Oldest WWII Medal of Honor Hero Dies
Publisher's note: All of our military are heroes and we can never thank them enough; Friday, we lost the oldest surviving WWII Medal of Honor Recipient.
Sgt. Nicholas Oresko, who fought in the Battle of the Bulge, and was awarded the MOH for his gallantry when he eliminated two enemy machine gun bunkers under heavy fire, died Friday. Thank you Sgt. Oresko, your service and sacrifices will never be forgotten. Rest in eternal peace soldier.
New Jersey Journal: The country’s oldest Medal of Honor recipient and arguably “Bayonne’s most famous” citizen, Nicholas Oresko, died Friday night at Englewood Hospital, according to The Record.
“He’s one of the most famous people ever to come out of Bayonne,” said City Council President Terry Ruane. “It makes me proud (to be from Bayonne). It’s a sad day and God bless him.”
Oresko, 96, who was living in Cresskill at the time of his death, received his Medal of Honor on Oct. 30, 1945 after he single-handedly killed 12 German soldiers during the Battle of the Bulge.
While his unit was pinned down by enemy fire, Oresko rushed the Germans and threw a grenade into their bunker, killing everyone inside.
Oresko’s actions were honored by his hometown in 2010, after the city named the former School 14 at Avenue E and 24th Street in his honor.