Navy veteran, 96, fulfills wish at base
NEWPORT, R.I. — A 96-year-old World War II veteran who dreamed of returning to a Navy installation to reminisce about his more than 20-year naval career got his wish.
Edmund DelBarone toured Naval Station Newport Thursday in a visit arranged by Denver-based nonprofit Wish of a Lifetime. After seeing some of the ships, he said he’d have no trouble taking them out to sea.
“It’s exciting,” he said after. “I didn’t expect to see so much.”
DelBarone attended boot camp in Newport after joining the Navy in 1940. He was amazed at how much the installation has grown, and he pointed out many buildings that weren’t there nearly 80 years ago.
DelBarone, who spent much of his career at sea maintaining ships, said he was stationed on a destroyer during World War II. He wore a ball cap from the USS Wadleigh, one of the ships he served on.
A talented artist, DelBarone also painted emblems for naval ships and murals for Veterans of Foreign Wars posts.
The station makes every effort to let veterans visit, spokesman Lisa Rama said.
She knew of four World War II veterans who have stopped by this year, including a 94-year-old who told his tour guides that his monthly paycheck was $22 early in his career.
