By Donald A. Wambold Jr., Special to the Local News
One of the icons of West Chester when I was growing up was Falini's Shoe Store at 112 S. High St. This was a forgone era when even cheap shoes were of quality. They would be reheeled and resoled, while today we have the cheap, throw-away, hollowed-heeled shoes from China.
There were other shoes stores in West Chester, but Falini's was within walking distance of our apartment. A hub of activity, Tullio Falini sold as well as repaired shoes.
I would stand looking over the counter through the open shop door, fascinated by banks of pulleys, sanders, buffing wheels and grinders and the smell of glues and dyes as Mr. Falini labored on the shoes.
Mr. Falini believed in the old-school concept of customer service. He liked to chat with all his customers, and everyone enjoyed talking with him. Dirty-aproned, worn leathered face and hands, and a big smile, he asked how my mom was, how my dad was doing, and finally how I was doing in school.
On rare occasions I noticed Mr. Falini would be in a foul mood, or seemed distracted. I asked my family: What is wrong with Mr. Falini? My mother explained that both Mr. Falini and his brother were in the war (World War II) and were very close. He survived but his brother did not; they never found his brother. With the innocence and ignorance of youth, I imagined that maybe one day his brother would show up and they would have a great reunion and Mr. Falini would be happy again.
Mr. Falini passed away in 1980; the shoe store remained open until 2001.
In 2000 I was invited to become a member of the West Chester Service Club and became involved with the club's research on its Hall of Heroes project. It was only then that I discovered the story of Tullio Falini and his brother Emidio. We were able to find a shipmate of Emidio's and put him in touch with the family, and for the first time ever for the family ... closure.
Emidio Joseph Falini was born March 13, 1923, to Dominic and Virginia who immigrated from Italy. They lived at 128 E. Gay St. above their shoe repair shop. Dominic was an entrepreneur as well as an orthopedic shoemaker by training. He made sports shoes for colleges and boots for state troopers. At one point he had three shoe stores in West Chester.
Emidio was one of five children: Tullio and Anna were older, and Gertrude (Dolly), and Dominick Jr. were younger. Emidio was called "Mede" by his family and "Skeets" by his friends.
Emidio was a member of St. Agnes Church and graduated the eighth grade in 1940 from St. Aloysius Academy at Villa Maria. He was the star of their track team, played the trombone, and acted in plays. Skeets was just over 6 feet, with blue eyes; some thought he looked like Cary Grant. He was outgoing and lit up the room. He loved playing cards, and he would sing show tunes in the car with his friends.
Emidio attended West Chester High School, Class of 1943. The school was on the northeast corner of Church and Washington streets. He dated a schoolmate, Anna Mae Davis.
Skeets obtained a part-time job at a local ice plant on the first block of West Chestnut Street. He saved all his money for his future plans of marrying and building a home in West Chester.
Emidio left high school in his senior year to join the Navy on Sept. 10, 1943, to defend our nation. He was sent to Sampson, N.Y., for basic training, and he was rated third in his class. He received instruction as a signalman and was assigned to a Landing Craft Infantry- LCI(M)-974. LCIs were small, 250-on landing ships, the (M) was modified to carry mortars for fire support.
Emidio participated in amphibious operations in the Philippines, first at Leyte, the first island in the Philippines retaken. This evoked the Japanese response, resulting in the Battle of Leyte Gulf, intended to crush the amphibious forces, and became the largest Naval battle in history. The LCI(L)-974 shot down an enemy plane during this battle, a remarkable feat for such a small ship.
Emidio's ship participated in the landings on Luzon, the largest island in the Philippines, at Lingayen Gulf, in January 1945. His ship pulled back from the shore for the night. A Japanese Kaiten suicide boat snuck in under the cover of darkness and hit his ship about 4 a.m. on Jan. 10, 1945. The tremendous detonation caused by the explosives in the suicide boat, the mortar ammunition as well as the fuel on the LCI caused the ship to sink in about six minutes. The crew suffered heavy causalities. Emidio was below deck and did not have a chance.
His family was notified of his death on March 29, 1945. Emidio's brother Tullio, who served as a gunners mate 1st class in the Coast Guard, was home on leave when they received the tragic news. A memorial service was held in April, and a memorial was placed at St. Agnes Cemetery.
Emidio's family received a letter from his commanding officer, Lt. Joe F. Brown, who was hospitalized as a result of the attack.
"It is my saddest experience of the war to bring you this news. Although it will, in no way compensate for your loss, I hope you may find some consolidation in knowing that Emidio was a fine young man who was held in the highest esteem by all his shipmates and officers. He stood at his battle station with honor at all times, and I want you to know that his heroic sacrifice was made valiantly against common enemy, and that all of his shipmates and I personally share your loss."
When we interviewed, Emidio's surviving shipmate, he told us that the small, close-knit crew would sometimes "rag" with each other. But Emidio was such a great guy, the only thing he could find to tease was Emidio's habit of writing letters to home.
His shipmate asked Skeets why he stayed up to write his letter after working sometimes 12 or more hours.
Emidio responded, simply: "Because I promised."
A promise by Emidio Falini was a promise kept.
Writer Donald A. Wambold Jr. is a resident of West Chester.
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