World War II veteran honored by Fraser VFW

FRASER — A local World War II veteran was honored March 29, in conjunction with National Vietnam War Veterans Day, by the Fraser Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 6691 and Detroit’s Chapter 9 of the Vietnam Veterans of America.

The honor came shortly after Mike Aleo’s 100th birthday. The recognition included a donation for children’s research on behalf of Aleo.

“We’re recognizing World War II veteran Mike Aleo, who is 100 years old,” said Mike Sands, the public relations director for VFW Post 6691 in Fraser. “We’re here to honor him by donating to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital on his behalf. We want to celebrate our survival from wars, to have some fellowship and appreciate one another. … Mr. Aleo is a World War II hero. He was awarded the French Legion of Honor Medal, which was given to him by representatives from the French Consulate.”

The recognition was part of ongoing efforts by the Vietnam Veterans of America to honor World War II veterans while they still can.

“We decided to start honoring these veterans who have given so much,” said Paul Palazzolo, president of Chapter 9 of the Vietnam Veterans of America in Detroit. “Many are 100 years old like Mr. Aleo, and we don’t know what tomorrow will bring, so we want to do something in their honor. … We’re losing these men.”

Aleo was modest about the recognition

“I feel honored and humbled,” he said. “I am proud to have been part of donating this money to the little kids at St. Jude. I hope it does a lot of good for them.”

Aleo served in Europe from 1943 to 1946, taking part in the Normandy landings and seeing combat in France.

“I was in the European theater, and I was with General (George) Patton’s Third Army,” he said. “I was in the 257th Field Artillery Battalion supporting the tank units. I served in southern France and the Battle of the Bulge and all over.”

A donation of $2,500 was made in Aleo’s name.

“Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 9 and its associates donated $1,000 to Mr. Aleo’s favorite charity, the St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital,” said Sands. “VFW Post 6691 and its auxiliary here donated another $1,000. We’re proud of our members and community people who contributed to these donations. He was also given signs of recognition on behalf of Macomb County.”

Palazzolo hopes people look to men like Aleo as examples.

“Out of 350 million people, only 1% serve (in the military) in this country,” said Palazzolo. “(Mr. Aleo) served. He stepped up to the plate as part of the Greatest Generation and served. Patriotism is down, people aren’t going to church anymore, people aren’t having kids. This is the country we are in today. I don’t know what kind of moral fiber we have today, but we need to show these guys like Mr. Aleo that we are thankful for giving us the democracy that we have.”

Sands was glad to see the Fraser VFW post able to do something extra on this year’s National Vietnam War Veterans Day, something important to many of the post’s members.

“The last soldier to leave the Vietnam War left on this date in 1973,” said Sands. “The government decided to recognize Vietnam War Veterans Day on this day, so each year we come together with Vietnam Veterans Chapter 9, but our goal is to recognize all veterans.”

Aleo’s hope is that people remember World War II veterans for their service. He feels that service is at the core of being in the military and wants that sense of serving others to be something more people take up.

“With the way the country looks today, it is declining,” said Aleo. “I hope we fall out of this slump we’re in and give us the same sort of thought we had years ago that service can improve it.”