This is Dedicated to that one man that gave me life and literally made me, my best friend, my Father, Anthony Bianco.
He was Born April 24, 1921, in a small house on Jackson St. in Greensburg, PA.
He was the Oldest Son and second oldest child of ten children.
He began Working with his father and helping out his family of twelve at a very young age.
Joining the Army, he served in World War II from 1941 to 1945.
He was a Paratrooper with the 82nd Airborne Division and also detached with the 101st infantry.
He Jumped and fought in Normandy, Rhineland, Central Europe, Ardennes and Holland.
Just before one Jump, a bullet hit their plane and he had his teeth shot out by the shrapnel.
Another Time while they were supporting Patton's army, he suffered frost bite to his feet and legs.
He was Lucky that an officer had noticed by stepping on his foot and sent him to the infirmary.
And another Time while him and his buddy were manning a machine gun, they were hit by a mortar and blown out of the fox hole.
His Buddy was killed and thinking Dad was also, they covered him and to their surprise he yelled "What the Heck you doing."
Dad Seen a lot of action in the war, with many of his buddy's not making it.
In Normandy when they were taking the beach, the 82nd AA was jumping behind the lines.
Most of Dad's platoon were killed that day, some not even making it to the ground.
Not to Brag, but my father, who only stood five foot nine, was as tough as they came.
After the War he was Decorated with the following:
A Good Conduct medal, American THR Service Medal, EAME THR Service Medal, with 4 Bronze Stars, a Victory Medal and two Purple Hearts.
He was also Issued a ASR Score 2 Sep 45, 30 Cal Mach Gun Exp., Com Inf Badge, Prcht Inf Badge and 1 Arrowhead.
He was Proud to have served his country and believed in it as much as anyone could.
I can even Remember in my younger days, when Dad would dress up in his uniform and march in parades.
He also did a few display Jumps in downtown Pittsburgh, PA.
When I was very young, my Dad and I used to watch "Elliot Ness and the Untouchables" and a series called "Combat."
He would Take me to the recruiters office and to the Army Reserve Barracks, where he would give me a tour of the tanks.
For most of my Preteen years I had wanted to join the Army and be a soldier just like him.
He was Proud to be an American and truly was "One of America's Best."
After the War, he began work as a laborer with Weavers Coal and Construction Company.
First Working strip mining as his father and later working on road crews, building and rebuilding highways such as the PA Turnpike.
In the 1950s Dad returned to service in the USAR as a drill sergeant (E5) for a few years.
He also Worked part time in his younger days at the Greensburg Country Club.
With His love for horses, he helped out taking care of horses at Fineberg's farm in Greensburg and Mellon's estate in Ligonier.
Not only did he Love and ride horses, but in his younger days he even was a jockey for a short time.
Dad Loved taking photographs, putting them into his albums and then telling the story's behind them.
He would Tell the stories with a passion and yet he did so without brag.
Full Blooded Italian and a little of a lady's man, in his younger days some had referred to him as Casanova Bianco.
Also Known as Tony Banana's by some, I was told first by my Dad that it was because he used to sell banana's as a young boy.
And later Told by an Uncle, because some of the older folks in those day's pronounced the name Bianco as banana.
Dad Loved his family foremost, working very hard to provide and also teaching us right from wrong.
At an early Age of two, Dad taught me how to properly use common tools, like a screw driver, pliers, adjustable wrench and a saw.
While he would not Have a gun in the house, he did teach me how to aim, shoot and was very precise on my knowing about safety.
He was Friendly and pleasant and not very talkative, except for when it came to telling about the photo's in his album.
Dad did not Believe in bothering anyone and it was rare that he would let anyone, or thing bother him.
While a little Strict, he was still also pretty understanding, but he did have a temper that you would not want to provoke.
Both my Parents had given me the impression of being upbeat and modern, especially my Dad.
Not many know that not only was my mechanical ability provoked from my Dad, but so was the interest for science and fantasy.
Dad was an entertainer and also loved children.
Many Weekends you would hear the trotting of a horses hoofs and it would be Dad coming to take us kids for a ride.
And He did that not just for me, my sister and our friends, but also for his employers and friends children.
Many Saturday night's Dad would take our family to the drive in to watch a movie.
I would usually make it through the movies, but would fall asleep on the ride back home and have the best sleep of my life.
Many Sunday's he would take us to Lynn Run in Ligonier, to go swimming and watch the horses.
On Payday, Dad would stop at the store to cash his check and would buy what we called "Goodies," cakes and cookies.
He would Bring home the goodies and share them among myself, my sister and our friends.
Our Times had its ups and downs, trials and tribulations, but rarely would you ever hear Dad complain.
In my earliest Memories my parents had an active and sociable life style.
Later that was more Confined to basically the household and some of mine and my sisters friends.
In my Preteen to teen years, Dad was in his forty's and beginning to show some fatigue from the hard work he performed.
Many Times after work, he would lay on the floor to watch the news and still in his dirty work clothes, he would then fall asleep.
Who would Think that I would miss him passed out, laying on his back with his mouth wide opened and snoring.
But even Then, he still found some time and energy to take us to fun and interesting places.
When I Turned sixteen I basically began my own life, but no matter where I was Dad never was too far away.
I never Knew my Father as a drinker, the most I ever seen him drink was an occasional and sociable shot.
And I never seen him intoxicated, or ever cry.
Dad was Not one to fool around, when something needed taken care of he took care of it.
He did not Hesitate to help when someone needed help and would give you his last dollar if you needed it.
He was a prestigious man and in a sense had a glamorous life.
And He could have lived in leisure and been wealthy, but he chose to live a simple, hard working and honest lifestyle.
In 1975 Dad went into the hospital and was told his one lung was shot, that it had cancer.
With Oxygen and revoked from smoking, they warned him that he would not have more than a year if he began to smoke again.
But After two months without smoking, he began again and said, "If I am going to die, I am going to die happy."
In 1997 I Noticed that he was losing some of his memory, but it had not been drastic.
A few Years earlier he began having problems with his hearing.
In 1999 He was diagnosed with having a couple unseen strokes at home and having Alzheimer's disease.
They also Found cataracts in both of his eyes, one being worse than the other.
We never were Able to have his eyes corrected, because at first his doctor said it was too early and then the insurance ran out.
From Then on, both with his eyes and his memory, his condition declined more rapid as time went on.
For the longest Time I had been missing the vibrant, alert, sensible and secure man he once had been.
It was as if He were a different person, but yet he still had the heart and even spent time with the children.
It was Not up until this year (2003) that his physical condition took a turn for the worse.
He went into the Hospital at the beginning of this year (2003) for water in the legs.
They Found that it had affected his heart and had to put him on Lasix to remove the water.
Sent Home, he was retained in a hospital bed and reduced to being fed baby food.
Near completely Blind and with complications from being bed ridden, he spent his last few months like that.
His Doctors did not Expect for him to live as long as he had and were surprised that he was so strong.
In His final days, he had gone over eight days without eating, or drinking.
The Doctors had given up on him and did not see fit to put him into the hospital and on feeding tubes.
Hospice was a Godsend, they spent those last months helping out with medications, bathing and general in home care.
Except for my Niece Deanna and myself, everyone else seemed to accept that my Father's fate would soon be near.
With my ill Condition, I still had faith, prayed constantly and with belief tried desperately and as hard as I could to help him recover.
But neither Time, nor fate was on our side.
In His last couple of weeks, he began to grow weaker and weaker.
The last two Days, he could not talk and barely could move his hands.
It must have been God's will, because the night before I had propped two chairs up and slept beside him, holding his hands.
At one Time that night, my spells began to worsen and I was already depressed from Dad being in this condition.
Somehow Dad had Knew and in the dark he touched my face, then lightly with one finger pushed at my chin in an upward direction.
Without being Able to speak, he still had told me in his words by that gesture, to keep my chin up and be strong.
I Returned home around 12:30 in the afternoon the following day, on Tuesday and was called shortly after by Deanna.
She had Called to let me know that his feet had turned purple and that I should return.
That had been the Sign that his final hours were at hand and we returned to their house to be near.
The immediate Family and some other relatives had come and most of us were around him.
Mom was Sitting in front of him, I was holding his one hand and Deanna was crying at his feet.
Then Dad Looked up and around at us, gave a smile and said "Uh Huh," as he would say meaning understood, or OK.
He then Laid his head back down and without any other noise, or motion, had taken his last breath.
Dad Passed on and took his final jump on Tuesday, July 15, 2003, in his home on White St. in Greensburg, PA.
I am Proud and very honored that he was my Father and could have never ask for any better.
He has Touched not only me and my family's lives, but almost everyone that has known him.
A Good, Honest, Hard Working, Caring, Kind Hearted and Giving Man he was!
He did not Have it easy, did not have many of the comforts and yet he did not complain.
There were Times when I was no angel and yet his love never faltered, he always was there for me.
Dad was36 years old when I was born and 82 Years Old when he passed on, almost twice my age.
Even though I had nearly forty-five years around Dad, it now does not seem that long.
And while I used to Wish that I was born earlier in his life, I cannot complain.
It Bothers me that my Father, as good a person he was and as hard as he worked, he still did not have luxuries in life.
The Manner in which he had to live just before passing on, with eyesight gone, mind nearly gone, bed ridden, it really bothers me.
What Hurts the most, is now and then I get vivid flashbacks like it happened only minutes ago, of the good times I had with him.
Dad was also the first of the only two that could talk any sense into me.
The Other was my best friend "Bud," who passed on a couple years ago.
Dad's Motto was "Never Give Up" and he never did give up on himself, or any of us!
I Believe you are in a better place now, in peace and with the loved ones that passed on before you.
We were a part of one another, in my heart, soul and mind, you will always be my closest friend, and I shall always love you.
Your Boy, Tony.
Some of my Dad's Pictures are below, click on the thumbnail for the photo.
Memories of Dad, Anthony Bianco
Some of my Dad's Pictures are below, click on the thumbnail for the photo.
