September 2, 2009
Decorated Vet Celebrates 85th Birthday at Jewish Home
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Al Silver
Jewish Home for the Aging resident Al Silver celebrated his 85th birthday with 40 family members and friends on July 19.
Silver’s four children presented their father with the medals of valor Silver had earned but never received during his Word War II service in the United States Navy. Among them were the Victory Medal, the American Campaign Medal, the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal, a bronze star, several ribbons and a special Presidential Unit Citation Ribbon for his “extraordinary heroism” while under enemy fire in Japan.
Silver joined the Navy at age 17. He was a chief machinist mate for five years in charge of operating the minesweeper’s engines and generators. While stationed off the coast of Borneo, Silver’s unit guarded a beach so that Marines could deploy there. “We had a job to do, and we did it,” Silver said. “We didn’t think about the risks or the danger.” l
