World War II veteran receives medals -- and a surprise guest
| Thursday, Jul 02 2009 06:08 PM
Last Updated Thursday, Jul 02 2009 06:08 PM
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Casey Christie / The Californian World War II veteran, Walter Truax, 90, was excited, yet humbled to receive his past due medals for serving his country from 1941 to 1945. He received several medals from Congressman Kevin McCarthy Thursday in Bakersfield during a press conference.
Casey Christie / The Californian While World War II veteran, Walter Truax, 90, left, was receiving several past due medals for his service, his grandson Marine Corps Corporal, Samuel Pascale, made a surprise visit from Twenty-Nine Palms to congratulate his grandfather. Congressman Kevin McCarthy, right, presented Truax with the following medals. The Silver Star, Bronze Star medal, Good Conduct medal, American Defense Service medal, American Campaign medal, European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign medal with 3 bronze service stars, World War II Victory medal, Combat Infantryman Badge 1st Award, and the Honorabls Service Lapel Button. Mr. Truax had never received these medals prior to Thursday.
Casey Christie / The Californian The medals received by World War II veteran Walter Truax are lined up in Congressman Kevin McCarthy's office before Thursday presentation to Truax.
Walter Truax thought he was going to get his World War II medals through FedEx.
Instead, the 90-year-old veteran was presented the medals by Congressman Kevin McCarthy, R-Bakersfield, as well as from a surprise guest: his grandson, who is currently serving in Iraq.
On Thursday, Truax jumped into Marine Cpl. Samuel Pascale's arms and asked, "How did you get here?"
Truax received nine medals he earned during the war. The highest medals he received were the Silver Star and the Bronze Star.
Both medals are awarded for acts of bravery. Medal recipients are nominated by a commanding officer.
Truax never thought to collect his medals after the war until he saw the ones his two grandsons, both U.S. Marines, had earned during tours in Iraq.
"In 1945, we were all anxious to get home," Truax said. "Medals weren't even thought of."
Truax served in the Army from Jan. 7, 1941 to Nov. 3, 1945. He spent most of that time in Germany, serving as a squad leader and holding the rank of staff sergeant.
Of the war, Truax said, "I have a lot of good memories, and a lot of bad ones."
But he never shared these memories with his family, bringing nothing back from war except some paper money.
His daughter, Jeanne Truax Owens, said that when his three children asked what he did in the war, Truax would laugh and say he was a cook.
After the war he opened his own business, Truax Optical, right here in Bakersfield. He's been a member of the Bakersfield Host Lions Club for 40 years.
He was married to his high school sweetheart for 52 years until her death a few years ago.
He visited Punchbowl Cemetery in Hawaii and the Epinal American Cemetery and Memorial in France. About the cemeteries, he said, "You see the white crosses, those are the real heroes."
It wasn't until grandson Pascale visited home this past Christmas from Iraq that Truax was finally able to talk to a family member about his wartime experiences.
When Pascale came back from the war, he was in a "dark place," Owens said. He and his grandfather would sneak off and talk for hours and hours.
"Dad would say, 'the machinery may be different but the soldiers are still the same,'" Owens said.
On Thursday, Pascale came straight from the base in Twentynine Palms to see his grandfather receive his awards.
"I've looked up to my grandfather for a long time," Pascale said. "I'm proud to have followed in his footsteps."
