John LaFalce Transcript.pdf

John LaFalce, US Navy

Serving on the USS Oakland under the threat of kamikaze attacks in the Pacific Front during World War II was perhaps not what the seventeen-year-old, John LaFalce, expected when he enlisted in the US Navy. Yet he answered the call of duty before pursuing to his personal calling.

Born in Poughkeepsie, New York in 1927 to Italian immigrant parents, John grew up with a loving family of nine boys and two girls. The family was musically inclined, and John recalls the boys’ participation in church choirs from their early years onward. The brothers. formed the Nine Brother Band, playing at prestigious events such as at the Vassar College prom.

With the majority of his older brothers largely in service and knowing that he would soon come of age, John, at age seventeen, and his friend Tom enlisted in the US Navy in July 1944.

LaFalce arrived at Sampson Naval Base, New York for basic training. In addition to military training, he was able to utilize his musical skills for about twelve weeks in the “Ship’s Company” a rotating choir. Also, as buglers, he and Tom played the morning Reveille and evening Taps.

LaFalce was assigned to USS Oakland, a light cruiser, part of Task Force 38. He remembers marveling at the Navy pilots’ ability to land a plane on a ship, even on nights with no moon. His duties included working in the handling room with the Mark 12 5” 38 caliber guns and chipping paint at the fantail of a ship. The USS Oakland participated in the liberation of the Philippines and later supported the invasion of Okinawa. On May 11, 1945, LaFalce heard an explosion. The USS Bunker Hill, just 2000 yards away, was attacked by two Japanese kamikaze planes. LaFalce and those on the USS Oakland searched for survivors. “We thought that they would never make it back,” he says.

After the war ended, the USS Oakland was assigned to Tokyo Bay, which was heavily mined, so they sensibly had a Japanese pilot guide them. The ship docked alongside the USS Missouri where they could see the signing of the unconditional surrender through binoculars. He also experienced a half-destroyed Tokyo with its frightened citizens deferring to American soldiers. Shortly later, they were transferred to a destroyer to go back to the US. He successfully took General Educational Development tests in Seattle and after one year and eleven months, he separated from the service.  

LaFalce pursued his love of music and studied at the Troy Conservatory of Music, and at the University of New York at Potsdam, the latter was where he met his wife. He thoroughly enjoyed his profession of music teacher and choir director at junior high or high school.

Although he and his brothers all had “day jobs” they were highly successful as musicians. Their band recorded with esteemed companies such as RCA Victor and they appeared on the popular Arthur Godfrey Show. John also sang in the prestigious Robert Shaw Chorale. A peaceful man, John suffered from PTSD which manifested itself as dizziness when standing in the midst of a choir. On balance, LaFalce is grateful for his blessings. He and his wife Joan raised five children of whom he is proud. Music, family, and connection have been the leitmotif of his life.

His brother, Anthony LaFalce, and his nephew, Paul LaFalce shared their stories of service, too.