Lorraine and Tony Wasowicz and their pup Paco. Courtesy photo
Courtesy photo
By BERNADETTE LAURTIZEN
Los Alamos
If you are looking for something different to do to pay respect to history on Veterans Day, how about time well spent, at the Mesa Public Library? Anthony Wasowicz and wife Lorraine are the authors of Ask Your Father: Conversations with Pop about War, Food and Following Your Dreams. On Veterans Day at 2 p.m., the pair will share captured moments in life, now reflected in a book that honors not only Tony’s dad, but many that have served our nation.
Part luck, part fortitude and part dedication to the mission allowed Tony and Lorraine to travel back in time to see the sites once lived by young Flight Officer Barney Wasowicz. The story takes you along as Barney learns to fly through the trepidations up to his 18th mission. It was Jan. 23, 1944, when his Martin B-26 Marauder, the Exterminator, went down and he became a prisoner of war.
An unexpected dinner with his Tony’s mother and father Barney at his brother Jeff’s house with friends in Arizona, would not just change the plans for the evening, but the trajectory of life for them all.
Wasowicz tells us about his mixed emotions and how he felt about capturing this history. “I’m so happy that all of the stars aligned to allow me to spend so much time with my father and that he was so receptive to the idea of writing this book” he said. “But I wonder what he would have thought of the final copy.”
He was able to read him a few early draft chapters, but he passed long before the book was published in September of 2023. The most important thing he sees about the conversations now was that the important part was the asking.
The decision to ask was an easy and natural decision for Tony.
He believes everything happens for a reason. “It’s up to us to pay attention and take action,” said Wasowicz. It was late in life that his father lamented to his son that he wanted to “make his mark” before he moved on. While the reader will know that of course, this 21-year-old pilot had already made one heck of a mark. His son knew, “that mark would quickly fade if not recorded and passed along as inspiration to future generations.”
Often, veterans are hesitant to share their stories, or we are too busy to listen. Wasowicz suggests you just start with a few questions you have always been curious about, even if they seem trivial. Slow down, sit down and take time to listen. You might even hit record on your phone to capture the moments.
“You’ll be surprised by what happens next!”
He encourages everyone to honor veterans by doing charitable deeds and selfless acts. He believes we all need to embrace team spirit again and knows there are many non-profits that need your help now. He encourages everyone to volunteer and if unsure where to start he just might recommend the Santa Fe Animal Shelter.
What would Pop have thought about all of this? He thinks he would be embarrassed about all the hullabaloo because he was not a spotlight guy. “I know he was relieved to use the opportunity to emphatically state, over and over, that he was no hero,” Wasowicz said. “He was part of a crew, a team, and many in that team did not make it out alive. He would have insisted that it’s their story, not his.”