101 year old survivor of the Bataan Death March [View all]

[dflprincess]

https://m.startribune.com/from-brainerd-to-bataan-at-101-veteran-recalls-the-horrors/573003751/?clmob=y&c=n&fbclid=IwAR1mWFG7H5Z9O9ZLMhNTuj85VMxyTjSjPAAuNWICtrgsOqnBlxMd8lAL82E

Every Sunday the Mpls Star Tribune has a history column that usually focuses on a person or story that few of people have heard. This week it was about 101 year old Bert Straka of Brainerd, Minnesota, one of the few remaining survivors of the Bataan Death March.

This is a man who deserves our thanks and admiiration no matter what his politics. His story deserves to read so that what these (mostly) men went through isn't forgotten. But, I couldn't help it, I had to smile and admire him even more when I read this:

Some big pieces of gold did come Straka’s way just in time for his birthday last month. He was presented with the Congressional Gold Medal, a rare honor, and the Minnesota World War II Memorial Medallion for “his intrepidity and indomitable courage against a brutal enemy.”

Previous recipients of the Congressional Gold Medal include George Washington, Thomas Edison, Charles Lindbergh, Mother Teresa and Rosa Parks.

“I guess I’m in pretty good company,” said Straka, who declined an invitation to receive the medal at the White House. “I would have gone if Obama was still in there,” he said.