Centenarian

VFW Post 6633 members in Darby, Pennsylvania, traveled to the home of fellow Life member and World War II veteran Peter Bandy to celebrate his centennial birthday in August.

Bandy, a staff sergeant who served with the 359th Bomb Squadron, 303rd Bomb Group, 8th Air Force in the European Theatre during WWII, flew 35 missions as a waist gunner, six of which were aboard the B-17 "Flying Fortress" over the skies in Germany.

Drafted at the age of 18, Bandy graduated from Overbrook High School in Philadelphia, where he was born and raised by his parents, who immigrated from Berat, Albania, at the turn of the 20th Century and settled in Philadelphia's Greektown.

Post 6633 Commander George Roebas and Quartermaster Curtis Cummings were among those who joined Bandy and his son, Harry, at their home in Philadelphia for the WWII veteran's centennial birthday.

This article is featured in the 2024 September issue of Checkpoint. If you're a VFW member and don't currently receive the VFW Checkpoint, please contact VFW magazine at [email protected].