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Veteran Receives Bronze Star 68 Years Later
(December 26, 2010) |
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| FORT McPHERSON, Ga., Dec. 21, 2010 – It was nearly 69 years
ago that Seymour S. Lavine came here to enlist, hoping to do
his part to end the second World War. He recently returned
to collect the Bronze Star the Army said he was due for his
heroism in the South Pacific. |
Lavine, 98, was a sergeant with the Army's 37th
Infantry Division on the island of Luzon in the
Philippines on Jan. 9, 1945, when his unit was
ambushed.
With enemy rifle fire snapping jungle branches
and leaves all around them, Lavine said he knew
that to stay where they were meant certain death
for him and his fellow soldiers. He grabbed a
Browning automatic rifle from the soldier behind
him and yelled for the rest of his soldiers to
run. Then, with the weapon at his hip, Lavine
fired back at his attackers, covering the
retreat of a dozen fleeing American soldiers who
made it to safety, thanks to him.
"While this Bronze Star is being awarded for
specific action on one particular day, it
actually represents much more," Army Gen. James
D. Thurman, commander of U.S. Army Forces
Command, the Army's largest command, said during
a Dec. 16 ceremony here for Lavine. "This medal
is |
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Army Gen. James D. Thurman, left,
commander of U.S. Army Forces Command, and Army Command Sgt.
Maj. Ronald T. Riling, right, Forscom command sergeant
major, present the Bronze Star to Seymour Lavine, a
98-year-old World War II veteran and Atlanta resident. U.S.
Army photo by Paul D. Prince |
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in recognition of the contribution of an
ordinary man who became an extraordinary soldier
because he chose to serve his nation and his
fellow citizens. And, he did this during the
most dangerous period of the 20th century." |
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The room was packed with soldiers from general to specialist. Their common
thread was the enthusiastic way they gathered to pay tribute to a warrior from
what has been called America's "Greatest Generation."
"Today, we have the honor to go back in history and reflect a little bit about a
great solider,” Thurman said. He noted that Lavine heard the news of the
Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, on his 29th birthday in 1941, and he
enlisted shortly after in 1942.
After the medal presentation, Lavine shared memories of his service during World
War II.
"One day I was leading a patrol," he said. "We came across a tribe of people
that we found out [later] were cannibals." He paused and looked over his
audience. "I'm not sure what it was they fed us for dinner, but I don't think I
really wanted to!"
This brought howls of laughter and a hearty round of applause for Lavine.
"I have had a wonderful life," he said. "I've had more opportunities than many,
and am so grateful to all of you."
When World War II broke out, Lavine quit his job selling clothing to department
stores. He drove his 1939 Pontiac to Fort McPherson to enlist in the Army.
Lavine said he had no choice but to fight. "I knew what was happening in
Europe," he said, referring to the Holocaust. "And I was Jewish."
Lavine was sent to the other side of the world after training where Japan had
established a stronghold of islands across the Pacific. Fighting there was among
the bloodiest, most violent of the war. |
By Kim Walron
U.S. Army Forces Command
American Forces Press Service
Copyright 2010 |
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