Tony Pastore served his country in the Air Force during World War II and, again after the war, as a corporal. At 96 years of age, he is a pure gem of The Greatest Generation with a fabulous voice to boot. Born in Pittsfield, he enlisted on March 23, 1943, and was sent to Fort Devens in Ayer. From there, he went to basic training in Miami Beach, Fla. He was assigned to the New England Aircraft School in Boston, then was sent to Fort Banks in Winthrop, where he came down with double pneumonia. The colonel there liked me so he sent me home for 30 days to recuperate . when I started to feel better, I d put my uniform on and walk down main street, he said. All I got were jeers from the SOBs that stayed home . when I got
Tony Pastore, now 96, served his country from 1943 to 1946 as a corporal in the US Air Force.
Born in Pittsfield, he enlisted on March 23, 1943, and was sent to Fort Devens in Massachusetts. From there it was on to basic training in Miami Beach, Florida. Corporal Pastore remembered, âWe marched all day in the goddamn heatâ¦our platoon was an honor platoon.â
He was assigned to the New England Aircraft School in Boston then was sent to Fort Banks in Winthrop, where he came down with double pneumonia. âThe colonel there liked me so he sent me home for 30 days to recuperateâ¦when I started to feel better, Iâd put my uniform on and walk down Main Streetâ¦all I got were jeers from the SOBs that stayed homeâ¦when I got back to Fort Banks, I told my colonel that if he sent me home again, I was going to blow the hell out of those SOBs back homeâ¦I enlisted to fight, not stay home,â he recalled.