Senator Mayer Nominates Mamaroneck WII Veteran Dr. Max Eagelfeld for the NYS Senate Veterans' Hall of Fame

State Senator Shelley B. Mayer, D-Westchester, nominated World War II Veteran Dr. Max S. Eagelfeld for the NYS Senate Veterans’ Hall of Fame. The ceremony was hosted in Albany at the Legislative Office Building. Hall of Fame inductees were presented with a plaque commemorating their service. Dr. Eagelfeld served as a medic with the U.S. Army, 12th Armored Division, 82nd Armored Medical Battalion from 1944-1945 which took part in the liberation of the French region of Alsace-Lorraine and western Germany. For his service, he was awarded numerous accolades includes the Bronze Star, the Combat Medical Badge, the European Africa Middle East Service Medal, the World War II Victory Medal, the Good Conduct Medal, and his medical unit also received a Meritorious Service Plaque.

State Senator Shelley B. Mayer said, “I am honored to nominate Dr. Max S. Eagelfeld for the 2019 NYS Senate Veterans’ Hall of Fame. Dr. Eagelfeld served our country during WWII, and he is a true American hero. I was glad to welcome Dr. Eagelfeld, his wonderful wife Naomi, and their son Barry, to Albany for today’s ceremony. The Veterans’ Hall of Fame ceremony is held just a few days before Memorial Day, and it serves as a time to recognize the notable residents of our state who served our country. Legislatively, I am pleased to support measures to improve and enhance veterans’ services and opportunities in Westchester and across New York State.”

Dr. Max S. Eagelfeld said, “I want to thank Sen. Shelley Mayer for recognizing my service during World War II as a combat medic, for which I received the Combat Medical Badge and a Bronze Star medal. One of my memorable experiences was visiting the French and German battlefields in 2010 where the 12th Armored Division fought to liberate Europe, with 5 other veterans from my Division and their families. After a ceremony at the American Cemetery in Alsace Lorraine, both villagers from towns that were liberated by our forces and the granddaughter of Gen. Patton thanked us for helping to liberate that area of France. It brought back both good and horrific memories I experienced during that time in my life. In 1945, I crossed the Rhine River under Gen. George S. Patton’s Third Army, and later crossed the Danube as the first Allied Division to cross that River. Having been a lifelong resident of the state of New York for 95 years, this recognition by the New York State Senate for the Veterans Hall of Fame is especially meaningful to both me and my family, honoring my service to this country nearly 75 years ago.“

On May 11, 2018, Dr. Eagelfeld received a Knighthood in the French Legion of Honor by the French Consul-General in New York for aiding in the liberation of the Alsace-Lorraine region of France. Dr. Eagelfeld has lived in NYS his entire 95 years, and has been a resident of the Town of Mamaroneck with his wife Naomi for over 50 years. He has given talks to schools and military history groups about his experiences during World War II. To read more about Dr. Eagelfeld, click here.

The NYS Senate Veterans’ Hall of Fame is an annual celebration in Albany recognizing Veterans throughout the state. Dr. Eagelfeld is Senator Mayer’s second nominee. In 2018, her first year representing the 37th District, Senator Mayer nominated Air Force Veteran David Zapsky, a resident of Bedford and founder of the Town of Bedford’s Veterans Advisory Committee.