It’s unlikely for Veterans’ Day to come and go without Charles and Elenore Shenloogian of North Bergen pausing to reflect. After all, both served in the U.S. Army during World War II.
Charles was a tank commander for the 10th Armored Division of the Army, seeing combat action in such historic moments like the “Battle of the Bulge” in Luxembourg and Belgium.
Elenore was a lieutenant in the Army Nurse Corps, treating wounded soldiers when they returned home to Fort Dix.
Charles was wounded in combat on three separate occasions, so he was a three-time recipient of the Purple Heart.
“The first time, I was wounded in Germany, fighting in the Ziegfield lines,” Charles recalled. “A shell landed in front of my tank and knocked me out. I got a piece of shrapnel in my temple. I went back to my command after a week or so, to the Battle of the Bulge and I got wounded again. I had a perforated ear and a closed eye. That was Dec. 21, 1944. Some things like that you never forget. I was in a hospital in Paris for Christmas.
Charles added, “When I healed, I went back to my outfit again and on April 16, 1945, I was wounded in my back and legs in Bavaria. I was in the hospital until the end of the war.”
While nurses were treating Charles overseas, his future wife was taking care of the seriously wounded soldiers back in New Jersey.
“I was in charge of the soldiers who were coming back from the Bataan Death March,” Elenore recalled. “I did that for two years. I saw a lot of soldiers who were pretty bad off. But I was doing my job and they got the best of care.”
When the war ended, both Charles and Elenore returned to their family homes in Union City. Although Charles knew his wife at the time, he had no idea that they would eventually marry.
“We met after the war at the Armenian General Athletic Union in Union City,” Charles recalled. “When people of the same nationality get together, something is bound to happen.”
“I don’t know how it all happened,” Elenore said. “I think we started to dance and then he asked me for a date. In those days we all went out in groups so there weren’t many chances to meet and there weren’t that many dates.” That was more than 50 years ago. The Shenloogians celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary last April.
Charles worked in the embroidery business for more than 30 years before retiring a few years ago. The family raised their two children in their North Bergen home, where they’ve resided for more than 45 years. Both Charles and Elenore take pride in being United States veterans.
“It always means a lot to both of us,” said Elenore. “We travel all over to Army reunions all over the country, in Chicago, Connecticut, Florida. We remain active and proud.”
“I had four brothers who served in the Army and all four came home,” said Charles, who is proud to say he’s now 84 years old. “I never once thought about not coming home. While we were fighting overseas, I ran into my brother, Gregory, who was in another infantry company, three times. I saw him and stopped the Jeep I was on and ran to him.”
His eldest brother, Carnig, now 89, still lives on the same street. Another brother, Harry, was a long-time North Bergen chiropractor who passed away last year.
“We were all proud to serve,” Charles said. “It still means a lot to all of us.”
“There will be times when Charlie will want to talk about his experiences and I will talk about mine,” Elenore said. “We’ll be driving along and something will make him remember something. It comes back to him like it was yesterday.”
The memories are partly why Veterans’ Day meant so much to them last weekend and why the township’s recent Veterans’ Drive was important to them as well.
The township, in conjunction with the Department of Veterans Affairs-New Jersey Healthcare System, held a Veterans’ Drive for more than 200 hundred veterans of North Bergen.
The drive provided veterans with such services as counseling on VA benefits, new ID cards, free medical self assessments, blood pressure screenings and enrollment in VA care.
“North Bergen veterans deserve respect and thanks for the sacrifices they have made,” said Mayor Nicholas Sacco. “The Veterans’ Drive is our way of honoring those individuals who put their lives on the line for our country.”
The Shenloogians were happy to participate in the event.
“It really was a lovely day, a nice day,” said Elenore. “It means a lot when the people of North Bergen take the time to remember us as well.”
Charles said that he will never forget his tour of duty – and he has the battle scars to prove it. He was featured in a book, entitled “Triumph and Glory: Armenian World War II Heroes.” He’s been back to Luxembourg three times for the 40th, 45th and 50th anniversaries of the “Battle of the Bulge.”
“Over there, they treat the GIs like they’re royalty,” Charles said. “They can’t do enough for you over there. They shower you with affection and appreciation. I had my picture taken shaking the Duke of Luxembourg’s hand. I’ve received so many medals that they hang down on one side. I received the New Jersey Distinguished Service Medal a few years ago. I have so many memories and Veterans’ Day brings back many of those memories.”