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Local World War II veteran remembered

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Andrea Knudson
  • 52nd Fighter Wing Public Affairs
SPANGDAHLEM AIR BASE, Germany --  As she sifts through papers and photos atop her dining room table at her corner house in Bitburg, a decorated World War II veteran is revealed. 

Gisele Zaso lost her husband recently - just shy of 52 years of marriage - and is now charged with finalizing official military paperwork and putting retired Air Force Staff Sgt. Anthony "Tony" Zaso's effects in order. 

Among the organized assortment of folders, picture frames and loose papers, sit honorable discharge certificates, Bronze and Silver Star citations, and pictures of other awards, including a Good Conduct Medal and his unit patch - the Timberwolves of the 104th Infantry Division. Also not hard to miss is a Western Union telegram dated Dec. 11, 1944, informing the family that their son - then Private Zaso - was slightly wounded in action in Germany. He was shot Nov. 22, 1944, near Aachen and Weisweiler/ Eschweiler, which earned the young private the Purple Heart. 

Sergeant Zaso, a native of Brooklyn, N.Y., passed away Nov. 2. He served more than 20 years in the military; first in the U.S. Army, then in the U.S. Air Force. During his career, he was stationed in France, England, Sacramento, Calif. and New Jersey, where he retired at McGuire Air Force Base in 1965. He held positions in the Army as a military policeman, a rifleman, an assistant squad leader and a squad leader. Additionally, he was a mechanic in the Air Force. Most notably was Sergeant Zaso's position as an assistant squad leader during World War II. The following is the recommendation letter for his Silver Star, signed by his infantry commander, describing one of Sergeant Zaso's contributions during the war in western Germany: 

"On 23 Feb. 45, the 3rd Bn, 413th Inf, was assigned to the mission of clearing a factory district in the town of Duren, Germany. Co. "L" was the assault Co. In this operation, this company's 2nd Platoon was designated as the assault platoon. As the 2nd platoon was moving toward its objective, it was pinned down by an intense enemy artillery barrage, made doubly accurate by the perfect observation that the enemy was able to bring to bear on our positions. During the heaviest concentration of enemy fire, three men of the platoon received serious shrapnel wounds. Seeing these men lying helplessly in completely exposed positions, Sgt. Anthony B. Zaso, assistant squad leader, with utter disregard for his own safety, made his way to the side of the wounded men, over 50 yards of heavily shelled terrain, and carried all three of them to covered positions where, under the guidance of one of the casualties, who was a medic, he administered first aid. Sgt. Zaso's courage and initiative in the performance of this self-assigned task, far above and beyond the call of duty, with no thought for his personal safety, was directly responsible for saving the lives of three of his comrades. These fearless action[s], in the face of the greatest hazards, exemplify the finest traditions of the American combat Soldier, reflecting the highest credit upon Sgt. Zaso and the armed forces of the United States." 

Sergeant Zaso was awarded the Silver Star for his heroic actions. Additionally, for his military service he earned the World War II Victory Medal, the Army Occupation Medal and the National Defense Service Medal. 

Mrs. Zaso said often times Tony would begin telling a story about the war, but not quite finish. 

"He would start to tell a story, but would just say, 'I remember this one time ... oh, nothing ...' and he would not continue," she said. It may have been too painful for him to discuss certain aspects of the war, Mrs. Zaso said. Tony and Gisele first met at her parents' tailoring shop when they were both living in Luxembourg and Sergeant Zaso was stationed in France. 

"We met Nov. 2, 1955," she said, as a surprised look fell upon her face. "My gosh. It was the same day (that he passed away.)" 

After visiting the shop a few times and becoming acquainted with Mrs. Zaso's father, all the while noticing his daughter, Sergeant Zaso mustered the nerve to ask if he could take her out for supper. 

"He befriended my father to get to me," Mrs. Zaso said. "He asked my father what time he should bring me home. He told him 10 o'clock, and Tony had me home five minutes to 10." She said the first thing she noticed about him was his politeness. "That's what he was ... a gentleman." 

Sergeant Zaso was one of the first Americans to visit the shop, and soon after he and Mrs. Zaso were dating, many of his fellow Airmen started frequenting the shop. 

"GIs came in for tailoring," she said. "We also had ready-made clothes." After marrying Dec. 22, 1956, Sergeant Zaso left Etain, France, with his bride for Mather AFB in Sacramento. Afterward, they went back to France, this time to Laon, then onto Royal Air Force Bentwaters, England, and finally, to McGuire AFB. The two found themselves back in the Luxembourg area for a short time before moving to the Rhein-Mein Air Base area in Germany where Tony worked on base as a civilian. He also worked on Bitburg Air Base, and since 1976, the Zasos called Bitburg home. They first lived next door to the mayor, and later built a home on the corner down the street. The children who lived on their street took a shine to Tony, and he could often be seen passing out lollipops to them. With a big smile, Mrs. Zaso tells the tale of a young boy who asked her where Tony got all of the lollipops. 

"I told him to go and ask Tony," she said. "So he did and Tony tells him, 'From my lollipop tree in the backyard.' The boy goes home, tells his parents and they come yelling at me - telling me to tell Tony to stop telling these stories about the lollipops." Mrs. Zaso described Tony as a "happy-go-lucky guy." He was 15 years her senior, but according to her, he was the younger of the two. 

"He was like a kid in some ways," she said. "I remember one time when he knew my sister was coming to visit with her three kids at my parents' house. He brought home a saxophone, drums and a xylophone - toy instruments to play with the kids. My mother loved him, but she said that with Tony, it was like there were six kids - he was like three kids in one." 

It has been more than 30 years since the Zasos moved to Bitburg. Mrs. Zaso said she remembers when French soldiers manned the gates at the French Kaserne and how American servicemembers were able to pass through, for example, to shop at their commissary - the economat. She also shopped at Bitburg's commissary, which she says, among many things at Bitburg, has changed. 

"The commissary used to be next to the Base Exchange; it was so small until they built the big one we have now," she said. "A lot of things have changed since the main base is no longer in use. Next to the old headquarters used to be a little chapel and now it's a night club or pub." She also mentioned the Bitburg commissary is where Sergeant Zaso actually purchased the lollipops. 

"And where the Eifel Stern is now ... that used to be the officer's club. The NCO club was always busy. Redd Foxx, Wolfman Jack and Bon Jovi performed there - several known singers just starting out performed there ... they held boxing matches in the middle of the dance floor. The club manager always had something new." 

Mrs. Zaso said she and her husband were very happy living in Bitburg and that the two shared many wonderful memories together. Sergeant Zaso was buried with military honors on Veterans Day at the Kolmeshöh Cemetery in Bitburg. He is survived by his wife, Gisele, and friends in the Eifel region, many of whom helped Mrs. Zaso out tremendously during the months before his death. She refers to them as her "invisible angels." A majority of those who helped her are from the Bitburg Chapel, where the Zasos faithfully attended church services since 1976. 

"The volunteers who have helped me in the last 11 months with Tony - sitting with him so I could pay bills, go shopping - I would not have been able to do any of it without them," she said. "I was happy they were here. Tony was taken care of. I am ever so thankful for these girls and guys who helped me out."
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