WAR AND DEATH COMEN FAMILY HISTORY

                                     WAR AND DEATH

COMEN FAMILY HISTORY

A history lesson to all the American supporters of modern-day Nazi, Marxists, Socialists, Communists, Iranian, Hamas, and anti-democratic republic governments. 

Uncle Howard Barry Comen was the golden boy of our family. Born Jewish with a golden spoon in his mouth. Graduated from Worthington Hooker School at 16. 

Uncle Howard, my Dad Seymour, My Papa ( Harry), Nana( Susan), Uncle Carl. Aunt Nettie, cousins Gerald and Nelson led a gemmed life on the Wanona, cruising the Long Island Sound. Sometimes the Danbury crowd, Uncle Harry, and Shirley Harris would join them on Sundays. 

Too young for Yale, my grandparents sent him to grow into Yale alongside Joseph P. Kennedy’s sickly son, John F. Kennedy. JFK followed his older brother Joe Kennedy Jr’ to Choate, Harvard, WW2, P/I/ 109 glory, Congress, the Presidency, and death from an assassin's bullet. 

Howard graduated from Yale in 1938. Married Helen Levy from another prominent New Haven Jewish family. My Cousin Carole was both before me.

Howard was selling life insurance for the Continental 

Insurance Company. My Dad Seymour, who lost his eye in an auto accident at age four, was matriculating at the University of Vermont. 

December 1, 1941, saw the Comen family enjoying the fruits of our Democratic Republic. Looking forward to spring and the moving of the Winona Cruiser from Dry Dock to the Milford Yacht Club, and the summer of fishing and cruising the Long Island Sound from Connecticut to Port Jefferson and Middle Ground Light House.

Already at war in Europe, Germany and Japan in the Pacific were celebrating victory after victory. Jews in Europe were suffering unspeakable horrors by the same evils that have befallen Jews and Christians today worldwide. The names of those responsible have changed but the philosophies have not.

On December 7th things changed with the bombing of Peal Harbor. The Comen family went to war. Papa took our pleasure boat at readied itself for war, joining Flotila 703 Milford, Connecticut. Papa became Ensign Comen, Skipper of the Susan 11. Howard and Seymour became First and Second Mates.

Papa Seated 4th from right. Seymour Standing far left 

Howard seen on Susan 11 from the third from the right Picket Boat.

Seymour left the University of Vermont and joined the Army. Cousin Gerald saw action on the Burma Road. Howard ended up in Patton’s Third Army racing to the Rhine River. 

Howard and Helen, serving their country

My Dad Seymour was wounded but survived.

  

Howard and Gerald died fighting evil.

        

Lynn Comen’s Uncle Tom Berry

Serving in the Merchant Marines in WW2

  

Michelle Comen’s Uncle Gardner Tilson Killed in Vietnam

My daughter's father-in-law,

MIKE BUNTING,

served until his recent death