Hewlett WWII Vet Awarded Medals

Nearly 70 years after the end of World War II, a Hewlett veteran has finally received the medals he earned for his service in the Pacific.

Army Sgt. Stanley Rosenfeld, 89, was awarded several honors on Monday after the office of Rep. Carolyn McCarthy (D-Garden City) worked to acquire them.

“Stanley Rosenfeld is a treasure among us — a member of the Greatest Generation and a brave hero — who risked his life overseas in World War II so we can enjoy the freedoms we have today,” McCarthy said. “I’m proud to represent him and so many others like him and will continue to do whatever I can to assist them here on Long Island.”

Rosenfeld never pursued the medals because he wanted to get on with civil life, he said. His partner, Esther Bogen, recently found a tiny photocopy of his discharge papers that required the use of a magnifying glass to read. She realized that Rosenfeld was due medals and called McCarthy’s office.

“We were very impressed with the whole thing,” she said. “It was really a very rewarding experience.”

Working with the Army and the National Personnel Records Center, it was found the Rosenfeld earned the following medals: Good Conduct Medal, American Campaign Medal, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with three Bronze Service Stars, WWII Victory Medal, Philippine Liberation Ribbon with one Bronze Service Star, WWII Honorable Service Lapel Button and the Marksman Badge with Rifle Bar.

Rosenfeld, a Far Rockaway High School graduate and a former mayor of North Hills, became a sharpshooter in the army. When Rosenfeld arrived at the Leyte Gulf, the vessel he was on was attacked, according to an oral history taken by Bogen (see attached). He fought off Japanese Kamikaze pilots using a two-man gun by himself. Rosenfeld battled in the Philippines until the end of the war. During his service, Rosenfeld lost much of his hearing.

“A lot of these guys didn’t want to talk about it when they got home,” Bogen said. “They didn’t become soldiers because they wanted to.”

Rosenfeld said receiving the medals brought back a lot of memories.

“He said he was so lucky all he lost was his hearing,” Bogen said.