Vet to Be Honored with Silver Star 67 Years Later

[Team Sergeant]

Vet to Be Honored with Silver Star 67 Years Later
Updated: Sunday, 26 Feb 2012, 9:47 PM MST
Published : Sunday, 26 Feb 2012, 9:47 PM MST

SUN CITY WEST, Ariz. - After 67 years, a Sun City West veteran will finally be honored for saving soldiers' lives in World War II.

82-year-old Joe Cicchinelli will be awarded the Silver Star this week for his heroic actions at the Battle of the Bulge in 1945.

Paperwork to give him the award was apparently lost and the soldiers he saved were taken prisoner in Germany.

It took years to piece together all that happened. Now the veteran will get the recognition he's waited so long for.

"We got to talking and one of the things we talked about was the fact that he had been put in for a Silver Star in 1946," said Ray Rhodes, U.S. Air Force, retired. "So we decided we're gonna work on getting him that."

The Silver Star ceremony will take place at the Palm Ridge recreation center Thursday morning in Sun City West.

http://www.myfoxphoenix.com/dpp/news/war_room/vet-to-be-honored-with-silver-star-67-years-later-02262012

[Team Sergeant]

I'll be there!!!!!! Who's going?

It's from 9:00-11:30

[greenberetTFS]

I'll be there!!!!!! Who's going?

It's from 9:00-11:30

I'll be there in spirit only,it's really a shame it took this long to honor this hero........ ;) :D

Big Teddy :munchin

[Utah Bob]

Make sure you post a follow up on the ceremony.
Congratulations, Joe. Long overdue!

And he's not 82. That would be a wee bit too young for the Bulge. He'll be 89 this August.
Joe's Website (http://www.joecicchinelli.com/home.htm)