Sitting in the comfort of his home on Jack's Hill Road, he recounted for Voices how he, a friend and a cousin decided in 1941 to join the Coast Guard and how he was the only one of the three who passed the physical.

"Me being the skinny one," he said of his lanky 134-pound frame at the time.

Like many young men who served their country in the military, his stint took him to many places, including New Orleans, where he trained, and Ellis Island, where he was assigned to the USS Spruce as a buoy tender.

When World War II broke out, his unit was responsible for laying mines at the New York Harbor as protection from enemy submarines that might invade U.S. waters.

After being transferred to the U.S. Coast Guard Academy in New London for additional training, Mr. Beras was eventually assigned to the USS Annapolis PF 15, a patrol frigate.

The months that followed took him to the Gulf of Mexico, Bermuda and the Straits of Gibraltar, where his ship disabled a submarine that had been lying in wait.

One of Mr. Beras' most dramatic military experiences was destroying a German submarine that was approaching the U.S. off the coast of Virginia.

"We were dropping ash cans, rivets were falling off the masts. It was scary," he recalled.

As for the submarine, "it's probably still there" at the bottom of the ocean, he said.

Mr. Beras, now 87 and 74 pounds heavier than he was when he enlisted, is one of 99 Connecticut veterans of World War II who will be traveling to Washington, D.C., to visit the World War II Memorial and other memorials on November 7.

The trip, which this year will take place just before Veterans Day, is part of The American Warrior program founded by Chris Coutu of Wallingford in 2005 in honor of his father.

The program's mission is to support all veterans, armed services members and patriotism. The "Day of Honor" trips are funded by donations and free to participating veterans. Included are meals, a personalized tee-shirt, the flight and motorcoach services.

The veterans will be traveling with guardians - one guardian for every two vets - as well as two physicians and a photographer, starting at Bradley International Airport.

On reaching Reagan International Airport, they will be greeted by a military band and hundreds of well-wishers.

The veterans will then view the WW II Memorial, have lunch and then visit the Vietnam, Korean and Lincoln Memorials and the Marine, Navy, Air Force and Iwo Jima Memorials.

Although it's a 20-hour day, provisions will be made to supply wheelchairs and medical assistance, if necessary, so that the veterans are comfortable.

Mr. Beras, who has arthritis in his joints and who uses a cane, said didn't think he'd have a problem with endurance. A member of the Oxford Senior Citizens and a frequenter of casinos, he said he's used to taking day-long trips.

In fact, many vets stay up until 2 or 3 a.m. on returning from Washington recounting their day's experiences, families were told at an orientation meeting in October in Norwich.

Mr. Beras' guardian on the trip to Washington will be Wendy Powell, a 59-year-old co-owner with her husband of a medical manufacturing business in Cheshire.

Mrs. Powell, who has a keen interest in World War II and a soft spot in her heart for veterans of all wars, is also a member of the Guardian Angel organization, a volunteer group that writes letters and sends e-mails and packages to persons serving in the military.

It was through the Guardian Angel program that Mrs. Powell learned about and was invited to participate in the American Warrior program.

Mrs. Powell said she doesn't understand why she is so passionate about veterans.

"No one is my family was in the military," she said. "I'm just honored to do this for vets."

Mr. Beras, whose name was submitted for consideration by his daughter, Diane Peterson, also of Oxford, said he was anxiously awaiting the trip.

"I'm looking forward to talking to people from the same war I was in. There aren't too many of us left," Mr. Beras said.