Photo By Sgt. Maj. Andrew Porch | Philip Sacks, a purple heart recipient and prior Army private first class, looks on as...... read more read more
Subscribe
JOINT BASE LEWIS-MCCHORD, Wash – The Purple Heart, originally designated as the Badge of Military Merit on Aug. 7, 1782, is the oldest military medal given to service members who are wounded during battle by an instrument of war.
To honor the prestigious medal and the more than 1.8 million recipients, the Seattle Mariners hosted approximately 20 prior service members and their families during Purple Heart Night at Safeco Field, Seattle, Aug. 10.
One attendee was in store for more than just a seat at the game as Philip Sacks, an infantryman previously assigned to the 9th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Infantry Division, who fought at Bloody Ridge and was ultimately injured at Heartbreak Ridge during the Korean War in 1951, went of a small tour of the stadium with his family and threw out the ceremonial first pitch.
The relationship the Mariners have with the Seattle Chapter of the Military Order of the Purple Heart is not common as they are only one of two teams in Major League Baseball to have signed a proclamation making them a Purple Heart team.
“It is very nice and I wish more clubs would do it,” said Sacks, who is originally from Brooklyn, New York and now resides in Edmonds, Washington.
Growing up in a working-class neighborhood during the Depression, Sacks said the Army helped him gain focus on his life and what was important.
“The Army taught me that there are a lot of other things in the world and if I want something out of my life, I had to go to school,” said Sacks.
Sacks was selected for duty and attended basic training with the Tennessee National Guard where he was later identified to go forward and fight in the Korean War.
“I wasn’t anxious to go into battle but it was my job so I did it,” said Sacks. “I assumed my government knew what it was doing when fighting the North Koreans and I accepted that.”
When asked about what his job was, Sacks looked down at his hat and pointed to his Combat Infantry Badge and said, “You don’t get that without being infantry!”
Sacks went on to say what the CIB stands for, “It means I did my job. I was infantry and I did what I was asked to do.”
Following his discharge, Sacks went on to get his degree in engineering and worked in the aerospace industry.
“I worked on some secret projects I can’t tell you about, said Sacks. “I worked on the moon lander heat transfer analysis on the service model that was right behind the lander.
His work ethic and determination now resides in his son, retired Chief Master Sgt. Daniel Sacks.
“My dad always based his decisions on honor, good ethics and morals,” said Daniel, a resident of Burien, Washington. “That is basically the foundation on what I grew up with and made me successful.”
Daniel, who continues to support the Armed Forces as a DA Civilian working for the Corps of Engineers, thanked the Mariners for their support to service members both past and present.
“I think it is outstanding what the Mariners do to show recognition to the people that make this country free and a nice return back to the people that serve,” said Daniel.
The most important part of the event for Daniel was seeing his father so happy.
“It was a great honor to see my father recognized for his accomplishments and sacrifices that he gave to our country, said Daniel. “It was a joy and an honor to see him out there.”
| Date Taken: | 08.10.2015 |
| Date Posted: | 08.11.2015 19:23 |
| Story ID: | 172848 |
| Location: | SEATTLE, WASHINGTON, US |
| Hometown: | BROOKLYN, NEW YORK, US |
| Hometown: | BURIEN, WASHINGTON, US |
| Hometown: | EDMONDS, WASHINGTON, US |
| Hometown: | SEATTLE, WASHINGTON, US |
| Web Views: | 129 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Honored on the mound, by SGM Andrew Porch, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
No keywords found.
