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Military Connection: Hats off to W.NV’s Student Vet. Club: By Joe Silva

It is always maddening to hear stories in the news about cowardly criminals targeting the elderly. The stories can be even more aggravating for Veterans when they hear that the victim was one of their own.

WWII Veteran James Sorrentino is 101 years old. He served in the Army Air Corps and Air Force. On the Sunday of Memorial Day weekend, 2014, Sorrentino was the victim of a home invasion robbery and physical attack committed by two gutless thieves. It has been reported that the thieves only came away with Sorrentino’s wristwatch, a pocket knife and his wallet, which contained about $30. The news hits you right in the gut!

But the story did not end with the attack and robbery. The two spineless cowards, Robert Hernandez and Jordan Burkhart, have both been arrested for their crime and pleaded guilty in a district court this week. Both men face sentencing on August 26^th in Carson City.

Along with justice being served, the ending gets even better for victim Sorrentino. Earlier this month, he was surprised with a check for $1,000 from members of the Western Nevada College’s Student Veterans Club. The club raised the money through a June poker benefit. The younger Veterans wanted to show their very senior rolemodel that the community stands behind him.

We at Military Connection thank James Sorrentino for his service, and offer our heartfelt apologies for the terrible crime committed against him. We would also like to recognize Western Nevada College’s Student Veterans Club and their thoughtfulness and willingness to act when they saw a need. They made a difference in another Veteran’s life, proving that patriotism, camaraderie and honor don’t stop once you take off your uniform.

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