Page 28 - Valley Life & Health

28 SATURDAY, MAY 25, 2019 THE MORNING CALL

honoringourheroes

John M. Torok, Jr.
Corporal United States Army
Korean Conflict
John M. Torok Jr. was born in Bronx, New York. He graduated as a football and
track star from Cardinal Hayes High School in the Bronx. He went on to serve his
country during the Korean Conflict, and then went on to marry his sweetheart, Anna
Marie. John had two children, Kathy and John III, and six grandchildren. If he were
here today, he would have added two great grandchildren. The three convictions he
lived his life by were serving his religion, family and country, and he never stopped
serving until the day he died. He was proud to serve as the Commander of the
Catholic War Vets for Post 454 in Northampton. He presided over countless military
funerals. He spent a lot of time repairing or replacing damaged American flags that
are on the graves of veterans. At his funeral mass, the Catholic War Vets Post 454
in Northampton named an annual scholarship, The John M. Torok Jr. Scholarship to
be given to a deserving catholic school student at the start of every school year. Six
years after his death, his legacy continues to help others in the community.
John Torek lll

John Patrick Redding
U.S. Army
World War l

John Patrick Redding, pictured here in Fountain Hill’s Borough Hall before heading to
Europe on the SS Cedric on November 14, 1917, aged 17. He was born on March 6,
1900 in South Bethlehem, though his draft card reads March 4, 1898 (2 days and 2
years sooner, easy to keep straight). He trained with the Pennsylvania National Guard
before the troops of 26 states were federalized to form the “Rainbow” 42nd division
where he would fight with Company B, 149th Machine Gun Battalion. They launched
their first raids as part of the Champagne-Marne offensive on March 9, 1918, 3 days
after John’s true 18th birthday. On July 30, 1918 he was gassed and slightly wounded
during the Aisne-Marne offensive, but would go on to fight at Saint-Mihiel and in
the decisive Meuse-Argonne offensive. He returned to the United States on the
USS Pretoria, which landed on April 28, 1919, and was honorably discharged on
May 7, 1919. He married Dorothy Beier and had 4 girls and 2 boys. He died in the
Bethlehem Steel Plant on November 25, 1950 where he worked as a foreman in
the Steel Foundry. He helped the United States win two world wars.
Sean Redding

Paul J. Beil
Army
World War ll

Paul J. Beil who served in the Army World War II, 79th Division, 313th Regiment,
attained the Bronze Star for his distinguished valor. He was a great father,
married to the late (June, 2015) Pauline Maronpot for 64 years until his passing,
September 2009. He told us of some war stories where he had to drive thru
mine fields with his Sergeant. He received shrapnel wounds which were stitched
up by moonlight. We miss him dearly. Son Jeffrey Beil of Mohnton, PA and
daughter Paula Horn of Nazareth, PA.
Paula Horn