Essex County WWII Vet Honored For Veterans Day 2017

ESSEX COUNTY, NJ — An Essex County resident and 92-year-old World War II veteran was honored as an esteemed “member of the greatest generation” during the county’s annual Veterans Day Observance in Veterans Memorial Park in Newark on Wednesday.

James Caruso, was born and raised in Newark. For the last 10 years, he and his wife of 65 years have lived in Cedar Grove, Essex County officials said.

After graduating from high school, Caruso enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Force and served from 1943 to 1946. He received training as a high-speed, point-to-point communications technician in Biloxi, Mississippi, and then worked in air traffic control towers and in planes in Africa, Arabia, China, Burma and India. In addition, Caruso was a radio operator for air sea rescue missions in the Flying Fortress B17, which he affectionately called "The Queen of the Sky."

He was serving in Aden in the Arabian Peninsula when World War II ended, Essex County officials said. But his story was only half-told.

According to county officials:

“Upon returning home to Newark, Caruso enrolled in technical school and, although he had a variety of jobs early in his career, Mr. Caruso spent 37 years with the Newark Housing Authority. He started as a staff electrician and worked his way up the ladder, and was chief of maintenance when he retired at the age of 65. He is a member of IBEW Local 52. He and his wife Marie volunteered for their children’s schools and Mr. Caruso helped reopen St. Benedict’s Prep in the early 1970s. For his efforts, he received the St. Benedict’s Medal of Honor. He also he donated electrical and maintenance services to St. Paul's Abbey and to the convent at Villa Walsh for many years.”

Caruso thanked attendees at the ceremony.

“Events such as this are great because they make us remember all the veterans who did their job,” Caruso said.

“James Caruso is an example of an ordinary citizen who became a member of our greatest generation by serving their country,” Essex County Executive Joseph DiVincenzo Jr. said. “When his military career ended, he continued to serve the residents of Essex County by working for the Newark Housing Authority. We are proud to honor him.”

During the ceremony, other local officials spoke about the importance of Veterans Day.

Essex County Sheriff Armando Fontoura spoke about the late Jorge Oliviera, a sheriff’s officer who was killed in Afghanistan serving with the Arm Reserves and after whom the memorial plaza is named.

“He loved serving the people of Essex County and his country, and he epitomizes all who have served in the Armed Forces,” Fontoura said.

“We thank our veterans for the sacrifices they made while serving their country,” Essex County Freeholder Patricia Sebold said. “We would not have our democracy and freedoms if not for the people who served.”

Jarlyn Rodriguez, a junior at Essex County West Caldwell Votech Campus, sang the National Anthem. Barney Raferty from the Essex Shillelaghs, performed “America the Beautiful” and the “Armed Forces Medley.”

The Essex County Sheriff’s Honor Guard presented the colors at the beginning of the ceremony.

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Photo: Essex County