HM C 5, Sen. CPO, U.S. Navy, WW II, Korea.
On Thursday, October 20, 2011, Alexander Frank Wadas of Silver Spring, Maryland, died from cancer complications at the Montgomery Hospice Casey House in Rockville, MD; one month shy of his 86th birthday.
Born in New York Mills, New York, he was the third child born to Polish immigrants, Frank and Telka Wadas. He grew up in a loving home with his brother Rudy and sister, Frances and even though he was a mischievous boy, as he got older, he channeled his energy into his love for sports and music. In his teen years, he was manager of the Pixley Community Basketball League, leading the team to a state championship. He was also an accomplished clarinet player and played in the New York Mills High School band, as well as in a local orchestra.
In 1942, at the age of 17, he enlisted in the Navy, serving in World War II. After a few stints in naval hospitals, Alexander, or "Doc" as he was well known, was shipped overseas to serve as a corpsman with the W/8th Regimental Combat Team, 1st Battalion, 8th Marines, and 2nd Marine Division FMF. With his outfit he served in the Pacific campaigns of Saipan, Tinian, Aguni Shima, Iheya Shima and Okinawa. After the Japanese surrendered on August, 15 1945, his was the first Marine battalion to go into Nagasaki. There he stayed for four months with occupational troops, treating the Japanese people who survived the bomb.
When Mr. Wadas was interviewed by Fox Morning News/WTTG in August 1995, on the 50th anniversary of the bombing of Nagasaki, he talked about the devastation he saw. "There was nothing there. No buildings, nothing. Just the Mitsubishi plant (where they made war planes) it was the only thing standing. The city was completely wiped out. It was unimaginable."
After Nagasaki, he returned to the U.S. and went on to duty at Yale University with the Naval Reserve Officers Training Corps unit's medical group. He then attended Navy school in Norfolk, VA before being assigned to a hospital in Philadelphia. From there he went to Long Beach, CA Naval Hospital, and then served again with the Marines in Barstow, CA.
Returning to the east coast, he married his sweetheart, Bernice Lesniak of Utica, NY on September 28, 1947. She traveled with him as he continued his Navy career where he served on ships, such as the USS Elokomin and the USS New Jersey during the Korean War. He was also stationed in Golcuck, Turkey, Norfolk, VA and Bethesda, MD. After 22 years in the service, Mr. Wadas retired as a Senior Chief Petty Officer, his last duty being at Bethesda Naval Hospital in July 1964. He then went to work for the District of Columbia Housing Division where he was an environmental inspector After he retired from the D.C. government; he continued to live in Silver Spring, Maryland.
An avid golfer, he could be found on the local courses and was skilled enough to have not one, but two hole in ones in 1984; one shot at the Doral Country Club n Miami, Florida and the other on the White Oak golf course, now home of the FDA. For many years, he was also a marshal on the 18th hole of the Kemper Open at Avenel. He was a member of the Kensington-Bethesda Masonic Lodge No. 198 as well as a member of the Scottish Rite and a Shriner with Almas Temple "The Chief" was also involved with the Fleet Reserve Association Triangle Branch 182 and a member of the Redskins Touchdown Club. He was a founding contributor to the World War II Memorial, the Navy Memorial as well as the National Museum of the Marine Corps in Quantico, Virginia.
Mr. Wadas is survived by his loving wife of 64 years, Bernice Wadas of Silver Spring, MD; his daughter and son-law, Valerie and Dave Willingham also of Silver Spring; his beloved granddaughter Alexandra "AJ" Willingham of Atlanta; his sister Frances Szlek of Yorkville, NY, and numerous nieces and nephews.
He was predeceased by his brother, Rudolph Wadas.
A viewing was held at Gawler's Funeral Home, Washington D.C., on October 28. A memorial and burial at Arlington National Cemetery are being planned.
The family asks that memorial donations be made in Al's honor to the Fisher House on the WR/NNMC campus or the Montgomery Hospice Casey House in Rockville, MD.
(The Washington Post, Washington, D.C., October 25, 2011).
On Thursday, October 20, 2011, Alexander Frank Wadas of Silver Spring, Maryland, died from cancer complications at the Montgomery Hospice Casey House in Rockville, MD; one month shy of his 86th birthday.
Born in New York Mills, New York, he was the third child born to Polish immigrants, Frank and Telka Wadas. He grew up in a loving home with his brother Rudy and sister, Frances and even though he was a mischievous boy, as he got older, he channeled his energy into his love for sports and music. In his teen years, he was manager of the Pixley Community Basketball League, leading the team to a state championship. He was also an accomplished clarinet player and played in the New York Mills High School band, as well as in a local orchestra.
In 1942, at the age of 17, he enlisted in the Navy, serving in World War II. After a few stints in naval hospitals, Alexander, or "Doc" as he was well known, was shipped overseas to serve as a corpsman with the W/8th Regimental Combat Team, 1st Battalion, 8th Marines, and 2nd Marine Division FMF. With his outfit he served in the Pacific campaigns of Saipan, Tinian, Aguni Shima, Iheya Shima and Okinawa. After the Japanese surrendered on August, 15 1945, his was the first Marine battalion to go into Nagasaki. There he stayed for four months with occupational troops, treating the Japanese people who survived the bomb.
When Mr. Wadas was interviewed by Fox Morning News/WTTG in August 1995, on the 50th anniversary of the bombing of Nagasaki, he talked about the devastation he saw. "There was nothing there. No buildings, nothing. Just the Mitsubishi plant (where they made war planes) it was the only thing standing. The city was completely wiped out. It was unimaginable."
After Nagasaki, he returned to the U.S. and went on to duty at Yale University with the Naval Reserve Officers Training Corps unit's medical group. He then attended Navy school in Norfolk, VA before being assigned to a hospital in Philadelphia. From there he went to Long Beach, CA Naval Hospital, and then served again with the Marines in Barstow, CA.
Returning to the east coast, he married his sweetheart, Bernice Lesniak of Utica, NY on September 28, 1947. She traveled with him as he continued his Navy career where he served on ships, such as the USS Elokomin and the USS New Jersey during the Korean War. He was also stationed in Golcuck, Turkey, Norfolk, VA and Bethesda, MD. After 22 years in the service, Mr. Wadas retired as a Senior Chief Petty Officer, his last duty being at Bethesda Naval Hospital in July 1964. He then went to work for the District of Columbia Housing Division where he was an environmental inspector After he retired from the D.C. government; he continued to live in Silver Spring, Maryland.
An avid golfer, he could be found on the local courses and was skilled enough to have not one, but two hole in ones in 1984; one shot at the Doral Country Club n Miami, Florida and the other on the White Oak golf course, now home of the FDA. For many years, he was also a marshal on the 18th hole of the Kemper Open at Avenel. He was a member of the Kensington-Bethesda Masonic Lodge No. 198 as well as a member of the Scottish Rite and a Shriner with Almas Temple "The Chief" was also involved with the Fleet Reserve Association Triangle Branch 182 and a member of the Redskins Touchdown Club. He was a founding contributor to the World War II Memorial, the Navy Memorial as well as the National Museum of the Marine Corps in Quantico, Virginia.
Mr. Wadas is survived by his loving wife of 64 years, Bernice Wadas of Silver Spring, MD; his daughter and son-law, Valerie and Dave Willingham also of Silver Spring; his beloved granddaughter Alexandra "AJ" Willingham of Atlanta; his sister Frances Szlek of Yorkville, NY, and numerous nieces and nephews.
He was predeceased by his brother, Rudolph Wadas.
A viewing was held at Gawler's Funeral Home, Washington D.C., on October 28. A memorial and burial at Arlington National Cemetery are being planned.
The family asks that memorial donations be made in Al's honor to the Fisher House on the WR/NNMC campus or the Montgomery Hospice Casey House in Rockville, MD.
(The Washington Post, Washington, D.C., October 25, 2011).
HM C 5, Sen. CPO, U.S. Navy, WW II, Korea.
On Thursday, October 20, 2011, Alexander Frank Wadas of Silver Spring, Maryland, died from cancer complications at the Montgomery Hospice Casey House in Rockville, MD; one month shy of his 86th birthday.
Born in New York Mills, New York, he was the third child born to Polish immigrants, Frank and Telka Wadas. He grew up in a loving home with his brother Rudy and sister, Frances and even though he was a mischievous boy, as he got older, he channeled his energy into his love for sports and music. In his teen years, he was manager of the Pixley Community Basketball League, leading the team to a state championship. He was also an accomplished clarinet player and played in the New York Mills High School band, as well as in a local orchestra.
In 1942, at the age of 17, he enlisted in the Navy, serving in World War II. After a few stints in naval hospitals, Alexander, or "Doc" as he was well known, was shipped overseas to serve as a corpsman with the W/8th Regimental Combat Team, 1st Battalion, 8th Marines, and 2nd Marine Division FMF. With his outfit he served in the Pacific campaigns of Saipan, Tinian, Aguni Shima, Iheya Shima and Okinawa. After the Japanese surrendered on August, 15 1945, his was the first Marine battalion to go into Nagasaki. There he stayed for four months with occupational troops, treating the Japanese people who survived the bomb.
When Mr. Wadas was interviewed by Fox Morning News/WTTG in August 1995, on the 50th anniversary of the bombing of Nagasaki, he talked about the devastation he saw. "There was nothing there. No buildings, nothing. Just the Mitsubishi plant (where they made war planes) it was the only thing standing. The city was completely wiped out. It was unimaginable."
After Nagasaki, he returned to the U.S. and went on to duty at Yale University with the Naval Reserve Officers Training Corps unit's medical group. He then attended Navy school in Norfolk, VA before being assigned to a hospital in Philadelphia. From there he went to Long Beach, CA Naval Hospital, and then served again with the Marines in Barstow, CA.
Returning to the east coast, he married his sweetheart, Bernice Lesniak of Utica, NY on September 28, 1947. She traveled with him as he continued his Navy career where he served on ships, such as the USS Elokomin and the USS New Jersey during the Korean War. He was also stationed in Golcuck, Turkey, Norfolk, VA and Bethesda, MD. After 22 years in the service, Mr. Wadas retired as a Senior Chief Petty Officer, his last duty being at Bethesda Naval Hospital in July 1964. He then went to work for the District of Columbia Housing Division where he was an environmental inspector After he retired from the D.C. government; he continued to live in Silver Spring, Maryland.
An avid golfer, he could be found on the local courses and was skilled enough to have not one, but two hole in ones in 1984; one shot at the Doral Country Club n Miami, Florida and the other on the White Oak golf course, now home of the FDA. For many years, he was also a marshal on the 18th hole of the Kemper Open at Avenel. He was a member of the Kensington-Bethesda Masonic Lodge No. 198 as well as a member of the Scottish Rite and a Shriner with Almas Temple "The Chief" was also involved with the Fleet Reserve Association Triangle Branch 182 and a member of the Redskins Touchdown Club. He was a founding contributor to the World War II Memorial, the Navy Memorial as well as the National Museum of the Marine Corps in Quantico, Virginia.
Mr. Wadas is survived by his loving wife of 64 years, Bernice Wadas of Silver Spring, MD; his daughter and son-law, Valerie and Dave Willingham also of Silver Spring; his beloved granddaughter Alexandra "AJ" Willingham of Atlanta; his sister Frances Szlek of Yorkville, NY, and numerous nieces and nephews.
He was predeceased by his brother, Rudolph Wadas.
A viewing was held at Gawler's Funeral Home, Washington D.C., on October 28. A memorial and burial at Arlington National Cemetery are being planned.
The family asks that memorial donations be made in Al's honor to the Fisher House on the WR/NNMC campus or the Montgomery Hospice Casey House in Rockville, MD.
(The Washington Post, Washington, D.C., October 25, 2011).
On Thursday, October 20, 2011, Alexander Frank Wadas of Silver Spring, Maryland, died from cancer complications at the Montgomery Hospice Casey House in Rockville, MD; one month shy of his 86th birthday.
Born in New York Mills, New York, he was the third child born to Polish immigrants, Frank and Telka Wadas. He grew up in a loving home with his brother Rudy and sister, Frances and even though he was a mischievous boy, as he got older, he channeled his energy into his love for sports and music. In his teen years, he was manager of the Pixley Community Basketball League, leading the team to a state championship. He was also an accomplished clarinet player and played in the New York Mills High School band, as well as in a local orchestra.
In 1942, at the age of 17, he enlisted in the Navy, serving in World War II. After a few stints in naval hospitals, Alexander, or "Doc" as he was well known, was shipped overseas to serve as a corpsman with the W/8th Regimental Combat Team, 1st Battalion, 8th Marines, and 2nd Marine Division FMF. With his outfit he served in the Pacific campaigns of Saipan, Tinian, Aguni Shima, Iheya Shima and Okinawa. After the Japanese surrendered on August, 15 1945, his was the first Marine battalion to go into Nagasaki. There he stayed for four months with occupational troops, treating the Japanese people who survived the bomb.
When Mr. Wadas was interviewed by Fox Morning News/WTTG in August 1995, on the 50th anniversary of the bombing of Nagasaki, he talked about the devastation he saw. "There was nothing there. No buildings, nothing. Just the Mitsubishi plant (where they made war planes) it was the only thing standing. The city was completely wiped out. It was unimaginable."
After Nagasaki, he returned to the U.S. and went on to duty at Yale University with the Naval Reserve Officers Training Corps unit's medical group. He then attended Navy school in Norfolk, VA before being assigned to a hospital in Philadelphia. From there he went to Long Beach, CA Naval Hospital, and then served again with the Marines in Barstow, CA.
Returning to the east coast, he married his sweetheart, Bernice Lesniak of Utica, NY on September 28, 1947. She traveled with him as he continued his Navy career where he served on ships, such as the USS Elokomin and the USS New Jersey during the Korean War. He was also stationed in Golcuck, Turkey, Norfolk, VA and Bethesda, MD. After 22 years in the service, Mr. Wadas retired as a Senior Chief Petty Officer, his last duty being at Bethesda Naval Hospital in July 1964. He then went to work for the District of Columbia Housing Division where he was an environmental inspector After he retired from the D.C. government; he continued to live in Silver Spring, Maryland.
An avid golfer, he could be found on the local courses and was skilled enough to have not one, but two hole in ones in 1984; one shot at the Doral Country Club n Miami, Florida and the other on the White Oak golf course, now home of the FDA. For many years, he was also a marshal on the 18th hole of the Kemper Open at Avenel. He was a member of the Kensington-Bethesda Masonic Lodge No. 198 as well as a member of the Scottish Rite and a Shriner with Almas Temple "The Chief" was also involved with the Fleet Reserve Association Triangle Branch 182 and a member of the Redskins Touchdown Club. He was a founding contributor to the World War II Memorial, the Navy Memorial as well as the National Museum of the Marine Corps in Quantico, Virginia.
Mr. Wadas is survived by his loving wife of 64 years, Bernice Wadas of Silver Spring, MD; his daughter and son-law, Valerie and Dave Willingham also of Silver Spring; his beloved granddaughter Alexandra "AJ" Willingham of Atlanta; his sister Frances Szlek of Yorkville, NY, and numerous nieces and nephews.
He was predeceased by his brother, Rudolph Wadas.
A viewing was held at Gawler's Funeral Home, Washington D.C., on October 28. A memorial and burial at Arlington National Cemetery are being planned.
The family asks that memorial donations be made in Al's honor to the Fisher House on the WR/NNMC campus or the Montgomery Hospice Casey House in Rockville, MD.
(The Washington Post, Washington, D.C., October 25, 2011).
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