World War II Honoree

Angelo M. Minotto

Hometown

Bayonne, New Jersey

Honored By

Son

WHEN THE DEFENSE DEPARTMENT DESIGNATED THE TRANSPORTATION INDUSTRY AS VITAL TO THE WAR EFFORT, MY FATHER WAS IN THE BUS BUSINESS IN THE BAYONNE AND JERSEY CITY AREA OF NEW JERSEY. THE GOVERNMENT WANTED HIM TO CONTINUE TO RUN REGULAR ROUTES WHILE, AT THE SAME TIME, TAKING ON ADDITIONAL SPECIAL RUNS TO SUCH LOCAL FACTORIES AS WESTERN ELECTRIC, ELCO BOAT WORKS, KELLOGG STEEL, INLAND STEEL, RYERSON STEEL, GENERAL DYNAMICS. THIS MEANT ABOUT 5 YEARS OF DOUBLE AND TRIPLE SHIFTS, TRANSPORTING THE VITAL WAR WORKERS TO THE AFOREMENTIONED PLANTS AND PICKING THEM UP AFTER EACH OF THE 3 SHIFTS. ANY SPARE MOMENTS WERE SPENT SCROUNGING GASOLINE, OIL, SPARE PARTS, TIRES, IN ORDER TO KEEP THE OLD BUSES ROLLING. IT WAS IMPOSSIBLE TO ORDER NEW BUSES AND CARS IN THOSE DAYS BECAUSE ALL MAJOR AUTO MAKERS HAD BEEN CONVERTED TO WAR PRODUCTION. MORE ENDLESS HOURS WERE SPENT IN THE GARAGES, TRYING TO DO INEXPENSIVE SELF-REPAIRS TO GET THE BUSES TO ROLL THE NEXT DAY.