I was honored to spend the day with his generation today.
More pics here: http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/3075136/posts?q=1&;page=51
Posted on 10/05/2013 2:07:48 PM PDT by nickcarraway
A World War II veteran and the nation's oldest living Medal of Honor recipient has died in New Jersey.
Nicholas Oresko, an Army master sergeant who was badly wounded as he single-handedly took out two enemy bunkers during the Battle of the Bulge in 1945, died Friday night at Englewood Hospital and Medical Center, hospital officials announced Saturday. He was 96.
Oresko had been hospitalized after injuring himself in a fall at an assisted living center in Cresskill. He died of complications from surgery.
I was honored to spend the day with his generation today.
More pics here: http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/3075136/posts?q=1&;page=51
Rest in Peace Master Sergeant.
God bless ‘em. he got out before Obama’s death panel could get to him. Old vets will be at the top of their list.
RIP, MSG Oresko
Thank you for standing in the gap
Is anyone else sitting there musing about what kind of burial ceremony this hero will receive? After all, just recently, 2 Vietnam Airmen, James Sizemore and Howard Andre, KIA in 1969, were laid to rest at Arlington and the Air Force could not find the funds for a flyover. Instead a civilian outfit, Warrior Aviation, did the job at their own volunteer expense of $24k in fuel costs alone.
Holding my breath for a new outrage!
Outstanding.
A couple of years ago, I talked to a guy who was with the 94th ID during the Bulge.
He said his hands and feet always got a bluish tinge when it was cold out ever afterwards. He said it was his “keepsake”.
I thanked him, and wished him a warm winter.
Definitely has a face from Bayonne.
Don’t mess with Bayonne, things turn out bad when you do.
Yea, some of the nicest guys in the world, till you mess with one of theirs, then, you are on your own.
TAPS...... TO!
I met M/Sgt. Oresko in July of 2000.
Fleet Week is an annual event in NYC where a number of Naval vessels – including at least one foreign navy ship – anchor in New York and the Sailors are given leave.
The event is hosted by the Intrepid Air, Sea, & Space Museum. There are demonstrations and the ships are open for public tour.
You see the Sailors all over town in their dress uniforms.
Fleet Week is usually held during Memorial Day, but in 2000, it was moved to the week of July, 4th.
At the time, I had recently taken a job with Continental Airlines in Houston, but I was home in New York helping out my (now ex) girlfriend who ran the Mayor’s office of Special Events.
They had decided that in honor of Fleet Week and the 4th of July, they would throw a free, USO style concert in Times Square.
They named the event a “Salute to the American Hero,” and lined up acts like the Go-Go’s, Eddie Money, and US Army Veteran/Country singer Craig Morgan as entertainment.
At some point, I suggested that to honor the military, we should have the Mayor present the Key to the City to a member of the Military. He/she would accept it on behalf of all service members.
I suggested we try to find a local Medal of Honor recipient.
The Mayor approved the idea, and it being the day before the event, we now needed to find someone.
I looked through a list of living recipients for a local person. I figured my best chance would be someone with a rare enough name that I could find them in the phone book.
And thus, I found myself on the phone with M/Sgt. Nick Oresko, a WWII Army vet from New Jersey who on January 23, 1945, near Tettingen, Germany, single-handedly defeated a German bunker, was seriously wounded, and then destroyed a second bunker despite his injuries.
Nick was available the next day and was thrilled by the idea. He only asked that we provide him with a ride into and back out of the City and that we also pick up his girlfriend.
So, the next day a fellow from City hall and I set out to pick them up.
Nick was humble, gracious, and funny.
When I asked him about winning the award, he politely told me that he had been awarded the Medal of Honor. He hadn’t “won” it.
We had arranged to use ABC’s Good Morning America studio, overlooking Times Square as a Green Room and to host a private reception.
The concert began, and the area in front of the stage had been reseved for active duty military in uniform.
A bunch of Vietnam Vets took seats in some bleachers off to the side.
When the Mayor arrived at GMA’s studio, he asked to meet Nick. Nick was thrilled and humble. “The Mayor wants to meet me,” he told his girlfriend.
By the time we were ready for Nick’s part of the show, it had rained and was still drizzling. So, the crowd had dispersed during the worst of it, but had mostly returned.
Since not everybody came back, the Vietnam Vets were ushered to the front of the stage as well.
When it was time to go, the Mayor and his staff, instead of waiting for the elevator, started down the stairs, two at a time.
Nick was 83 at the time. He did push ups and walked every day, but his hip wasn’t great and stairs were not easy for him.
Realizing this, the Mayor stopped, and we all took our time.
The ceremony was beautiful. I held an umbrella for Nick as he received the Key to the City.
The crowd loved him and he was truly moved by the reception he received.
As we left the stage, I asked him if he wanted to go say hello to the young Sailors in front of the stage.
Nick decline. I think he wanted to get inside, out of the rain, and back to the side of his girlfriend.
But, then he changed his mind.
So, we stepped into the roped off area, and what I witnessed was incredible.
Young sailors, born decades after Nick had served, came up to him & saluted him. And Nick returned every salute.
Then, the Vietnam Vets, tears in their eyes, came up to him and saluted. Then they gave him bear hugs. Nick was in tears by now.
Finally, the Russian Sailors in town for Fleet Week lined up, and one by one saluted this 83-year-old retired soldier.
All of those who had served understood what it means to be awarded the Medal of Honor, and the respect they had for Nick was palpable.
It was the most moving event I’ve ever witnessed, and it was completely unplanned.
RIP Nick.
RIP, dear hero, in the Arms of our Blessed Lord.
RIP. Thank you for your service.
May God bless and comfort his loved ones.
My heart breaks that this fine soldier had to witness his country fallen to its present state.
***
A few years ago, on a visit to the D-Day memorial in VA, we met a WWII vet and his wife. He had not been at Normandy, and he had not seen combat, although he had been in the Pacific. Broke my heart when I heard him say that he would not do it all over again today with the way our country has deteriorated.
Likewise, my heart aches for the young men — as well as for their parents and their wives — who are put in harm’s way by those who do not love this country.
...was badly wounded as he single-handedly took out two enemy bunkers during the Battle of the Bulge in 1945...
RIP, sir.
Truly, we will not see the likes of these men again in our lifetimes.
My dad was in the Navy and served on the first USS Saratoga. He was a parachute rigger. He never talked about serious things that had happened to him during the war but he had lots of funny stories. My husband’s dad was in the Solomons for 3 years. He was a lt. in the Signal Corp. Both are gone now but I know they would be appalled at what is going on today. I know I am.
RIP-thank you!
Awesome....thanks .
Rest in Peace, Sir, thank you for your service.
What a stinking contrast. America once had millions of Sgt. Oreskos. Now we have Comrade Obama.
What went wrong, people?
I know. I just had to scream it out.
PS: Got a father-in-law just like Oresko. 75th JASCO, Iwo Jima. A real American, not like the commie pretender in the Red House today.
Still alive at 93. Retired as a Lt. Col. Gave up a Brigadier General position to be with his family.
They were the “Greatest Generation” and our Nam guys and OIF/Afghanistan men and women are following in their bloodied footsteps.
R.I.P. Sir. We owe so much to you and your generation. Thank you for your sacrifice.
God bless, Sarge. Well done.
Thank you.
Prayers up for his family.
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