By Scott Lewis
The years, nearly a century of them, have taken their toll. Alzheimer's Disease, Glaucoma, memory loss, the effects of aging having settled in as they reach the twilight of their lives. They sit stoically in their chairs as men in uniform talk of a time long ago and far away.
When the men in uniform stand to salute, they salute as well. When they are handed a set of pins and patches, they clutch them tightly with their brittle hands. On Sunday, September 24, Gustov Lundburg, Julius Butuw and Murray Gross received a reminder of their youth with an induction into the AMVETS South Shore Post #100, honoring the three aging military veterans with a swearing-in ceremony at the Hoffman Manor.
"There's nothing anyone can do to repay the debt we owe you," said Richard Rossie, AMVETS New York State 3rd Vice Commander. "All we can do is remember the past and present veterans who gave us our freedom."
The three men, all living at Hoffman Manor, served in different branches of the service. Mr. Lundburg, just a few months shy of his 100th birthday, was an Army Air Force private and also served in the National Guard. Mr. Butuw, 86, served in the Army. Mr. Gross, 78, was a lieutenant in the Navy.
David Goodman, the Commander of the Long Beach AMVETS branch, met the three men, who have become good friends during their time at Hoffman Manor, at this year's Memorial Day parade in Long Beach. Mr. Goodman chose to mark the beginning of the organization's annual membership drive by honoring their service.
"It's pretty unusual that veterans join our organization at such an advanced age," Mr. Goodman said. "It goes to show you that every veteran deserves the respect and good wishes of the community and that it's never too late to be recognized."
Mr. Lundburg, who was born in Sweden, walks with a colorfully-designed cane that was given to him by a Swedish Ambassador. Mr. Gross, who serves as somewhat of an unofficial spokesman for the three men, says that "Gus is getting a little less talkative these days," but when given some guidance, the elder of the three men remembers his time as a rifle instructor in the Army National Guard Seventh Regiment, which he served in from 1928 to 1938.
A talented marksman, Mr. Lundburg could hit a target from a 1,000 feet away with his Springfield rifle, a feat that would make his instructor gasp, he says. He later worked as an illustrator for The Saturday Evening Post, Lady's Home Journal and Collier's. After the war, Mr. Lundburg moved to Point Lookout, where he lived for 50 years before moving into Hoffman Manor six months ago. He drew the Point Lookout Fire Department logo, which remains today in its current state.
Mr. Butuw suffers from Alzheimer's, but like Mr. Lundburg, he remembers moments of his life as they are presented to him. He joined the Army in 1938 at the end of the depression because he "needed a job," and remained in the service until 1945. Mr. Butuw was a Sargeant, and eventually became an Army cook, serving in bases in Panama, Camp Cambell in Kentucky and Fort Hamilton in Brooklyn.
After leaving the Army, Mr. Butuw got a job at the New York City Post Office, where he worked for over 30 years. Born in Manhattan, he lived in Brooklyn, the Bronx and Long Island. When he worked in the city, Mr. Butuw remembers taking two trains to visit lady friends that lived on Long Island. He has been living at Hoffman Manor for four years, and is visited often by his son Melvin.
Mr. Gross is the youngest of the men, born in 1922 in Brooklyn, and though he was robbed of his eyesight three years ago, his wit and memory remain strong. He says he became blind because of glaucoma, diabetes, and "the whiskey and the wild, wild, women."
A tall, lanky man with a strong disposition despite his advanced age, Mr. Gross tells his life story with vivid memory. He received a basketball scholarship to the University of Virginia in the early 40's, but enlisted in the Navy when Pearl Harbor was attacked.
"It was the good guys versus the bad guys," Mr. Gross remembers. "The whole school volunteered for the water [Navy], and went to Midshipmen school. We were picked up on a ship in Boston, given seven dollars a day per diem, and we ate and paid for the room with it."
Mr. Gross received five battle stars, one for each invasion. He was in Okinawa when the war ended, but didn't get to leave until 1946 because his unit had to help recover a million Japanese troops that were occupying Asia.
Upon leaving the Navy, Mr. Gross attended NYU Law School and later opened a successful law practice. He faults too much drinking, a bad marriage and having to support six kids for financial troubles he had later in life. A resident of Hoffman Manor, he still owns a home in East Atlantic Beach, where he lived most of his adult life.
"Our generation, and I'm a bit younger than these guys, was much more patriotic," Mr. Gross said. "Today, being patriotic is not hip. Kids don't have the same attitude."
At the end of the induction ceremonies, the three men walk over to a water-color picture of impeccable detail. The scene is of a cottage tucked away in the snowy mountains, with a man carrying a pot of syrup up the trail to the log cabin ahead of him. It is one of Mr. Lundburg's paintings, a gift to the Hoffman Manor from his son. Water-color is the hardest form of painting, yet the picture is perfect.
As Mr. Goodman said his thank you's and goodbye's, Mr. Lundburg came over and apologized to his fellow AMVET. "I feel bad," Mr. Lundburg said. "I didn't take part in combat."
"You have nothing to be sorry about," Mr. Goodman told the old vet. "You served your country, you taught people how to be a rifleman. You should be proud."
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The AMVETS (American Veterans) were created by an act of Congress in 1947. Today, veterans from all U.S. Military services and those who are currently serving in both the Reserves and National and Coast Guard are accepted as members in this service organization.
AMVETS are active in Veterans affairs, meeting the needs of all those who have served our country. Also, they are active in local community programs such as Americanism Essay contests, anti-drug and scholarship programs.
The AMVETS will be conducting their annual membership drive through December 2000. If you served in the U.S. Armed Forces of any branch of service, you are eligible to join. "We fought together. Now let's build together."
For further information contact: AMVETS Post 100, P.O. Box 141, Long Beach, NY 11561-0141. Phone number is 516-431-9822.
