WWII veteran received honor 45 years later

by Peter Jakey-Managing Editor

Veterans Day, which is Monday in our nation, is a day many Americans mistakenly honor American military personnel who died in battle. Memorial Day is the day set aside to honor America’s war dead.

 

Edward Adas passed away in 1990. The case (left) holds his medals and awards, including the Bronze star right in the middle.

Veterans Day, on the other hand, honors all American veterans, both living and dead, In fact, Veterans Day is largely intended to thank living veterans for dedicated and loyal service to the country.

Nov. 11 of each year is the day Americans ensure veterans know how much their sacrifices are appreciated.

Monday is the traditional Veterans Day service at Onaway Area Community Schools.

The annual in-school parade, which starts in the elementary wing at 9 a.m., will meander through the halls and end up in the gym where the students will assemble for presentations by the high school band and students. Veteran Judge Donald McLennan is the keynote speaker.

Darlene Adas of Millersburg has a great respect for veterans and has a story about a special award her late husband, Army veteran Edward Adas, received in the mail 22 years ago.

“(Veterans Day) means a lot to me because that is our freedom,” said Adas. “I salute all the veterans, and I salute all the armed forces that we have now.”

Edward was a veteran of World War II and the Korean War. His served in central Europe during World War II from Jan. 7, 1945 to May 30, 1946.

He spent 13 months in Korea from Oct. 9, 1950 to Oct. 31, 1951.

Edward’s rank was Pvt. 1st Class in WWII. He was an infantryman with the 330th regiment, operating tanks and trucks. He passed away in 1990 at the age of 64. The couple was from Novi, but had property in the area and Darlene brought his ashes to the Millersburg area. It’s also where she has made her home for the last two decades.

Edward received several medals and honors for his service, but one that arrived in the mail in 1991 caught the widow off guard.

Edward was honored posthumously with a Bronze Star.

“He never had talked about getting a Bronze Star,” she said. “I did not know until the VA sent it to me. I cried. I did not know anything about it. He never spoke a lot about what happened over there.”

The accompanying certificate states that he received it for: “meritorious achievement in ground combat against the armed enemy during World War II, in the E

uropean/African/Middle Eastern theater of operations.”

“That was sent to me here,” said Darlene, a village resident.

The Bronze Star Medal is awarded to a soldier for acts of heroism and meritorious service in a combat zone. In cases of heroism, the medal is awarded with the “V” devise for acts of valor.

It is one of the most highly regarded awards in the country and is currently the fourth highest award a military serviceman can earn and the ninth highest award in the military overall.