EAST VINCENT — It might be tough to find someone who has been a Phillies fan longer than Paul Trumbetas, a 100-year-old World War II veteran.
And this week, Trumbetas and his wife Barbara, who have been married for 60 years, celebrated his 100th birthday at the Southeastern Veterans Center. Southeastern Veterans Center by receiving a visit from the Phillie Phanatic; retired Phillies second baseman Mickey Morandini from the 1993 National League championship team; Phillies broadcaster Tom McCarthy, Phillies Ballgirls and Bob McCormick, representing Toyota and the Tri-State Toyota Dealers Association.
Morandini also presented Trumbetas with a game ball that he will personally bring to the mound at Citizens Bank Park on May 18 when the Phillies play the Washington Nationals and conduct the team’s annual Salute to Service.
Trumbetas’ daughter, Denise Selzer, said, “He is the biggest Phillies fan in the world. We just had better cable put in for him so he can watch every game with a better picture. He is over the moon about this.”
Trumbetas was born in the coal regions in Simpson, Lackawanna County, and grew up in Carbondale. He was the oldest child and after his father’s death, he worked as a coal miner to support his family. He was drafted in 1943, and served in the Army Air Corps from 1943 to 1946 as an Ariel Engineer with the rank of Private First Class.
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Travis Davis, executive director at Pennsylvania Department of Military and Veterans Affairs, wearing a Chase Utley Phillies Jersey, thanked World War II veteran Paul Tumbetas for his service to the cause of freedom at a celebration held on Tuesday, May 7, 2024 at the Southeastern Veteran’s Center in East Vincent Township, Chester County. (Evan Brandt — MediaNews Group)
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Paul Trubetas and his wife Barbara received numerous well-wishers during his 100th birthday celebration on Tuesday. (Evan Brandt — MediaNews Group)
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One of Paul Tumbetas’ special gifts on Tuesday was a Phillies jersey with his name on it, featuring the number 100, suitable for his centennial birthday. (Evan Brandt — MediaNews Group)
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100-year-old World War II veteran Paul Trumbetas received the first slice of his special birthday cake on Tuesday. (Evan Brandt –MediaNews Group
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After being moved back to the shade following his time in the sun and the spotlight, World War II veteran Paul Trumbetas described his 100th birthday celebration as “wonderful,” and his slice of birthday cake as “excellent.” (Evan Brandt — MediaNews Group)
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During his service in the European theater, Trumbetas was in Italy and then the south of France, earning three Bronze Stars for transporting wounded soldiers to medical stations. While in Rome, he received a personal blessing from Pope Pius, who assured him he would not die in the war. Later in the war, several of his usual comrades were killed in a plane crash.
His daughter, Selzer, mentioned, “He won’t talk about that too much.”
After returning from the war, Trumbetas, who has five children, settled down in Delaware County and worked as a welder for the Penn Panel and Box Co. in Collingdale. He and Barbara raised their children in Sharon Hill and lived with his son until last August, when they both moved into the Southeast Veterans Center, where they are both roommates, Selzer said.
The National WWII Museum reported that in 2023, there were still 9,675 World War II veterans living in Pennsylvania, which was the third highest among all states. Of those, 104 were residing in Pennsylvania veterans homes, as stated by Travis Davis, the executive director at Pennsylvania Department of Military and Veterans Affairs. He was wearing a Chase Utley jersey at Tuesday’s celebration. Additionally, he mentioned that 29 World War II veterans live at the Southeast Veterans Center.
Davis said, "The Phillies organization really went all out for Paul's birthday."
Brig. Gen. Terrence L. Koudelka Jr., director, Joint Staff, Joint Force Headquarters, Pennsylvania National Guard, expressed that he is "truly honored to be part of this celebration" and told Trumbetas that "it’s because of airmen like you that I stand here in the service of my country."
McCarthy said to Trumbetas, "Our nation’s survival is due to brave men like yourself."
Brig. Gen. (Ret) Maureen Weigl, Department of Military and Veterans Affairs deputy adjutant general, also spoke and thanked Trumbetas for his service.
Trumbetas described the celebration as "wonderful" and the cake as "excellent" as he headed over to the ice cream station to top it all off.
