Medals Returned to World War II Vet After 50 Years
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 had enough of the service.
A construction worker who had been a private first class in the infantry, Schick bolted the hospital, in the process leaving behind the chest full of medals that he had earned during three years of duty.
On Monday, more than 50 years later, Schick, now 74, was re-awarded his lost medals by Rep. Howard Berman in a small ceremony at Berman’s Mission Hills district office. Among the medals given to Schick, of Van Nuys, was a Bronze Star that, until Berman aide Fred Flores uncovered it a few weeks ago, Schick did not know he had earned.
“I’m not a gung-ho guy, but I am proud to be an American. I went because I love my country,” said Schick.
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