WWII Hero Talks D-Day Invasion, Battle of the Bulge and Purple Heart not yet received
“No-No” Zicari is a 96 year old World War II Veteran that is sharp as a tack and has more energy than the Energizer Bunny. No-No participated in the Invasion of Normandy and the Battle of the Bulge. He suffered hearing loss in his left ear due to a bomb exploding too close to him. He also suffered another serious injury when he was hit in the right shoulder and right knee by shrapnel from another bomb. No-No kept on fighting and made it through the landing zone where so many U.S. Soldiers died in battle. A medic attended to him later that night and asked if No-No wanted to leave and go back to the ship, but he wanted to stay with his unit and fought on. The medic was killed in action approximately 30 minutes later. No-No never received his Purple Heart that he so rightfully deserves because there is no medical record of his injuries due to the medic being killed in action. Even though he as numerous letters of eyewitness accounts of his injuries which have been notarized, he has still been denied his Purple Heart. Not only do we at Operation: Voice of the Vet feel that this is an injustice, we have vowed to work with the Military Order of the Purple Heart, Chapter 711 here in Las Vegas, to see that No-No Zicari receives his Purple Heart. The precedent has been set with other veteran’s receiving their Purple Heart Medal without medical documentation and based solely on notarized eyewitness accounts. If you would like to help, please contact us ASAP, because this is a campaign and a fight we will not stop until justice is served with No-No receiving his much deserved and 77 years past due honor!
.
After 77 Years It Finally Happened!
On October 6, 2021, by the tireless efforts of Zach Bucher who works for the City of Las Vegas, Onifrio “No-No” Zicari was presented his long overdue Military Order of the Purple Heart Medal 77 years after the day he was injured.
The ceremony was held at the Las Vegas City Hall with the Purple Heart pinned on No-No by City of Las Vegas Mayor, Carolyn Goodman. Also standing by No-No were City Council members, Mayor Pro Tem Stavros Anthony (now Lt. Governor of Nevada), Brian Knudsen, Victoria Seaman, Olivia Diaz, Cedric Crear, Michele Fiore and U.S. Army Brigadier General, Troy Armstrong. Also in attendance were Military Order of the Purple Heart Commander for the State of Nevada, Len Yelinek, Dick Moyer, Commander of the Purple Heart, Las Vegas Chapter (711), Dan Peterson, Commander of the Purple Heart, Henderson Chapter (730), members of both chapters and numerous other Veterans, all in support of No-No.
To witness this great man and WWII Hero receive his long overdue Purple Heart, was not only a thrill, but you were a witness to living history and a wrong that was made right by initially a total stranger at the time named Zach Bucher. Zach worked so amazingly hard to get No-No his Purple Heart and only a very few people know the amazing effort and runaround Zach went through. But the bottom line is that Zach accomplished something that nobody else could or would do. So what we have in this story are two heroes if you will. One WWII wounded soldier that fought his way through D-Day and the Battle of the Bulge and never gave up or complained about his wound that would have sidelined the average man, but No-No is no average Man. The other hero is Zach Bucher who fought the system with honor and finally, where all others failed or would not even try, Zach got No-No his deserving and way overdue Military Order of the Purple Heart Medal! Thank you Zach, you are a great example to all and especially to Veterans of what a Champion truly is!
No-No is a total delight to be around. His personality is contagious, and you genuinely feel good talking with him, or in my case, interviewing him and becoming friends. Congratulation No-No! We are extremely happy for you and Proud of You! You are a True and Great American Hero!
.
Here is N0-No’s Updated Gallery
