“Why do people join the military and do scary things?”

Jack Kranchick, a veteran of the Vietnam War and retired Pennsylvania State Police Trooper, was guest speaker at the Lansford Memorial Day service, and asked that question during his speech.

As an example, Kranchick spoke of the 8th Air Force in World War II.

“You had to complete 75 bombing missions,” Kranchick explained. “Once you got your 75 bombing missions, you were done. However; only 25% of the bombers ever lived. Seventy-five percent of them were either shot down and killed; or shot down, captured, and killed. Yet people still went up.”

Kranchick entered the United States Army on his 19th birthday in 1966. After basic training, he eventually was deployed to Vietnam in 1967 where he served with the 173rd Airborne Brigade where he survived the TET Offensive of 1968.

Prior to leaving Vietnam in 1969, he was nominated for the Silver Star and also received two Bronze Stars, with one being for Valor, two Purple Hearts, an Air Medal, an Army Commendation Medal, and also received his Jump Wings. He was also awarded the National Defense Service Medal, the Vietnam Service Medal, and Vietnam Commendation Medal.

He related how he was a freshman on the football team at the Lansford High School in 1961. As he pointed out, he was not too good of a player, and missed crossing the line to complete a tackle.

“If you’re afraid to cross the line, then just quit,” he remembers his coaches and some teammates saying to him.

“I’m not afraid,” he remembers telling them. “I’m not going to quit.”

He related that at one point in Vietnam, he and the rest of the soldiers were facing mortar attacks.

“In an area about the size of a football stadium, 30 to 45 mortars were coming in,” Kranchick recalled. “I’m running from mortar to mortar, falling in the dirt; then I ‘m getting up and running, stuff is getting blown up around me. And this is what came to my mind: ‘Boy, if (Coach) Harkie could see me now!’ That was my motivation; to show that I wasn’t afraid to cross the line.”

The Memorial Day service was held at the American Legion Post 123 in Lansford due to the potential of bad weather. Past Commander Richard D. Pogwist served as Master of Ceremonies.

Deacon Joseph Cannon of St. Joseph’s Parish of the Panther Valley offered the invocation and the benediction. Angela Nardini sang the national anthem and God Bless America.

Art Williams, a member of the Lansford American Legion, presented the Memorial Wreath.

Three Panther Valley students, all from the same family took part. Maddison Maynard read Gen. John A. Logan’s Order; Cy Maynard read Flanders Field; and Eli Maynard read Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address.

Dave Padora, a member of the Lansford American Legion, read the Roll Call of Deceased Lansford Veterans since Memorial Day, 2023: Arthur R. Brobst, Thomas J. Gallagher, Robert Harvan, Stephen Kruzik, Frank J. Luksay, Roy Penberth, Sophie J. Porambo, David Salla, Peter J. Seman, Joseph R. Stack Sr., Elizabeth “Betty” Veron Chabala, and John P. Vitek.

The American Legion Firing Squad offered the Salute to the deceased and the playing of taps.

Post Commander Nathan Krajcirik thanked everyone for attending the service.