WWII veteran honored with Quilt of Valor
During a brief ceremony Sept. 22, World War II veteran Dan Durso received a Quilt of Valor for his service.
Durso, 96, fought in the European Campaign as a gunman with the 702nd Tank Battalion. He still has shrapnel in his leg from when his tank was attacked.
Quilts of Valor began in 2003. Since then, more than 250,000 quilts have been distributed to veterans across the country. Durso was nominated by Ocean View VFW Post 7234 Past Commander Dean Levering.
Durso lives outside Rehoboth Beach now, but he’s from Freeland, Pa. He said he is one of two surviving members of his battalion, and he speaks with that other member regularly.
“The rule is we call every weekend. If the other doesn’t pick up, it means we’re the last one surviving,” said Durso.
Durso said he feels bad for the veterans of today. When he returned home from the war, it was a celebration because everyone was involved, he said. Now, soldiers are coming home with post-traumatic stress disorder and living lonely lives, he said.
For more information on Quilts of Valor or to nominate a veteran to receive a quilt, go to qovf.org.
To hear more of Durso’s WWII stories, go to veteranschroniclespodcast.com.
