SYCAMORE – Frank Bilardello was an eyewitness to history.

While serving on the destroyer USS William M. Wood, the Sycamore man was part of the Naval blockade outside Cuba during the Cuban missile crisis. The crew's mission was to prevent Russian ships from entering Cuba with nuclear missiles in October of 1962, during the Cold War.

Bilardello served in the U.S. Navy from 1961-65. After spending a year in Iceland – which was an experience in itself – he was transferred to Norfolk and assigned to the William M. Wood.