Posted on 12/28/2007 6:05:44 PM PST by MotleyGirl70
LATHAM — The same grit that got Nick Grinaldo through one of the bloodiest battles of World War II’s Pacific campaign hadn’t dimmed with age when he was first told several years ago that he wasn’t eligible for a certain medal.
The Army veteran’s determination, and help from an employee at the state’s military museum, resulted in Grinaldo finally receiving the New York State Conspicuous Service Star from the New York National Guard on Thursday.
Friends, relatives and uniformed Guard members crowded a conference room at Guard headquarters here in suburban Albany to see the retired cobbler from Troy receive the award, given to New Yorkers who served in military units that received special recognition from the federal government.
“The guys I soldiered with were all good guys, every last one of them,” Grinaldo, 87, said after the ceremony.
Grinaldo served in the 105th Regiment, a former National Guard Unit based in Troy before World War II. The 105th and three other New York-based regiments were made part of the U.S. Army’s 27th Infantry Division in 1940. After the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor the following year, the division was sent to the Pacific.
Sgt. Grinaldo fought on the islands of Makin and Eniwetok before the 105th and 106th regiments took part in the Marine-led assault on the Japanese stronghold of Saipan in June 1944.
By then, plenty of upstate New York soldiers were still sprinkled among the two regiments, with Grinaldo and many of his buddies from Troy bolstering the 105th’s C Company. Among them was Sam DiNova.
On July 7, 1944, the 105th bore the brunt of what’s considered the largest Japanese suicide attack of the land war in the Pacific. Some 3,000 enemy soldiers swarmed over the 105th’s positions, pushing the Americans back to a beach during hand-to-hand fighting. The wounded DiNova was dragged to safety by Grinaldo, himself suffering from serious wounds. Grinaldo’s bravery earned him a belated Bronze Star, awarded in 2004.
On Thursday, while recounting his actions during the battle, Grinaldo remarked that Troy’s Saipan veterans have dwindled to just two or three, including DiNova.
“Sammy DiNova, he still don’t want to leave me,” Grinaldo said.
Grinaldo said he tried to apply for the National Guard medal several years ago but was told he didn’t qualify.
“I was shot down once,” he said, recalling his irritation.
He mentioned the situation earlier this year to Wayne Clarke, a staffer at the New York State Military Museum in Saratoga Springs. Clarke had videotaped the reminisces of Grinaldo and other Saipan veterans from Troy for the oral history project at the museum’s Veterans Research Center. Aware of their unit’s battle history, Clarke helped push through the necessary paperwork for Grinaldo to receive his medal.
“He’s been a real good friend,” Grinaldo said of Clarke.
The 105th Regiment lost more than 900 soldiers killed or wounded in the July 7 attack. Three members of the 105th earned the nation’s highest military citation, the Medal of Honor, all awarded posthumously. Two went to a pair of Troy natives, Lt. Col. William O’Brien and Sgt. Thomas Baker.
Grinaldo spent more than five years in the Army, but he said that single day 63 years ago still gives him nightmares.
“That hurt us,” he said.
God Bless You!
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The finest people the rest of the world may never know. America’s finest! BTTT!
Send treats to the troops...
Great because you did it!
www.AnySoldier.com
We are truly blessed to have Mr. Grinaldo and all the men like him.
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