Veteran’s Day Tribute
Heart of a leader
Beloved PBA member Neil Van Ess named Commander
of the Military Order of the Purple Heart
n BY LISA ARCELLA
Aug. 28 will forever be burned into Neil Van Ess’ memory.
While serving with the U.S. Army 101st Airborne Division in
Vietnam, he was shot in the stomach, leg and back. And despite
several surgeries and a recovery process that took more than
two years, the decorated military veteran never for a moment
regretted being on the front lines.
“Vietnam was our call to duty and our mission,” Van Ess ex-
plains. “I was serving my country. We were attacking the Viet-
cong in a village complex when I was hit. A brave medic and a
brave helicopter crew came in the middle of the night to take
me off of the combat field. If it weren’t for those people that I
didn’t know, I wouldn’t be here today.”
His bravery ultimately was awarded with a Purple Heart. And
now at 68, the New Jersey native and retired Totowa Captain
and former NJ State PBA board member has been elected as the
National Commander of the Military Order of the Purple Heart
(MOPH).
The organization consists of Purple Heart recipients across
the country and aids all veterans as they navigate the complex-
ities of the Veterans Administration. As Van Ess sees it now, his
experiences as a young man in a war zone inspired him to con-
tinue to help his brothers and sisters in arms, as well as serve
the state PBA and Totowa Local 80.
“It’s probably part of my therapy,” he laughs. “I never looked
at it that way, but I believe in leaving no one behind.”
As recently as 15 years ago, Van Ess fought for law enforce-
ment offi