Published: November 10, 2008 12:53 pm         

World War II reclaims a piece of his history once stolen

Like most proud grandparents, Cumberland County resident Renatto Varda is always eager to share stories about his past, especially those pertaining to his service during World War II.

"I want to tell my grandchildren (everything)," he said. "I want to explain all of it to them. I go into lots of details about it."

Up until this week, however, Varda has been unable to show his eight grandchildren and five great-grandchildren the five priceless mementos that link him to the war—medals he earned for his work in the U.S. Army between 1941 and 1945.

"He's been talking about them for years ever since we were robbed about 12 years ago…down in Cape Coral, Florida," his wife, Ruth, explained. "He was just telling them about his medals the other day."

"About how he wished he had them back," stated his 11-year-old granddaughter, Krystal.

On Monday afternoon, Varda was greeted with more than sunshine as he sat with his son-in-law, Michael Collins, in the gazebo on the courthouse lawn. Unbeknownst to him, his wish was about to come true.

"Look here," said Cumberland County Mayor Brock Hill as he approached the veteran with some familiar items. "These are your medals."

"My medals? These are my medals!" Varda exclaimed as tears began to gradually roll down his face.

Peering through the glass of the wooden container, Varda could see all of the medals he received after being honorably discharged. They included the Army Good Conduct Medal, the World War II Victory Medal, the Asiatic-Pacific Theatre Medal with one bronze battle star, the European Eastern African Middle East Theatre medal with two bronze battle stars and the World War II Honorable Discharge Lapel Pin.

"In addition, you've got your Cold War Victory Certificate," said Veterans Service Officer Mark Daniels, who was instrumental in reissuing the medals.

"A certificate of recognition for Renatto P. Varda in recognition of your service during the period of the Cold War—Sept. 2, 1945, to Dec. 26, 1991—in promoting peace and stability for our nation, and the people of our nation are forever grateful," Hill read.

Varda entered the Army at the age of 21 while living in Indiana. After receiving basic training in Illinois shortly thereafter, he quickly worked his way up the ranks to staff sergeant.

"When I went into the Army, they asked me, 'What do you want to be?' I told them, 'Whatever you need or are short of, that's what to put me in. I'll do anything,'" Varda stated. "They put me in the medical corps. The medical corps, that was good, but I really wanted to be in the paratroopers."

According to Mrs. Varda, her husband had no medical training prior to this.

"He got it all in the service," she said.

"What nurses learned in two years, he learned through intense training in three months," recalled his daughter, Judy Collins. "Some of his duties included assisting with autopsies and performing amputations."

His younger brother, Dominic, of Indiana, went into the service at the same time and also became a medic. However, they were in different theatres, which prevented them from seeing each other during the war.

"At times they were close, but they didn't ever see each other during the war," Collins stated.

While in Naples, Italy, Varda became the ward master of the 118th Station Hospital, where he was in charge of 150 injured soldiers. One of these patients was Senator Bob Dole, noted Mrs. Varda.

"I don't know how, (but) they put me in charge of the officers and nurses and I became ward master," said Varda, who admits several movie stars and other famous people visited his ward at the time.

During World War II, Varda fought in five major battles throughout Europe, Africa and Asia. In addition, he survived submarine attacks in the middle of the Pacific Ocean and horrendous typhoons while stationed in the Philippines.

"We were there for two major typhoons," he said. "The last one just tore us up completely. The area looked like a bald-headed guy (afterwards)."

His adventures also included trips to Africa, where he lived off grapes for several days; the Panama Canal, where he briefly enjoyed some booze and bananas; and Japan, where he once became in charge of a Navy ship after several officers were killed and saw the devastation of the atom bombs up close.

"Finally, we came home," he said. "Boy, were we happy. You talk about fellas being happy."

Varda pointed out that he and his comrades were not exactly treated like kings when they arrived back to America.

"We didn't get any special treatment," he said. "I got a bottle of milk, and I got put on a cattle car. I'm not kidding you…"

"I can go on for months," he added, looking down at the medals resting on his lap. "This is outstanding. This is fabulous. I didn't realize my family (was doing this)."

"We have been working on this for six months," Collins told her father.

She explained she has always wanted to have them reissued but lost hope after a fire consumed the building that housed all of the World War II records for the Army. In May, she met Daniels who was able to reissue the medals after using Varda's discharge papers to find out which ones he received.

"It was wonderful to do this for him," said Collins. "He's been a wonderful parent."

"I'm very excited that my grandpa got medals because he talks a lot about them," said Krystal Collins. "He's also told me all these stories about the war, and I really wanted to see them. I'm really glad I got to."