Wow belgamo, what an honor, my grandpappy was a purple heart recipiant, and a big influence on my own decision to join the military. I see your family has the same distingushed honor of being a legacy to a military hero in their midst. Thank you for sharing this with us all, I really enjoyed reading this.taco Tearful WWII veteran accepts Bronze Star: Medal honors combat service in PacificEdward L. Cardenas / The Detroit News WARREN -- Carlo Vendetti stormed the beaches in the Pacific to fight in some of the bloodiest battles of World War II. The battle-hardened Army veteran got emotional Friday and had trouble holding back tears as he received one of the military's highest honors and even called himself an old chicken. Vendetti, an honorably discharged Army sergeant, was awarded the Army's Bronze Star Medal at a ceremony at the Detroit Arsenal in Warren that soldiers, veterans and their family members attended. The now 82-year-old ShelbyTownship resident was drafted out of high school and served in the Pacific. In a seven-month period, he made six beach landings as the U.S. military island-hopped toward Japan. We were hitting island after island, one after another. You were in combat all the time, said Vendetti. It was a rough one it wasn't fun. Vendetti, who was discharged in 1946, returned to the Detroit area to start a family and went into the restaurant business in ShelbyTownship. He opened Vendetti's Pizza House and now works at his son's restaurant, Vendetti's Spanky House. He did not receive the Bronze Star while actively serving, but a change in policy in 1947 allowed those who served in World War II and received the combat infantry badge to receive the medal, which is awarded for heroic or meritorious achievement or service. The honor, which came two days before Veterans Day, was made possible by Ed Young, commander of Fraser American Legion Post 243, who processed the paperwork for Vendetti to receive the medal. It is a veteran looking after a veteran, said Young, a Korean War Air Force veteran. He said that even though they were from different services, we are still veterans and still look out for each other. Vendetti received his award Friday from Army Maj. Gen. Mike Lenaers, commander of the TACOM Life Cycle Management Command. We need to recognize you. If it wasn't for people like you we wouldn't have what we have today, Lenaers said. After Lenaers pinned the Bronze Star on Vendetti's lapel, Vendetti greeted about 20 soldiers at the ceremony. He said thank you as each one came up and shook his hand. Afterward, Vendetti related stories about his fellow servicemen who died alongside him as they fought the Japanese on the small islands near Okinawa and on the island of Okinawa. He fought on Bloody Ridge and Shuri, and took part in the capture of ShuriCastle, a medieval fortress on the island. The Okinawa campaign was the deadliest of all battles against the Japanese. Total American casualties were 49,151. One casualty he spoke of repeatedly was war correspondent Ernie Pyle, who died just feet away from him on the island of Ie Shims. I had my nose in the mud, trying to stay alive, when they opened up a machine gun and got Ernie Pyle and his driver in their Jeep, Vendetti said. You got to remember Ernie Pyle. -- Edited by talkintaco at 15:59, 2008-01-02