Carmine DiPasquale

U.S. Navy Seaman Carmine DiPasquale served in the United States Navy from 1959-1962 aboard the Destroyer USS William Keith, in a five-inch gun turret crew. He was awarded the National Defense Medal and the Armed Forces Expeditionary Forces Medal. He is a community leader and a tireless advocate for all veterans.

During the height of the Cold War, the USS Keith was actively engaged in the Cuban Missile Crisis. The ship participated in the naval blockade ensuring that missiles and other weaponry were unable to reach Cuba and threaten America. During his service, he traveled to many foreign destinations, meeting people from around the globe, developing a desire to help others less fortunate. Due to the cannon blasts in the gun turret, he suffered permanent hearing loss.

Seaman DiPasquale later became deeply involved in the plight of Vietnam veterans who returned home with physical and emotional wounds to a system that was ill-prepared to support them. There were no parades, no hero welcomes, no banners — only a quiet, thankless return home from a painfully difficult tour of duty. He described these men and women later as “the forgotten Heroes." He recognized that battle stress, now known as PTSD, would have a major impact on their lives, and he used the phrase, “You Are Not Alone” for the first time.

Seaman DiPasquale became an active member of the Vietnam Veterans of America, the Veterans of Foreign Wars, Disabled American Veterans, and the American Legion. Due to service-related respiratory illnesses, he lost the ability to breathe normally, but still continues to serve our veterans.

In 2012, he helped form the Greenburgh Veterans Advisory Committee whose primary mission is veteran suicide prevention. Outreach programs include adaptive sports programs, VA medical assistance, housing and financial assistance, veteran recognition dinners, supporting veterans in VA hospitals, and supporting active duty military. “You Are Not Alone” became the Committee’s logo.

Born in the Bronx to Italian immigrants, Seaman DiPasquale moved to the Town of Greenburgh in 1985, where he continues his support of active duty military, his commitment to community, and his dedication to helping veterans.