Learn About the Nation’s Oldest Medal of Honor Recipient: Nicholas Oresko

We at the Paton Law Firm, LLC. are grateful to all our veterans because we know that we owe our freedom to all these brave men and women and their families. Kimberly learned about Nicholas Oresko who was a special veteran and wanted to highlight him.

Nicholas Oresko was a Bergen County resident, and he was admired for his bravery and great efforts in World War II. He was a U.S. Army Master Sergeant who fought and killed 12 German
soldiers all on his own. He also took out two enemy bunkers despite being seriously wounded during the Battle of the Bulge, near Tettingen, Germany.

President Harry Truman awarded Oresko with the Congressional Medal of Honor on October 30, 1945. Truman said, “Although weak from loss of blood, he refused to be evacuated until
assured the mission was successfully accomplished,” while referring to Oresko’s heroic defeat of the German forces. Out of almost 40 million Americans who have served in the Armed Forces
since the Civil War, only 3,517 have earned the Medal of Honor. Nicolas Oresko is one of those courageous and valiant souls.

Nicholas died on October 4, 2013 due to complications from a surgery to repair his broken femur. He was 96 years old. He is described by fellow veterans and his loved ones as larger than life and as always having a smile on his face.