollar bill in half in a symbolic promise to reunite stateside.
While Grimando has elicited help from the national association and the Army in his search for Weber, the two men have yet to cross paths again.
Despite this failure, overall, Grimando says his involvement in the organization has been a very positive experience.
"I wouldn't call it a social club," says Grimando. "We do have social activities, but we also try to do things for other people."
This includes volunteering at the local veteran's hospital and raising money for grants and scholarships for children of members of the national association.
"We are proud of the organization and what we have done and the contributions that we made to preserve democracy," says Grimando.
Airborne veterans interested in joining may attend the association's monthly meeting held at 7 p.m. on the second Thursday of the month at DAV Chapter No.3, 2381 Roanoke Blvd., Salem, or call 989-4804 for further information.
by CNB