Page 2 THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 2020 ~THE ADVOCATE ASKS~ A salute to Saugus’s oldest living veteran, Maurice DiBlasi, 100, who lived to talk about a torpedo attack he survived in the Navy in World War II Editor’s Note: During Wednesday’s Veterans Day ceremony at Saugus Veterans Park, people were talking about Maurice DiBlasi, who turned 100 years old in July. Because of concerns of how he might be at risk to the Coronavirus, DiBlasi didn’t attend the ceremony. We decided to reprint a previous interview we did with him three years ago because it captures the essence of Veterans Day. In that conversation, he talked about his close encounter with death during World War II after being on a ship that was attacked by a German submarine, U-130. DiBlasi was a boatswain’s mate second class, serving on the USS Hugh L. Scott transport ship when it was hit by two torpedoes while unloading supplies on Nov. 12, 1942, during the invasion of North Africa. DiBlasi said he jumped into the water after the second torpedo hit the ship, which later sank. There were close to 60 casualties. DiBlasi, a 1938 Revere High School graduate, lived in Revere for about 50 years and served as a fi refi ghter of that city for 31 years. He was credited with helping to save the lives of two women and a cat during the fi re of a three-family home. DiBlasi was married to the late Victoria more than seven decades before she passed away early last year. They CELEBRATING 100: U.S. Navy Veteran Maurice DiBlasi celebrated his 100th birthday in July in front of his Saugus home. Local veterans leaders believe he is the town’s oldest living veteran. (Saugus Advocate fi le photo by Mark E. Vogler) Banking with a hometown touch. Open a free checking account with no monthly fees, and get access to Mobile Banking, Bill Pay and other features. Because no matter where you go, we’re right by you. Call or visit us to sign up. 419 BROADWAY, EVERETT MA 02149 61 7-38 7 - 1 1 10 7 7 1 SALEM ST, LYNNFIELD, MA 01940 781-7 76- 4444 WWW.EVERET TBANK . COM raised four children and enjoyed the company of 11 grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren. DiBlasi has three daughters: Lisa Barras and Joanne Delisio, both of Saugus, and Patricia Howell of Wakefi eld. He continues to enjoy walks through his neighborhood, eating, visiting friends at the Saugus Senior Center and talking about his days in the Navy and on the Revere Fire Department. Here are some highlights of our November 2017 interview with him. Q: Maurice, what does Veterans Day mean to you? A: To me, it means soldiers and sailors giving their lives for our beautiful country that we enjoy and live in – the best in the world. And I was proud to go in the Navy and help save our country from the invasions of Germany and whoever was trying to take our freedom away from us. Veterans Day is for everyone in the armed forces who’s played a part in saving this great country. I was proud to be a Navy man and I still am. I loved it, almost as much as I loved the Fire Department. Veterans Day is a day to recognize everyone who has contributed to protecting this nation. Q: Do you remember when Right by you. Member FDIC Member DIF you enlisted in the Navy? A: Yes, I think I enlisted in July of 1942, in Newport, R.I. And from there, we went down to Virginia to get training on the Scott (the USS Hugh L. Scott transport ship) as an invasion ship. And we had three months of training on the Scott with the Higgins boat landings. In October we started in the fl eet across the Atlantic Ocean to invade North Africa. The Germans’ Rommel was running rampant down there with his tanks. Q: So, on the Scott you were providing supplies. That was your basic mission? A: Right, and troops – mainly dropping off troops. It was in October that we were headed into North Africa. My job was to let the Higgins boats – with the Marines and sailors in them – down into the water to invade. Now, that was the 8th of November. Four days later I asked permission to get out of the gun mount and get myself freshened up a little, because everything was quiet. The invasion was completed, and now we’re taking cargo and supplies into the troops. So, I asked permission to get cleaned up, and they gave me permission. So, I freshened up and showered, then I went to the mess hall. I asked what we were having, and they told me beef stew. I said, “Beef stew! I’m not gonna eat no beef stew.” And one of the guy’s told me, “DiBlasi, you better eat it. It may be your last meal.” I’m not sure whether I had the meal or not, but I headed three stories up to the top deck to the gun mount. When the fi rst torpedo hit us, I nearly soiled my pants. I thought I was going to die then. Then I went through two structures and the second torpedo hit. I looked over the rail from the high side but decided I couldn’t jump ship because they hadn’t given the “abandon ship” order yet. Then an offi cer comes running by, goes down a fl ight of stairs and dives into the water. I said to myself, if it’s good ASKS | SEE PAGE 12
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