Honoring Our Veterans: Hy Sherman

Ed. Note: Memorial Day is a time when Americans commemorate the U.S. soldiers who gave their lives in defense of freedom.

A tradition dating back to the Civil War, Memorial Day honors the sacrifices these brave men and women made for a better nation. Perhaps there's no greater way to honor their memory than by reflecting on their service and recognizing those veterans who live among us.

With a sincere sense of gratitude, Patch would like to say "Thank You," to all the brave men and women who answered the call to serve with a special feature titled 'Honoring Our Veterans,' which will run daily at 5 p.m. during the week leading into Memorial Day 2011.

Today, we salute Hy Sherman.

Name: Hy Sherman

Branch: Navy Air Corps

Conflict: World War II

Post: Among the first New Yorkers drafted into the Navy during World War II, Sherman served as an aviation radioman on board a PB Mariner assigned to fly anti-submarine and convoy escort missions in the Atlantic. Based out of Panama, Sherman wouldn't see any combat during the war but did spend three years defending the homeland, anticipating the moment when the battle would reach America.

Reflections: "First and foremost, I'm not a hero. The real heroes served overseas in Europe and Japan. I reported for duty February 1, 1943, expecting I'd be sent to the Army. But as luck would have it, New York State had just started drafting recruits into the Navy and I guess because I was a bit taller than the average recruit, the recruiter came up and asked, 'How'd you like to be in the Navy?'"

"When I went home and told my mother I was shipping off to sea, she almost fainted ... young Jewish boys just didn't go into the Navy. But the service was a good thing for me. It helped me make the transition from a young adult to manhood. I was no war hero though."