Middletown Resident, Last Surviving Member Of Famed WW II Squad Celebrated

Bright sunshine, the company of family and friends and a parade in his honor combined to make Saturday very memorable for World War II veteran and Middletown Township resident H. Charles Kunes.

Joined by his wife Alma and son Steve in the parking lot of the Jared The Galleria of Jewelry near the Oxford Valley Mall in the township, Kunes waved to motorists who were part of a parade wishing him a belated 96th birthday (which was in February) and bestowing general well wishes in light of the coronavirus pandemic that has forced long periods of extended isolation on people, especially the elderly.

Honking, waving and displaying their signs, the parade participants also stopped for a short time to say a personal hello to Kunes and his family, and give the veteran cards and gifts. Kunes flew combat missions as a member of the Marine Air Corps during World War II and is believed to be the last surviving member of the Black Sheep Squadron, famous for its daring exploits during that conflict.

And while greatly appreciative of the celebration, he was also very humble.

“I feel very ill at ease when somebody thanks me for being in the service,” said Kunes, who lives with Alma in the Heathergate 55-and-over apartment complex.

“That was 76 years ago. I have mixed emotions about all this Thank You business for being in the service because it was so long ago. It’s not that I forgot it, it’s just that I never considered myself a hero. I had a job to do.”

Saturday’s event was organized by Bensalem resident Sue Foster, a member of the John Billington VFW Post in Bristol Township, and many of the participants were regular or auxiliary post members. She got the idea after reading posts on Steve Kunes’ Facebook page that his parents were becoming depressed because of their inability to socialize due to the pandemic. Foster and Steve Kunes are friends and fellow 1976 Neshaminy High School graduates.

“We always try to do whatever we can for veterans,” Foster said. “This was partly a belated birthday celebration but mostly a wellness, lift your spirits type of thing.”

Participants staged in a portion of the mall parking lot before proceeding to Jared, a short distance away.

“We have so few World War II veterans left with us,” said Billington Post Commander Joanne Elliott. “Every time we have a chance to honor one who is still with us, we take it. Hopefully, this will make them feel they are thought of and we still care.”

While smiling and joyfully greeting people during the celebration, both H. Charles and Alma nevertheless disputed the notion they were down in the dumps.

“I wouldn’t say I’m depressed. Everyone has the same problem with not being able to to see their relatives and stuff,” Kunes said.

“We’re not depressed, ever, we have positive attitudes,” his wife added.

Their son respectfully disagreed.

“They will never, ever complain, but the truth is, they’ve both been down,” Steve Kunes said. “Their friends are mostly gone and the few things they could do, like going to the clubhouse or just going out, have been taken away.

“I think the pandemic has been particularly hard on the elderly. When you get older, there’s only so much TCM (Turner Classic Movies) you can look at, and they’ve looked at it all.”

With the pandemic at least somewhat on the wane, their chances to socialize should increase over the next few weeks and months. H. Charles, Alma, and Steve Kunes have all done their part to further that goal by receiving both doses of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine.

Among others participating in Saturday’s event were Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick, a Republican from Middletown, and State Rep. Frank Farry, a Republican from Langhorne Borough.

“People need things like this, especially now,” Fitzpatrick said. “They’ve been in lockdown for a year. Every time I’m aware of a drive-by or other event like this, the least I can do is come out and support these people.”

Steve Kunes said he was very touched by the people coming out to honor his father.

“As time goes on, people more and more appreciate the greatest generation and what it’s about,” he said. “I’m usually not this way, but I’m virtually speechless. I can’t believe this is happening.”

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