Stonington - As a personnel officer stationed aboard the aircraft carrier USS Wasp in 1942, Thomas Weschler wanted to learn everything he could about the workings of the ship.So when he got call from a boatswain's mate asking if he wanted to come up and watch a procedure, he jumped out of his bed five levels down and made his way to the deck of the ship.

So when he got call from a boatswain's mate asking if he wanted to come up and watch a procedure, he jumped out of his bed five levels down and made his way to the deck of the ship.As he emerged on deck, he immediately saw three torpedoes heading at the starboard side of the ship, so he ran to the port side to escape the explosions that crippled the vessel and ignited its fuel tanks and ammunition. If he had stayed in bed he likely would have been killed or hurt.

As he emerged on deck, he immediately saw three torpedoes heading at the starboard side of the ship, so he ran to the port side to escape the explosions that crippled the vessel and ignited its fuel tanks and ammunition. If he had stayed in bed he likely would have been killed or hurt.After unloading the injured, he and his uninjured crew mates jumped into the ocean through a slick of burning fuel and swam as far underwater as possible to escape being burned. Three hours later he was rescued by a passing destroyer.

After unloading the injured, he and his uninjured crew mates jumped into the ocean through a slick of burning fuel and swam as far underwater as possible to escape being burned. Three hours later he was rescued by a passing destroyer.Weschler was one of the lucky ones. Of the 2,300 men on the Wasp, 700 were killed and 800 injured.

Weschler was one of the lucky ones. Of the 2,300 men on the Wasp, 700 were killed and 800 injured. "I learned two great lessons that day. Be curious and be lucky and you'll get by," the future vice admiral told 200 people gathered at the Stone Ridge retirement community on Wednesday.

"I learned two great lessons that day. Be curious and be lucky and you'll get by," the future vice admiral told 200 people gathered at the Stone Ridge retirement community on Wednesday.Weschler was one of the speakers at Stone Ridge's Veterans Day celebration, which featured veterans reminiscing about their experiences, the Stone Ridge chorus singing the songs of each branch of the military and a slide show in which the military photos of all the veterans were shown.

Weschler was one of the speakers at Stone Ridge's Veterans Day celebration, which featured veterans reminiscing about their experiences, the Stone Ridge chorus singing the songs of each branch of the military and a slide show in which the military photos of all the veterans were shown.Along tables at the entrance to the auditorium were photos, newspaper clippings, medals, uniforms, dog tags and other memorabilia from the Stone Ridge veterans. There was even a Bronze Star, training manuals for B-24 and B-29 pilots, flight goggles and a samurai sword.

Along tables at the entrance to the auditorium were photos, newspaper clippings, medals, uniforms, dog tags and other memorabilia from the Stone Ridge veterans. There was even a Bronze Star, training manuals for B-24 and B-29 pilots, flight goggles and a samurai sword. Of the 285 men and women who live at Stone Ridge, 80 of them are veterans. They served in all branches of the military, and range from infantrymen, pilots and doctors to navigators, ship commanders and intelligence officers.

Of the 285 men and women who live at Stone Ridge, 80 of them are veterans. They served in all branches of the military, and range from infantrymen, pilots and doctors to navigators, ship commanders and intelligence officers.They served in World War II, Korea and Vietnam as well as the Cold War. Their service lasted from a few years to as many as 40 in Weschler's case. Many of them attended Tuesday's program and wore red poppy flowers and name tags that specified in which branch they served.

They served in World War II, Korea and Vietnam as well as the Cold War. Their service lasted from a few years to as many as 40 in Weschler's case. Many of them attended Tuesday's program and wore red poppy flowers and name tags that specified in which branch they served. Another of the residents, Navy veteran Ted Fass, said that while many people celebrate Veterans Day with a barbecue or day trip, it's really a "sad time for veterans."

Another of the residents, Navy veteran Ted Fass, said that while many people celebrate Veterans Day with a barbecue or day trip, it's really a "sad time for veterans.""We think about the days when we lost shipmates, friends and family members in World War II and subsequent wars," he said.

"We think about the days when we lost shipmates, friends and family members in World War II and subsequent wars," he said.Fass told about how his granddaughter once asked him to speak to her class on Veterans Day. He said he told the students that for the country to remain free it sometimes has to fight to preserve that freedom, a freedom that allows them to vote, disagree with their leaders, practice any or no religion, go to school and own a home.

Fass told about how his granddaughter once asked him to speak to her class on Veterans Day. He said he told the students that for the country to remain free it sometimes has to fight to preserve that freedom, a freedom that allows them to vote, disagree with their leaders, practice any or no religion, go to school and own a home. "Thanks to our veterans America is free today," he recalled telling them. "We should honor them every day. Not with parades and ceremonies but with a simple thank you."

"Thanks to our veterans America is free today," he recalled telling them. "We should honor them every day. Not with parades and ceremonies but with a simple thank you."Fass said the students listened in silence as he told them they cannot tell who is a veteran just by looking at them.

Fass said the students listened in silence as he told them they cannot tell who is a veteran just by looking at them.He said a man down the street could have been a hero or prisoner of war who was tortured. The police officer could have served in Iraq; the old man bagging groceries could have helped liberate a World War II death camp.

He said a man down the street could have been a hero or prisoner of war who was tortured. The police officer could have served in Iraq; the old man bagging groceries could have helped liberate a World War II death camp."They are ordinary human beings who gave a part of their lives for your freedom. Remember, when you see a veteran, shake their hands and say thank you," said Fass.

"They are ordinary human beings who gave a part of their lives for your freedom. Remember, when you see a veteran, shake their hands and say thank you," said Fass.Not all of the stories told Tuesday were serious, though.

Not all of the stories told Tuesday were serious, though.Some speakers talked about funny occurrences, such as when Stuart Allen recounted the time he traded his shoes for a samurai sword, earning him the moniker "Shoeless Stu" aboard the minesweeper he served on at the end of World War II.

Some speakers talked about funny occurrences, such as when Stuart Allen recounted the time he traded his shoes for a samurai sword, earning him the moniker "Shoeless Stu" aboard the minesweeper he served on at the end of World War II. Duncan Doolittle, an infantryman, recalled pulling into Tokyo Bay at the end of World War II as part of the occupying force. As the ship docked next to a wide pier, a lone man in a Japanese military uniform bowed to the soldiers aboard the ship, something the Americans never thought they would see. The men clapped.

Duncan Doolittle, an infantryman, recalled pulling into Tokyo Bay at the end of World War II as part of the occupying force. As the ship docked next to a wide pier, a lone man in a Japanese military uniform bowed to the soldiers aboard the ship, something the Americans never thought they would see. The men clapped.The Japanese man then took a few steps back and bowed a second time, and the cheers got even louder.

The Japanese man then took a few steps back and bowed a second time, and the cheers got even louder.The man then took a few more steps back. But before he could bow again he fell off the back of the pier and into the water. The boat went crazy.

The man then took a few more steps back. But before he could bow again he fell off the back of the pier and into the water. The boat went crazy.j.wojtas@theday.com

j.wojtas@theday.com