South Plainfield man, 97, finally gets his WWII medals

• South Plainfield man, 97, receives WWII medals from senator
• ‘If I had to do it again, I would’
• Menendez: ‘We have a chance to make things right’

SOUTH PLAINFIELD – On Jan. 14, 1941, Francis MacNair became the first volunteer from here to enlist in the Army.

As an ambulance driver and medic, MacNair saw action in the European Theatre of World War II, even landing in France on D-Day in a glider.

But, until Friday, MacNair, now 97, had never received a medal from the Army for his service.

That Army snafu was corrected when U.S. Sen. Robert Menendez, D-N.J., presented MacNair with the nine medals he deserved.

“At age 97, we have a chance to make things right and honor him with the medals he earned, nine medals he should have been awarded years ago,” the senator said at a ceremony at South Plainfield American Legion Post 243.

Sixty-nine years after the end of the war, MacNair received the Army Good Conduct Medal, the American Defense Service Medal, the American Campaign Medal, the European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with four Bronze Service Stars and Bronze Arrowhead; the World War II Victory Medal; the Army of Occupation Medal with Germany Clasp; the Meritorious United Commendation; the Glider Badge; and the Honorable Service Lapel Button for Service to America in World War II.

“It’s a wonderful day,” MacNair said, his voice breaking, after he was awarded the medals.

“I want to say more but it’s impossible,” he continued.

MacNair, who was accompanied by his wife Alice, said he “loved” the Army, though it was “scary as hell” when his ship was being attacked by bombers off the coast of France. MacNair and his wife are set to celebrate their 72nd wedding anniversary next month.

Middlesex County First Assistant Prosecutor Chris Kuberiet, MacNair’s neighbor, said MacNair and his wife were involved in a serious car accident in December. Kuberiet said he visited MacNair every night and heard his stories about his time in the Army and each time MacNair would end by wishing he had the medals.

That was why Kuberiet wrote to Menendez about MacNair‘s situation.

The senator said his office has requested an investigation why MacNair never received the medals and added that MacNair’s Army record now wil include the medals.

Menendez said MacNair served at at a time “when war was waged with little more than the grit and determination of the men who fought it.”

“Young men like Francis had a lot of guts and a mission they believed in.”

MacNair, with a gentle twinkle in his eye, can recall the smallest details of his military service, from all the places he was stationed to how he had both his tonsils and appendix removed. He said he played left field as a young man before he entered the Army and once saw Babe Ruth play in Yankee Stadium.

But receiving his service medals from a United States Senator was one of the highlights of his life because he was proud of his service for “a great country.”

“If I had to do it all over again, I would,” MacNair said.

Staff Writer Mike Deak: 908-243-6607; mdeak@mycentraljersey.com