World War II veteran bestowed Patriot Award

Monday was E.R. “Bud” Sweetman’s day for an award and accolades.

CONTRIBUTED

World War II veteran Bud Sweetman of Sunset Beach, center, receives an M1 Garand rifle during ceremonies honoring him Monday from U.S. Rep. Mike McIntyre, left. They are pictured with Scott Maddox of the Civilian Marksmanship Program, right. ‘That’s the most popular gun we had in those days,’ Sweetman said of the World War II-era rifle.

During ceremonies in Wilmington, the 88-year-old Brunswick County World War II veteran—who turns 89 next January—was recipient of a Patriot Award from U.S. Rep. Mike McIntyre.

The award, sponsored by the Civilian Marksmanship Program, honors a select veteran who “has demonstrated valor in military service abroad and a continued dedication to his fellow Americans after returning from service,” according to a press release from McIntyre’s office.

In all, the day was “very good, very good,” Sweetman said in a phone interview from his Sunset Beach home Monday night.

“It was on TV,” Sweetman said, adding he’d missed the 5 p.m. broadcast of his ceremony and would probably miss the 11 p.m. newscast, too, because that was past his bedtime.

“It was very exciting,” he said. “A lot of my friends were there, my son [and] one of my grandchildren.”

A World War II colleague was there, too, Sweetman said—“one of the fellas who landed on D-Day at Omaha Beach.”

Nearly 70 years ago, at age 19, Sweetman enlisted as a field soldier in the U.S. Army. Deployed to Europe, Sweetman was injured by machine-gun fire that required blood transfusions while storming Omaha Beach on Aug. 3, 1944.

“I spent 13 and a half months in the hospital,” he said, recalling how a bullet hit his leg and shattered his pelvic bone before exiting his body.

“They cleaned it up like they cleaned a rifle,” Sweetman said. “They thought they had it all.”

Later, an X-ray showed two more bullets. Sweetman said those were slugs he had picked up as souvenirs on the battlefield and put in his pocket before he was shot.

“They fell out right on the litter [stretcher]; they were between me and the litter,” he said. “I woke up enough to tell them that. I don’t remember anything else.”

Sweetman is locally renowned for his blood donations. He’s been a regular blood donor for the past 65 years. At last count, he’s donated more than 39 gallons of blood—that’s 312 pints, 312 separate donations.

“I’m going to try to go to 40 gallons—that’s eight times,” Sweetman said. “But my iron has been so low I haven’t been able to give the last couple of months.”

His doctor, he said, has given him a prescription to help him get his iron built up.

He’s been an American Legion member for 66 years. He’s involved with the Calabash Post, but is still a member at the Legion’s Moscarella Post No. 199 in Monsey, N.Y. His son, Craig, is an American Legion past commander.

And what do the initials E.R. in Sweetman’s name stand for?

“Ever Ready,” Sweetman quipped, adding it’s actually “Earl Robert.”

He has three living children, ages 60 through 64, but isn’t sure about the number of grandchildren he has. At last count, Sweetman had “five or six” great-grandchildren. Shirley, his wife of 44 years, passed away eight years ago.

In his spare time, Sweetman says he likes to “stay alive.”

He said he’s also going to worry until he gets his iron level back up.

Then “I’ll be allright,” Sweetman said. “The VA doctor told me not to give blood until then. He said, ‘You gave enough.’”

Sweetman believes his blood donations may be a world record, but nobody can tell him for sure.

At Monday’s press conference, McIntyre discussed legislation to create a Veterans Distinguished Public Block History USO/Community Arts Center at 120 S. Second St. in Wilmington.

He also discussed a bill he’s introduced in the U.S. House, H.R. 2477, which would establish a Department of Veterans Affairs Medal for Distinguished Public Service.

The medal, “inspired by the unselfish service of Bud Sweetman,” would be awarded by the VA secretary to honor veterans who have made “remarkable and distinguished contributions to their communities through public service,” according to a press release.