A local World War II veteran stole the show Tuesday when he threw out the ceremonial first pitch at the Pittsburgh Pirates’ spring training opener in Florida.
Ninety-year-old John Swartzfager, a retired pastor from Tionesta who spends winters in Lake Wales, Florida, was able to take advantage of the opportunity thanks to a partnership between the Detroit Tigers and the Polk County Veterans Council.
“Every year, for spring training games, the Tigers ask me to line up veterans to throw out the first pitch,” council chairman Gary Clark said Wednesday. “John and his wife Marlene contacted me and said John would like to do it. It’s a neat thing that the Tigers do.”
Prior to John taking the mound for his moment in the spotlight, a brief biography was read to the crowd at Joker Marchant Stadium in Lakeland to give them perspective on what all he had done while being an active member of the military.
John enlisted in the United States Navy at age 17 after growing up in Oil City. He served three years in the South Pacific on Landing Ship Tank 687 with the rank of gunner’s mate second class.
After boarding his ship in Norfolk, Virginia, the first Marine division was taken to Peleliu, where John experienced his first invasion in September 1944. From there, he was involved in multiple other raids including on the islands of Leyte, Luzon and Okinawa.
Over the course of the incursions, John witnessed many kamikaze attacks, which were suicide blitzes from the Japanese military.
John made three trips to Japan at the conclusion of the war to take supplies for reconstruction and, between these trips, he witnessed General Douglas MacArthur’s famous return to the Philippines.
John was honorably discharged from the Navy when he was 20 and returned to Oil City.
Those in attendance at Tuesday’s game were not shy in showing their appreciation for John’s efforts defending the country.
“The crowd was so receptive,” said Marlene Swartzfager, John’s wife of 36 years and a retired physical education teacher in Forest Area School District. “They clapped and thanked him for his service. Everyone just made him feel like he was king for the day. It was a marvelous honor.”
“He was a big hit and he obviously has a tremendous resume,” Clark added.
Making the day even more special for John was having an unexpected visit from his children.
Sheri Luchs of Tionesta, Lisa Williams of Sarasota, Florida, and Miles Furnish of Indianapolis, Indiana, all made the trip to Lakeland for the surprise.
“I just happened to be in the area for a work meeting,” Furnish said. “It was tremendous.”
John’s church family also showed their support, but in even bigger numbers.
A bus and two cars full of people from South Lake Wales Church of God made it to the game to witness the first pitch.
“This was such a big deal,” Marlene said.
John was humbled by the entire experience, but receiving credit or accolades for his service was never a driving factor when he decided to join the Navy as a teenager.
“Never have I experienced this type of honor and attention before,” John said. “I was taken back by everyone’s respect and appreciation. I never realized how much people cared about veterans’ service. I would do it all over again, even if I knew this recognition wouldn’t come. I didn’t do it for the honor. I did it because it was the right thing to do.”