Dunmore World War II veteran John Aloysius Perry fondly remembered
By Steve Svetovich
It has been nearly a decade since the passing of World War II veteran John Aloysius Perry, but his family and friends keep him close to their heart.
He is one of thousands of U.S. war veterans to be grateful and proud of this coming Memorial Day.
John Aloysius Perry was also a proud Dunmore family man during the 91 years of his life.
The World War II veteran served as a young man in the U.S. army in the Philippines from 1943 to 1945. He was 20 years old when he was sent overseas.
It was there where he served as a construction builder, also known as a “CB.” As a CB, he was responsible for rebuilding airstrips in order for American pilots to safely land and take flight. It was a skill he learned to perfection.
About 70 million people fought in World War II between 1939 and 1945. There are still about 167,000 living World War II veterans in the United States alone. More than 400,000 were killed in combat.
Son of the late Pasqualina and Giuseppe Perri, his parents were Italian immigrants from the town of Cosenza, Calabria. As a young boy, Perry left Longfellow School in the Green Ridge section of Scranton when he was in the eighth grade to help care for his many siblings. Born and raised in Dunmore, he was one of 13 children.
After World War II ended, he returned to Dunmore where he met his one and only love, the former Antoinette Stango, at Ianelli’s Italian Market.
A smart and charismatic young man, he had Antoinette’s attention after a simple, “hello.” Not long after she said “yes” the couple began a journey of undying love for each other resulting in almost seven decades of marriage, seven children and numerous grandchildren. They were bonded together for life.
The couple had four sons and three daughters. Tragically, the couple lost their oldest and youngest sons. Joseph died at 50 and Tommy passed away at 34. Their other sons are John and David. Their daughters are Mary Regina, Patrice and Donna.
Despite leaving school in the eighth grade to help out his family, Perry became a self-made man. After the war ended, it took months for Perry to get a ship from the Philippines to California. Then he took a bus from California to his hometown of Dunmore.
Using the skills he learned in the war as a construction builder (CB), he became a self taught master builder of fine homes starting his own business. He shared that gift with his sons.
Perry also received the Boxing Gold Glove as a highly competitive amateur fighter. He was very proud of that accomplishment which he shared with family and friends.
A man of his word, he expected this from everyone. Though an extremely strong personality, he easily displayed a tender and gentle posture when the time was right. He was at all times generous and hard-working and not capable of lying or deceit.
The proud World War II veteran was also known as a human GPS before there ever was a GPS. He always knew the fastest and safest route anywhere in the state. And he knew an alternate in case you needed one.
“He was proud that he served in the Philippines during World War II,” said his daughter Mary Regina. “He had so many great stories he would tell. He learned to build homes on his own. He was self-taught and used the knowledge he gained as a construction builder in the military. He started his own construction company. He loved working and never complained. He was such a hard worker and a good man.”
Perry died at 91 in 2014. His wife Antoinette, a registered nurse with a bachelor of science in nursing died in 2017 at 87.
“My dad enjoyed a fine retirement as he greatly enjoyed cultivating his garden,” Mary Regina said. “The epitome of his life’s meaning came with his beautiful grandchildren who filled his life with joy, life and hope.
“It seemed as if he always knew through the hard times, this would be and so it was. We love you dad.”