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The Purple Heart, awarded to those killed or wounded while serving, was believed to be snatched by someone, possibly another hospital patient. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI didn\u2019t feel good but what can you do?\u201d Marcos Montano said. “I didn\u2019t feel good at all and I told people around there, but there was nothing they could do because these medals are only given once. \u201cThat\u2019s what they said,\u201d the veteran said. Montano served first in the United States Navy, starting active duty on May 1, 1948. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
With the rank of seaman apprentice, he was honorably discharged from the United States Navy on Feb. 7, 1950. For this naval service time, he earned the China Service Medal, according to a discharge document. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Montano then entered active service in the U.S. Army on Oct. 10, 1951, and was honorably discharged, released from active military duty on Sept. 30, 1953, and transferred to the Army Reserve to complete eight years of service. These release documents state Montano earned the Korean Service Medal with three bronze stars, the United Nations Service Medal, Combat Infantry Badge, and the Purple Heart. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe only knew of them because it was in military documents,\u201d Darlene Montano said. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
She reached out to Schneider\u2019s office to request her father\u2019s medals and military awards and was delighted to see the Purple Heart replacement included among them, she said. The presentation was supposed to be a surprise for the veteran, but COVID-19 caused the ceremony to be moved to May 30 and the veteran found out. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI\u2019ve always wanted to have him recognized for what he did,\u201d his daughter said. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Schneider and Waukegan Mayor Sam Cunningham stood with Montano in front of the large raised flag sculpture on the plaza to make the presentation. In addition to the Purple Heart, he received the United Nations Service Medal, the Korean Service Medal, the National Defense Service Medal and the Combat Infantryman Badge 1st Award. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe\u2019re coming through an incredibly difficult time and what better inspiration could we possibly imagine than a hero of the Korean War, serving our nation, and coming back and serving his community and being able to reunite him with the medals he earned in his service to our country. It is just a reminder to all of us that each of us has our own way to serve,\u201d Schneider said. \u201cToday, we\u2019re recognizing a true hero.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Montano, who was born in Arecibo, Puerto Rico, held a variety of jobs during his civilian time, his daughter said. In 1951, he was a spray painter for a Kenosha, Wisconsin company. A former businessman in the 1970s, Montano was appointed for two years to be Waukegan 1st Ward alderman in the late 1960s, his daughter said. Cunningham was also a Waukegan 1st ward alderman. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cFor him to serve his country, and let\u2019s emphasize being a man of color, Puerto Rican, and then being able to come back and jump back in to be in public service, for Waukegan, that is the pride of Waukegan,\u201d Cunningham said. \u201cEveryone knows the Montano family.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n
In 1957, Montano was pivotal in the incorporation of the Puerto Rican Society of Waukegan, a membership club for events and social gatherings, his daughter said. The Puerto Rican Society Credit Union was then established in 1965 by Montano, she said. \u201cThat was all my dad\u2019s doing.\u201d his daughter said. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI\u2019m very proud to be his grandson,\u201d said Eduardo Rodriguez-Montano of Waukegan who attended the Saturday ceremony and took photos of his grandfather with family and well-wishers. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Cunningham said Marcos Montano will receive the City of Waukegan\u2019s Waukegan Proud award this month. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cMr. Montano has earned our Waukegan Proud award because he is the perfect example of having the love for our country and serving in the United States Army during the Korean War,\u201d Cunningham said. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
About serving in the military, \u201cI feel great about that,\u201d Marcos Montano said. \u201cI feel great about my service.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n