More than 60 years ago, Elmer “Lucky” McGinty, was hanging in the sky over Berlin as anti-aircraft shells burst around his B-17, and Shep Waldman was fighting in the snow and biting cold of the Bulge.
Today, they both received the medals they earned when the United States went to war against Germany for a second time.
Each had a different explanation for the lapse in time between their service and the medal presentation.
“You move around so much, your records don’t catch up to you,” said McGinty, 84, who flew 29 missions over Europe and received a Distinguished Flying Cross, and other awards.
“I got discharged; I was not waiting for medals. They examined me and gave me $300 in muster-out pay, and I left,” said Waldman, 83. Waldman was presented a bronze star with one oak-leaf cluster and other medals.
The Denver-based Greatest Generations Foundation, a nonprofit that brings WWII vets to Europe to help them reconnect with their past, arranged the presentations.
“Today, we come together to recognize their achievements,” said Timothy Davis, president of the foundation.
Tom McGhee: 303-954-1671 or tmcghee@denverpost.com
