Recording World War II Veterans' Stories at the Port Jefferson Free Library

The Living Heritage Project of the Port Jefferson Free Library is on a quest to record the stories of our World War II veterans who live in this community. Through oral and/or video interviews, staff from the library will sit down with willing veterans to discuss their personal accounts while fighting in our country’s deadliest war. This year marks the 70th Anniversary of World War II and with 800 veterans of this conflict dying everyday it is important to document the experiences of this war through the men who have lived it.

While flying over Hamburg, Germany, Port Jefferson resident Anthony Butera was shot down on his last mission on January 17, 1945. Butera was a B-17 Radio Operator and Waist Gunner serving in the 730th Bomb Squadron, 452nd Bomb Group, 8th Air Force. He was a POW in Germany until the end of the War in 1945. Albert Ficocella of Mount Sinai served on the USS LCI 492 off Omaha Beach during the Invasion of Normandy. Port Jefferson veteran, Randall Woodard served in the Seabees on the United States Naval Construction Battalion 302 during WWII. Woodard's battalion took part in combat assaults on beaches in the Marshall Islands, Saipan, Guam, Anguar and Peleliu. 

Are you a WWII veteran or do you know a WWII veteran who would like to share his or her story? Please contact the Port Jefferson Free Library for more information if you would like to participate in the project. Veterans from the Belle Terre, Miller Place, Mount Sinai and Port Jefferson communities are welcome to participate.