Sen. Tedisco, Saratoga County Honor Edinburg U.S. Army Veteran Who Survived Atomic Bomb Testing in the 1950s

July 18, 2023

Matousek family with Tedisco, Assemblymembers Mary Beth Walsh & Matt Simpson, County Clerk Craig Hayner, Dist. Atty. Karen Heggen, Saratoga Vets Services Dir. Frank McClement, County Board of Supervisors Chair Todd Kusnierz, Galway Supervisor Mike Smith

Ballston Spa -- Senator Jim Tedisco today posthumously honored U.S. Army veteran Alois “Louie” Matousek of Edinburg with the NYS Senate Liberty Medal, the Senate’s highest honor, at the Saratoga County Honor Our Deceased Veterans ceremony.

Louie Matousek was born in Schenectady and graduated from Mount Pleasant High School where he met the love of his life, his wife Arline. They were together for 71 years and had three children and several grandchildren and great grandchildren.

Louie served in the U.S. Army from 1953-55. He was a member of Company B, 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment stationed in Nevada that took part in atomic bomb testing. Louie’s unit was tasked with participating onsite on a test involving the atmospheric detonation of a nuclear device. This involved enduring a nuclear blast from a distance and then conducting maneuvers into ground zero of the blast area.

As a radiation exposed veteran, Louie would later develop Lymphoma. For his service, he was awarded the National Defense Service Medal and Good Conduct Medal.

After Louie’s harrowing ordeal in the service, he worked for many years at the Schenectady Varnish Company and later for the Town of Edinburg as Town Assessor.

"Louie Matousek served our country with honor and sacrificed his own health when called to duty. It was truly my honor to present Louie’s daughter Patricia Lewandowaki and his family with the Senate’s highest award, the Liberty Medal, for his heroic service. May God Bless Louie Matousek for all he endured in service to our country and May God Bless all our veterans," said Senator Jim Tedisco.