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Ventura veteran finally gets World War II medals
| Thursday, Apr 13 2006 6:15 AM
Last Updated: Thursday, Apr 13 2006 6:15 AM
A military veteran was pinned with Bronze Star and Purple Heart medals - more than 60 years after he earned them.
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Adam Macht served as a combat infantryman during World War II in Tunisia, Algeria and French Morocco. He earned a Bronze Star for heroic service and a Purple Heart for wounds suffered in battle.
But he never received them - until Wednesday.
"This is a long overdue presentation," Chief Master Sgt. Benito Salinas of the Air National Guard said before pinning the three-inch medals to Macht's green Army jacket.
The oversight was uncovered when officials at Cypress Place Senior Living in Ventura checked to see if Macht, a new resident, was eligible for veterans' pension benefits, said Jim Duran, the facility's executive director. The investigation to confirm his military service found he'd never been presented with the medals.
It was unclear why Macht never received the medals, which the military quickly shipped to the nursing home.
Macht, 87, suffers from Alzheimer's disease, and sat mostly still in his wheelchair with his eyes closed during Wednesday's ceremony, which was organized by nursing home officials and included his friends and military brass. But the former corporal kept his head high during the pinning.
"He's a precious man," said his nurse, Sharon Callis. "He loves talking about Gen. Patton and how proud he was to serve in the Army and in World War II."
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