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Celebrating a veteran

Republican Herald - 7/27/2020

Jul. 27--GORDON -- Those who know Michael Wynne Sr. describe him as a "quintessential dad" and a dedicated veteran.

Hundreds showed up Sunday to celebrate Wynne, a decorated Marine Corps World War II veteran, who will mark his 99th birthday Wednesday. A parade traveled through Gordon in his honor, and in front of the home of his daughter, Clare Wetzel, at 512 McKnight St., where Wynne has been residing since March. He sat on the porch and waved as scores of motorcyclists, veterans groups and fire companies rolled through the borough. Others bestowed special recognition to him.

"I never had anything like this before," Wynne said, after viewing the procession. He posed for photos with five of his seven children and his extended family members, including 23 grandchildren and 26 great-grandchildren. He had been living in Lansdale before moving to Gordon.

"He's a great dad, and was always quiet and laid back," said his son, John Wynne, of Rockledge in Montgomery County. His father had worked as a Sears appliance repairman for 30 years, he said.

In addition to Clare Wetzel and John Wynne, his children include Mickey, Fran, Kevin and Timmy Wynne, and Maryanne Mattero. Kevin said that his brothers, Mickey and Timmy, were unable to attend Sunday. Many of the siblings are from the Lansdale area in Montgomery County. The Wynne patriarch grew up in Byrnesville, Conyngham Township, Columbia County, and graduated from the Aristes school system in 1940.

Wynne served in the 21st Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division as corporal in Bougainville, Guam and Iwo Jima. He received the Silver Star Award and two Purple Hearts, along with other awards and accommodations. John Wynne said his father never told his family about his experiences in Bougainville until a great-grandchild inquired.

"He got shot in Bougainville. They were taking all of the wounded over a cliff and down to the ocean to be rescued. Dad stayed up there and stayed behind with the other men. He took a machine gun and held off the Japanese, even though he was wounded," John Wynne said. Many of his fellow soldiers who had been taken down to the beach were killed in a strafing attack by the Japanese.

His niece, Cathy Gownley Hannon, of Mahanoy Plane, was there to celebrate Wynne on Sunday, along with her cousins. She said she always called him "Uncle Mickey." "He was like a father figure to me," Hannon said, whose own father died in a car accident when she was still a baby.

Rich Harris, a member of the Rudiarus motorcycle club, and his wife, Missy, are Wetzel's neighbors. Rich Harris organized the parade. Wetzel is married to a cousin of Missy's dad, so they are also distantly related. Harris didn't know what sort of response he would receive when he posted the request for parade participants to honor Wynne on social media.

"This is awesome," Harris said. "They are here out of respect for a fellow veteran. This shows what kind of community we have and how we are in Schuylkill County," Harris, also a Marine veteran, said.

Wynne's accolades were many.

Centralia American Legion Post 608 brought a car decorated with Wynne's photos. The pictures were from six years ago when Wynne was honored by the post. On Sunday, the legion awarded Wynne with a certificate for 75 years of continuous membership with the organization, an enlarged photo of him in uniform with the Marines, a T-shirt noting former Centralia police officers and a hand-crafted mask designed by the legion auxiliary.

Post 608 Commander Edward Lawler also brought a citation on behalf of state Rep. Kurt Masser, R-107, Elysburg. Other post members participating were John Lawler, Edward Rooney and Ted Gownley.

Dan Quick, quartermaster for the Ashland Post 7654 of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, and five other post members joined in the parade. They presented Wynne with a certificate, recognizing his 70 years of membership with the VFW.

Former Centralia Mayor Anne Marie Devine and her husband, Bob Devine, wanted to do something special for Wynne. They brought him a bottle of Centralia white wine.

Kalli Smith, of Gordon, a member of Spotlight Kidz, sang the national anthem before the parade stepped off at 1 p.m. near the Citizens Fire Company. Smith also planned to sing for Wynne at a park picnic near Wetzel's home following the parade.

Contact the writer: vterwilliger@republicanherald.com; 570-628-6007

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