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Honor A Deceased Veteran Ceremony
 June 8, 2009
Anthony Chetko

      Anthony Chetko was born in Johnson City, New York on September 21, 1946 to proud parents Anthony and Anne Haddad Chetko. The Chetko’s also had a daughter Penny, who today is married to the Hon. George Ceresia, a New York State Supreme Court Justice.

      Tony grew up in Endicott, New York where he attended Union Endicott High School and from there on to the University of Buffalo receiving his Bachelor of Science Degree in 1969. Tony would go on to complete his graduate work at the State University of Binghamton from where he would receive his Master of Science Degree in 1973.

      A short time after completing his undergraduate work on September 18, 1969 Tony enlisted in the United States Army in Endicott, New York.

      Tony served in Vietnam with the 25^th Infantry’s 5^th Infantry. Company C, 1^st Battalion the unit to which Tony was assigned served gallantly in Vietnam for a total of 1,716 days. During that period the 25^th Infantry was credited with eleven Vietnam campaigns and was twice awarded the Cross of Gallantry with Palm.

      On July 28, 1970 while Tony’s unit was in the process of establishing their night defensive positions, elements of the unit came under intense attack from a large enemy force. I am now paraphrasing from official army documents. “With complete disregard for his own safety Private Chetko exposed himself to a hail of enemy fire as he immediately began to counter attack with suppressive machine gun fire.  Running low on ammunition Private Chetko unhesitatingly moved to secure more ammunition so as to continue his counter attack on the enemy insurgents.”  For his actions Tony was awarded the Bronze Star w/ “V” Device.

      During a three month period Tony and other members of the 25^th, known as Tropic Lightning, participated in allied thrusts deep into enemy sanctuaries located in Cambodia. During those operations thousands of tons of communist supplies, ammunition, and weapons were confiscated severely crippling Cambodian efforts against American units.

      An interesting “sidebar” while in Cambodia Tony was interviewed by a news team which was reporting for the famous NBC Huntley-Brinkley Report.  Tony’s mom was able to get a copy of that news clip and it is still a part of the Chetko Family Archive today.

      Leaving Vietnam in the spring of 1971 Tony was honorably discharged a short time later on April the 12^th. In addition to the Bronze Star Private 1^st Class Chetko received a Purple Heart, the Army Commendation Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, Combat Infantryman Badge 1^st Award, Republic of Vietnam Campaign Ribbon w/1960 Device, and the Sharpshooter Badge with Auto Rifle Bar.  

      When in junior high Tony had a girlfriend named Josephine Putrino. On June 21, 1969 “Joe” became Mrs. Anthony Chetko at the St. Anthony of Padula Church. Tony and Joe moved to East Greenbush upon Tony’s completion of his Masters Degree.

      Tony went to work for New York State accepting an internship with the Division of Budget. That internship would turn out to be the beginning of a thirty year career in state government.  During that time and following his internship with the Budget Division Tony worked on the Assembly’s Ways and Means Committee, as a Program Associate in the Executive Chamber under Governor Hugh Carey, and then on to the Senate Finance Committee where he served for nineteen years until his retirement in 2002.

      When not working and following his retirement Tony enjoyed traveling with family, and in addition to his annual Atlantic City Vacation, visited California, Aruba, and loved to take family “jaunts” to the Mohegan Sun.

      A self taught handy-man, Tony was proud of the deck he built around his pool, the bathroom he built, and various other home improvement projects.

      What Tony loved most though was spending time with family and friends.

      Tony passed away on August 5, 2007 and is buried in the Calvary Cemetery in Johnson City.

      It is an extreme honor for me to be here this morning as we remember and memorialize a True American Hero, Private First Class Anthony F. Chetko, Jr.

 Neil J. Kelleher - June 2009