One of Hamilton’s few remaining World War II Veterans celebrates his 100th birthday on Friday, Aug. 2.
Frank V. Cuiule, a long-time resident of both Trenton and Hamilton, will be honored with a written proclamation written by and delivered in person by Hamilton Mayor Jeff Martin in Hamilton’s Veteran’s Park at the WWII Veteran’s Memorial.
Veterans Park holds special resonance for Cuiule, who played tennis there on virtually a daily basis until his early 90s. In fact, the centenarian still competes in an annual tennis tournament named for him about a decade ago.
Born and raised in the Chambersburg neighborhood of Trenton, he has resided in Hamilton for the last half century with his wife of 76 years, Connie.
Graduating from Trenton High School in 1942, Cuiule enlisted in the Navy in 1944, after being turned down in several prior attempts due to medical reasons. Up until that point, he spent two years as a riveter at one of GM’s retooled military factories, producing airplanes for the war effort. Upon his enlistment, he served in the South Pacific in the Naval Armed guard as a signalman and later a quartermaster, fighting in the Battle of Okinawa, the last major battle of World War II and the bloodiest of the Pacific campaign. A month later, word of the Japanese surrender came just as his ship was entering Pearl Harbor.
Upon his return to civilian life in 1946, Cuiule went to work at the Veterans Administration for two years, then embarked upon a 50-year career with the U.S. Postal Service. During his lengthy service as a letter carrier, Cuiule delivered mail to nearly every corner of the Trenton metro area.
He and his wife raised a family of four children, later becoming proud grandparents and great-grandparents.
