Burt Waldman was only 19 years old when a mortar shell exploded, sending shrapnel tearing through his back and side. Jose Martinez was also 19 when shrapnel tore through his back.
Both men received Purple Hearts for their wounds suffered in the Korean War. Nearly 60 years later, both men were again recognized for their service to the United States.
The Skokie Theatre joined with the Veterans Assistance Commission (VAC) of Cook County and The Silver Star Families of America (SSFOA) in honoring Waldman, Martinez and 23 veterans from Hines VA Hospital in a ceremony May 20.
The veterans enjoyed lunch at Village Inn Pizza before heading to the Skokie Theatre. Inside, Cook County Commissioner Larry Suffredin (D-Evanston) and VAC Superintendent Richard Morbidoni joined Sunshine Roth, SSFOA national secretary, in presenting Waldman and Martinez with Silver Star Banners in honor of their service.
SSFOA is a nonprofit charity organization whose mission is to recognize and honor wounded and ill veterans from all branches of the U.S. military and the families that have supported them and sacrificed for their service.
Roth, herself the wife of a wounded Vietnam veteran, said her organization pays honor to all wounded veterans, including those suffering from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, Agent Orange effects and Gulf War syndrome.
The Silver Star Banner honors wounded and ill service members both past and present, Roth said. Youve not been forgotten for what you have done for our country.
Commissioner Suffredin, who once served as a captain in the U.S. Air Force Reserve, thanked SSFOA for reminding everyone of the sacrifices made by both military veterans and their families.
As we go into the Memorial Day weekend, those of us who have served in the military realize the sacrifice that many people have made, Suffredin said.
To the people from Hines, I salute you. To the families that are here, we will not forget.
The Silver Star Banner first went to Martinez, who enlisted in the army in July of 1948 as a 17-year-old looking for a job. When the Korean War broke out in June of 1950, Martinez was among the first troops in the fight, landing in Korea July 12, 1950. Fifteen days later, as his position was being shelled by enemy fire, Martinez suffered his first wound in action, making him the first Mexican-American from Illinois to be wounded in the Korean War.
After spending five weeks in a Japanese hospital (during which time he received the Purple Heart), Martinez was shipped back to the front lines. His unit pushed close to the North Korea Manchuria border before being pushed back to Seoul. On their way back, the truck he was riding in hit a landmine, blowing Martinez from the trucks back end. He suffered a concussion but was not hospitalized.
Martinez returned to the United States on July 27, 1951. Before receiving his Banner, he spoke of those who never returned home.
I am receiving this award today, just not for me, but for the soldiers that never made it back.
After receiving his Purple Heart, also in a Japanese hospital, Waldman eventually returned to his unit, also among the first to see action in the war. He served four more months before returning home. The Niles resident said he didnt think much about his Purple Heart, saying that, at the time he received it, he was just happy to not be in the sub-zero temperatures of Korea.
Receiving his Banner, Waldman kept his remarks short.
I didnt come here prepared with a speech, he said, but Im just glad to be here. Thank you.
After the presentations, the Skokie Theatre’s Al Curtis introduces Heather Moran, who serenaded the crowd with songs from her show “Come to the Cabaret.”
Jonathan Bullington/Triblocal.com reporter
To see more photos from this event, click here.
