Sitting in his living room in his home in North Bergen and reading the daily newspaper, Paul Herman Kuck is saddened by the stories of the World Trade Center attack.
"It’s horrible. Everything is horrible," said Kuck, 72.
A Korean War veteran, Kuck was an anti-aircraft artillery gun leader with the U.S. Marine Corps from Sept. 1, 1951 to Feb. 28, 1952.
He said being in combat was not pleasant. In Korea temperatures would plummet to 30 degrees below freezing in the wintertime and enemy guerillas would shoot at troops when they least expected it.
On Sept. 12, Kuck was supposed to get a Distinguished Medal of Honor from the state of New Jersey at the Armory in Teaneck for his efforts in the Marine Corps. He wasn’t too excited about it, but his buddies at the Veterans of Foreign Wars, Post 33, in North Bergen convinced him to get it.
"I figure, if they haven’t given it to me yet, why give it to me now?" Kuck said.
But the day before he was to receive the award, New York City was attacked.
"It reminded me of Pearl Harbor," Kuck said. "I was on my way to a picnic with my wife, and we heard it on the radio. When the first plane hit, I thought it was an accident. Then after the second one I realized it was an attack."
If America embarks on a full-blown battle in the Middle East, it will be the fifth time Kuck has seen the country go to war. He warns that it will not be easy to fight the enemy this time around.
"It shouldn’t be bombing. Troops have to go in there and that will be hard," he said. "And if they catch Bin Laden that’s not the end. The next guy will move up."
According to Kuck, the media has reported for years how much damage terrorists can incite, so the country should have been ready for an attack.
"People take their freedom for granted," Kuck said. "This war may not be over in our lifetime."
The soft-spoken veteran was born in Edelman, Pa., and has lived in North Bergen for almost three decades with his wife Margaret. He retired after working as a supplies distributor for a warehouse in North Bergen for 25 years. He now works as a security guard at a nearby school, where he also takes computer classes.
Kuck will receive an award from North Bergen Mayor Nick Sacco and the Town Council on Oct. 10. Fifteen other vets living in North Bergen have been tabbed to receive the medal too (see sidebar).
"I just want to forget the war," he said.
Distinguished medal of honor recipients from North Bergen
To be rewarded next month:
Seaman William T. Ammermann, Merchant Marine
Sgt. Joseph G. Inglese, Army
Spc. Five William A. Kruse, Army
Cpl. Anthony J. Licamara, Army
Technician Fourth Grade Henry F. Perkowski, Army
Staff Sgt. Paul H. Kuck, Marine Corps
Lance Cpl. James D. Menzel, Marine Corps
Cpl. Joseph V. Mezzina, Army
Pvt. 1st Class Paul Parisi, Army
Technician Fifth Grade Louis Perry, Army
Cpl. Ignatius F. Pizzo, Army
Petty Officer 3rd Class Franky J. Rzempoluch, Navy
Pvt. 1st Class Bernard Schlein, Army
Seaman Raymond P. Shertel, Navy
Seaman Andrew J. Ventura, Navy