FEATURE STORY:  March 10, 2010

 

 

 

 
The privilege of caring for war heroes is just one more reward in a long list of reasons for loving hospice work.  Delaware Hospice patient, William G. Cocco, of Hockessin, is an honored veteran who served in WWII.

Experts caring for veterans have found that memories of the horrors of war, sometimes bottled up for years, can surface as the end of life nears, bringing on higher levels of stress.   But William Cocco, who survived some harrowing events, returned from Europe in 1945 and told his stories to whoever was interested.  He looks back on those experiences now “as if in a dream,” without stress.

William was 22 when he joined the Army in 1940, during World War II.  As an Italian, born in Italy but raised in the USA, he requested a non-combative posting, “so I wasn’t shooting anyone from my Italian family,” and was assigned and trained as a medic.

William joined the 30th Infantry Division, 117th Regiment in England, as they were preparing to board a Navy battleship headed to Normandy Beach.  William said, “We were the 3rd wave to arrive at the beach.  We stayed safe in the hedgerow area, until we were ready to move on through France.   We then moved through this territory at such a fast pace, that we moved ahead of plans and into grave danger.  Our own planes were dropping bombs on us, not realizing that we had arrived at a certain point earlier than expected.  We also moved faster than our ammunition supply, putting us in even more danger.”

 

It took about two weeks, William remembers, to travel through this area and the number of casualties grew heavy.  “There were so many wounded soldiers to care for that I had little time to worry about the shelling all around me.” 

 

Little did he know that the worst was to come. “We forged on to the Battle of the Bulge, where Germans surrounded us.  It was impossible to proceed to a safe destination to care for the wounded, so we were forced to set up a hospital wherever we could.  I was appointed commander of this operation and in charge of directing the other soldiers to retrieve the wounded.   But I personally felt that I had to be the first one to enter an area to be sure it was safe for my men.  I just couldn’t send anyone else in first.”  At last, troops cleared the Germans out and they were able to gradually move their wounded to a safer place.

Reflecting back, William felt God’s protection through some of his worst moments.  “Near the Rhine River, our troops walked right into the line of fire.  Bullets were popping all around us in the hundreds.  One bullet hit my helmet and bounced off it.  Another miracle occurred when I was awakened one night by a force from God telling me to ‘get up and go to care for the wounded,’ and I did just that.  I am glad I did, because the house where I had been sleeping was destroyed by a bombshell.  The most unforgettable miracle, however, was when I stepped on a mine and it did not go off.  I am so thankful to God for pulling me through those awful ordeals of war.”

For his efforts in World War II, William was awarded a Bronze Star and a Citation for Bravery. 

After returning to his home in Delaware, William met a beautiful young woman named Rose while “jitterbugging” one night on a cruise boat which traveled from New Castle’s port to Philadelphia.  They fell in love, married, raised three children, and have been together for 64 years.

William’s physician referred him to Delaware Hospice one year ago, with a decline in his physical condition.  Rose said, “Our doctor told me one day it was time to talk about future care options for William, but I made it clear that he would be cared for at home.  He suggested that we call Delaware Hospice, and we’re so glad we did.”   

 

Delaware Hospice’s care team visits Rose and William regularly.  One of his nurses, Eileen Challenger, RN, said, “Mr. Cocco is one of my best patients because he does what he should do—rests as much as possible, and reports to us any changes in his condition so that we can help him feel better.”     Social Worker Drew Biehl remarked, “Both Mr. & Mrs. Cocco seem to gain much support from Delaware Hospice’s visits.  Mr. Cocco enjoys quiet conversations and the opportunity to talk about his WWII experiences, his career at Chrysler, and his love of dancing with his wife.”

 

Rose said, “We are so grateful for Delaware Hospice.  Everyone on their staff is just wonderful.   Everyone should know what a comfort it is to have them near you.”

By Beverly Crowl and Jean Cocco

 

About Delaware Hospice
Since 1982, Delaware Hospice has provided exceptional care and support to nearly 35,000 patients and their families.  Its mission is to help each patient, each day, live the fullest, most comfortable life possible.  Delaware Hospice is the largest and only licensed, nonprofit, community-based hospice serving New Castle, Kent and Sussex counties in Delaware and southern Chester and Delaware counties in Pennsylvania.  For more information about Delaware Hospice’s programs and services, upcoming events, or employment opportunities, call 800-838-9800 or visit our website, www.delawarehospice.org.

 

MEDIA CONTACT:   
Beverly Crowl, Public Relations Specialist
302-547-1816  This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it