U.S. Veteran Is Honored by France

William S. Zelnicker appeared to enjoy the attention he received from a crowd gathered at the Sepulveda Veterans Administration Medical Center for a ceremony Friday honoring his military service in France during World War I.

The 100-year-old U.S. Army veteran smiled broadly as French Deputy Consul General Philippe Vinogradoff pinned the insignia of the National Order of the Legion of Honor on Zelnicker’s lapel and bussed him on both cheeks.

“I thank the French government and the American government,” Zelnicker said in a low, raspy voice. “Thank you all for being here with me today to honor me.”

After the presentation, as guests nibbled cookies and sipped punch, Zelnicker’s only grandchild, Helene Hodosh, knelt beside his chair and read his biographical sketch.

Zelnicker nodded and smiled as Hodosh recounted how he emigrated from his native Russia to Providence, R.I., in the early 1900s; how he ran away from home at age 17 to enlist in January 1917 and how he stood in the muddy trenches and inhaled poisonous gas, which cost him a lung.

The centenarian with hunched shoulders, gnarled hands and a tuft of white hair at the front of his head listened as Hodosh read about his return to the states, recovery at Walter Reed Hospital and work in retail businesses. She also recalled how he married, became the father of three children and moved his brood to California in the 1950s, how he lost a son in the Korean War, and became a widower a decade ago.

When Hodosh finished reading, Zelnicker stared off. His reverie was broken when a man in a wheelchair rolled toward him to get an up-close look at the medal, bringing his thoughts back to the VA facility where he now lives with other old soldiers in the Ambulatory and Nursing Center.

With the pinning, Zelnicker joins the ranks of legendary U.S. soldiers John J. Pershing, Dwight D. Eisenhower, William Westmoreland, H. Norman Schwarzkopf and Colin L. Powell, as well as civilians who have received the honor.

On Nov. 11, 1998, the 80th anniversary of the end of World War I, the French government began to bestow the award on eligible veterans. Zelnicker’s award ceremony was delayed until Friday because of a paperwork backlog.

Still, the postponement did not appear to dampen Zelnicker’s enthusiasm for the award. Said the recipient of the Purple Heart and Silver Star: “I am more pleased with this medal than any of them.”