WWII Vet Finally Recovers Honors

Irving Schick fought fiercely and survived some of the worst combat of World War II, but when doctors at a New York Army hospital told him that further treatment of his wounds included a risk of paralysis, he decided he’d had enough of the service.

A construction worker by trade who had been a private first class in the infantry, Schick bolted the hospital, with discharge in hand, leaving behind the medals he had earned during three years of duty.

“As soon as I heard [about the risk of paralysis], I ran out of there in just my blue pajamas, a purple robe and a pair of paper slippers,” Schick said. “And I didn’t look back.”

On Monday, more than 50 years later, Schick, now 74, was re-awarded his lost medals by Rep. Howard L. Berman (D-Mission Hills) in a small ceremony in his district office. Among the medals given to Schick are a Bronze Star that, until Berman aide Fred Flores uncovered it a few weeks ago, Schick did not know he had earned.

“He had no idea that he was eligible for the Bronze Star, but we are very pleased to award it to him today along with his other ribbons,” Berman said.

Schick’s other medals include the Good Conduct Medal, American Campaign Medal, European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal, WWII Victory Medal, Combat Infantry Badge and Honorable Service Lapel Button WWII.

Schick, who lives in Van Nuys with his wife, Dolores, is a Brooklyn native who has retained the accent and mannerisms of his hometown.

He joked with Berman that his medals were 50 years overdue and threatened to challenge him in the next election.

Schick didn’t try to recover his medals until a couple of months ago when he saw a television program about some other veterans in a similar situation. He contacted Flores, who helped him complete the necessary forms.

“I’m not a gung-ho guy, but I am proud to be an American. I went because I love my country,” said Schick, whose father served in World War I and his son in Vietnam.

Flores is helping Schick attempt to recover the one medal that still eludes him, the Purple Heart. Despite the fact that he was severely injured by German artillery fire, red tape has prevented him from recovering that particular honor so far.

“I earned these medals,” Schick said, “but I wasn’t alone. I’ve got a lot of buddies that are nothing but dust and bones over there. I think of them all the time.”