Great Neck resident Melvin Sachs said the only reason he decided to join the U.S. Navy during World War II was because he didn’t want to be drafted into the Army.
“I told the guy interviewing me that I didn’t want to join the Army and he started smiling and I think that’s why they let me in,” Sachs said.
Sachs, now 93, would take part in the invasions of Okinawa and Iwo Jima, but downplays his role.
He said his participation in the invasion of Okinawa came long after much of the fighting had taken place.
“It was more like D-Day plus 10 or 15,” he said.
Following the end of the war, Sachs was ordered by the U.S. government to stay in China to assist in the liberation of Chinese citizens who had become prisoners of war.
Sachs said the Chinese citizens were freed by South Korea and Japan in exchange for Korean and Japanese troops.
“If they were from Korea we’d take them there and if they were from Japan they’d go there,” Sachs said. “On our way back from those countries, we’d bring back Chinese citizens.”
He was awarded the Breast Order of Yun Hui medal by then Chinese President Chiang Kai-Shek for his service.
In April, Sachs was named the grand marshal of this year’s Great Neck Memorial Day Parade.
“It’s an honor and a blessing,” Sachs said. “I’ve always watched it but I never I participated in it.”
Sachs’ appointment as the parade’s grand marshal stems not only from his military service, but for his work with the veteran’s club at the Great Neck Social Center, according to according to Great Neck Memorial Day Parade Committee Chairman Howard Bauman.
Sachs said he founded the club at the center, which offers free activities to senior citizens, seven years ago after women at the club complained about the lack of men showing up to events.
“A couple of old ladies were complaining that no men were showing up to the center,” Sachs said. “I said you want old men to show up, start a veterans club.”
The club meets every Friday at the Great Neck Social Center, located at 80 Grace Avenue.
The Monday before the meeting, Sachs calls every member of the club to remind them about the upcoming meeting.
“I keep two lists. One is for all the people I called and the other is for who shows up to the meeting,” he said. “If you don’t show up without giving me a reason why you couldn’t come, I’ll stop calling.”
The club started with about 15 members and at its peak included 70 veterans, Sachs said. That number is now at about 40.
“Every month or so we lose someone,” Sachs said.
He said he’s looking for veterans of the Vietnam War to start joining the club.
“If you know anybody from the Vietnam War, let them know about us,” he said.
A native of the Bronx, Saches said he and a few friends from City College decided to join the navy after graduation, but only he would be accepted by the recruiters.
He was transferred to the University of Notre Dame for training where he spent 30 days as an apprentice seamen and 90 days as a midshipman.
“They called us the 90-day wonders,” Sachs said.
Sachs then reported to the Naval base in Solomon, Md., where he was trained on how to operate battleships before being called into action.
Sachs was later released from his military obligations and moved back to New York where he got married and moved to Great Neck in 1947.
Sachs worked at a meat rendering company in Long Island City, Queens until his retirement in 1986.
“I’ve been retired longer than most people have been working,” he said.
