Just two months after supervising the much-needed beautification of the underpass on 84th Street between 157th Avenue and Shore Parkway, Eddie Earl, the “Flag Man of Howard Beach,” and his Howard Beach 11414 group on Saturday turned their attention to the long-neglected Walter J. Wetzel Triangle in Old Howard Beach.
Walter J. Wetzel Triangle is small park bounded by Cohancy Street, 156th Avenue, 99th Street, and 157th Avenue.
Wetzel grew up in Howard Beach and attended Our Lady of Grace. He was drafted into the Army in October 1965 and completed his training at Fort Dix, New Jersey before being deployed to Vietnam. He was the oldest of seven children, two of whom he never met.
Private First Class Walter Wetzel started his tour of Vietnam on May 8, 1966. He was killed in action just 21 days later.
Photo Courtesy of Eddie Earl
