Finally Doing the Honors

Rudy Herrera beamed a broad grin Sunday as three war medals and two service buttons were pinned to the lapels of his suit--54 years after he earned them in World War II.

Two military color guards and more than 80 family members and local dignitaries attended the 30-minute salute to Herrera, 73, who was injured at age 18 during his first year of duty with the Navy.

After recovering from an accidental puncture wound to his arm, Seaman 1st Class Rudolfo Flores Herrera was given an honorable discharge on Dec. 16, 1944, without receiving the medals he had earned.

Now a retired San Fernando police officer, Herrera said he shrugged off the missing honors for decades. That is, until his daughter, Norma Schiermeyer, pressed him for more information a year ago.

Schiermeyer said she could tell by her father’s expression that he really wanted the medals and, with help from other family members, she set out to get them for him.

But Schiermeyer was dismayed when she learned there could be a two-year waiting period. Schiermeyer turned to a newspaper columnist to tell her story.

When U.S. Rep. Howard L. Berman (D-Mission Hills) read the article in February, he sent off his own letter to the Navy Liaison Office of the National Personnel Records Center. In just 18 days, Berman told the celebrants on Sunday, Herrera’s awards arrived at the congressman’s office.

“It may be cold and rainy out there,” Berman said, nodding toward the view outside the San Fernando City Council chambers, where the ceremony was held, “but in here it’s bright and warm. This is a day that is long overdue.”

Herrera said he always figured the paperwork had just gotten lost. He had largely forgotten about it in the 53 years since he and his wife, Alice, married and raised four sons and a daughter in San Fernando, where he has spent most of his life. The family has expanded to 21 grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren.

Most of them were in attendance Sunday, waving flags and standing to cheer “Yeah, Dad,” and “Yo, Pops!” as a string of dignitaries handed him still more plaques and commendations.

Herrera, who sports a full head of gray hair, spectacles and walks with the support of a cane, fidgeted a bit before the ceremony began, appearing a bit self-conscious. “This feels beautiful,” he said, watching the normally barren chambers fill up with well-wishers. “All of my family is here. It is wonderful. I certainly never expected it.”

Honors included World War II medals for the American Campaign, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign and World War II Victory. There were buttons for honorable service and honorable discharge, presentation of an American flag that had flown over the U.S. Capitol and a Certificate of Special Congressional Recognition.

San Fernando Mayor Jose Hernandez was joined by three City Council members in presenting Herrera with a plaque, as did Assemblyman Tony Cardenas (D-Sylmar) and San Fernando Police Chief Dominick Rivetti.

“I don’t know what else I could say. It’s all been said already,” Herrera said modestly when it came his turn to speak.

Instead, he introduced his immediate family. Then he asked the rest of his relatives in the audience to stand.

As the crowd rose to their feet, Herrera beamed again.