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Honors paid to oldest known female World War II veteran
By ALEXANDRA CALDWELL
| Article published on Wednesday, Nov. 11, 2009 |
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| Photo by ALEXANDRA CALDWELL |
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| Rose Gorga is the oldest known surviving female WW II veteran and was recently honored for her service at the Clearwater Veterans Day celebration. |
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LARGO – Rose Gorga has served people all her life, from being a medical assistant in World War II to feeding the homeless through her church.
It was her turn to receive recognition Oct. 8 at the Clearwater Veterans Appreciation Day event at Bright House Networks Field where she was honored as the oldest known surviving female WW II veteran.
Gorga, who just turned 107 in October, was invited onto the field during the ceremony where she received flowers and applause for her service. Nelly Melville, Gorga’s caregiver, said the experience was emotional for Gorga.
“Afterwards, she told me, ‘Wow, that was nice.’ And it was emotional,” Melville said.
Gorga grew up in New Jersey in an Italian family, Melville said. Her parents were from Italy, and she had one younger brother, Charles, who is now deceased. Gorga became one of the first people in the Women Army Corps and she helped care for the wounded soldiers in the war, earning a medal of bravery, Melville said.
After the war, Gorga never really talked about her experiences because it was sad to think about what she had seen, Melville said her niece told her. She went to work for the National Park Service and did office work until she moved to Clearwater in 1969, Melville said, and lived there until she went into assisted living. Gorga now is under Melville’s care at Loving Care Assisted Living LLC in Largo where she has lived for about seven years.
“It’s an honor (to care for her,)” Melville said. “She did so much for us and to be able to have somebody to give her a little bit back of what she gave to all of us, that’s an honor, to tell you the truth. She’s my treasure and I enjoy her, so that’s why I care for her and nobody else does. I own this business with my son but I could be out but I choose to be here for her.”
In her younger days, Gorga loved coffee, martinis and dancing and although she had many boyfriends, she never married and had no children, Melville said. A devout Catholic, Gorga prays every day and always helped the church and the needy.
“She prays every night,” Melville said. “She loved to help people all her life. She’s a giver and donated her time to the church, and she used to feed the hungry people back in the day and cook them food. She’s just a wonderful person. And you can just feel that she’s at peace and this is her. She was like this all her life.”
Melville said Gorga is still in excellent health and eats well – one of her favorite meals is chicken soup with ginger. She is aware of what goes on around her and still communicates. She just has slower reactions than she used to, Melville said.
“What’s the secret to living well? Relax. Be kind. Be good to people,” Melville said. “That’s what she believed in, and look how far it got her. She’s proof that it works. The woman has no pain.”
Gorga is an inspiration to Melville, who said it is important to honor veterans like her and hopes to live in Gorga’s example.
“She retired and kept helping people,” Melville said. “I think I’d like to be like that. I’d like to help people like her.”
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Article published on Wednesday, Nov. 11, 2009
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