Prior to heading overseas for World War II, Bud Sabetay enjoyed a trip to Coney Island amusement park in New York.

A fortuneteller read his palm during that visit and predicted he would live a long life and come back from the war unharmed.

Throughout his time in combat, he recalled that prediction whenever he faced danger, boosting his assurance of survival.

Now, Sabetay is celebrating his 100th birthday.

The Coney Island seer also foretold that he would marry and have two children: a boy and a girl—which indeed happened.

On November 2, his children, David Sabetay, 70, and Bonnie Burte, 68, hosted a birthday party for their father at the Sheraton Suites in Cuyahoga Falls, welcoming more than 60 guests to the gathering.

Wearing his 1945 Army uniform, Sgt. Robert L. “Bud” Sabetay shared joyful moments with family and friends, his blue eyes sparkling with happiness.

“Happy birthday!” the attendees cheered.

‘The Greatest Generation’

This member of “The Greatest Generation” has truly lived a remarkable life.

Bud and his twin sister, Reva, were born on November 2, 1924, to Frances and David Sabetay. Their younger sister, Elaine, joined the family in 1929.

His father, a former Royal Canadian Mounted Police officer from Montreal, served in Siberia during World War I and ran an auto-wrecking business. Bud’s mother was a homemaker and a clerk, originally from Russia.

The family lived on Wesleyan Avenue and Hopocan Avenue in Barberton before moving to Wildwood Avenue in Akron during Bud and Reva’s teenage years.

“There were more Jewish families there,” he recalled.

The family participated in the Beth El Congregation, and the kids attended Buchtel High School, where Bud delivered the Beacon Journal to 99 households on his newspaper route.

While Bud’s parents worried about the war in Europe, they shielded their children from the concerns.

“They never discussed it,” Sabetay shared.

The family first heard about the Pearl Harbor attack on the radio while having breakfast on December 7, 1941.

After graduating from Buchtel in 1943 at the age of 18, Sabetay was drafted into the Army, aspiring to be a pilot.

“I passed all the tests and initially got sent to the Air Corps,” he said. “But then they discovered my sinus issues rooted back to Akron, Ohio, and concluded that I couldn’t fly.”

Instead, Sabetay served as a radio operator and field lineman in the 773rd Field Artillery after training at Camp Bowie in Texas. He faced occasional antisemitism during his service as a Jewish soldier.

At times, fellow soldiers hurled insults his way. He recounted how alphabetical assignments for two-week furloughs meant his name was overlooked while others received multiple breaks. A commanding officer disregarded his request, sending him to maneuvers in Louisiana instead.

“The lieutenant colonel cheated me out of two furloughs home,” he lamented.

Later, his unit was relocated to Camp Shanks in New York, where he and two Army friends took a pass to visit Coney Island, leading to that pivotal encounter with the fortuneteller.

In June 1944, they embarked for England aboard the HMS Tamara. Shortly after that,  He served in the 90th Infantry Division under General George Patton, engaging in the Battle of the Bulge against German forces.

“I fought every day in various cities,” he reminisced.

During the battle, which spanned from December 16, 1944, to February 7, 1945, over 19,000 American soldiers lost their lives, while around 47,500 sustained injuries and 23,000 were taken prisoner.

Explosions rattled the ground and smoke clouded the atmosphere. Gunfire struck both trees and buildings as well as people. Sabetay witnessed the loss of friends in battle, passed by devastated villages, and saw fields covered with frozen corpses.

In Belgium, shrapnel injured his left forefinger, causing it to swell significantly. The force of an explosion also ruptured his eardrum.

The soldier from Akron served in several countries including France, Belgium, Luxembourg, Czechoslovakia, and Germany. His honors included the Purple Heart, Bronze Star, French Legion of Honor, and five battle stars.

As the war in Europe was drawing to a close in 1945, American troops were met with unexpected warmth from the exhausted local populations.

“Interestingly, when we entered a German city, the German people seemed to appreciate us,” he noted. “They were not fond of the Russians. They welcomed us warmly.”

Sabetay was in the Czech city of Pilsen when he learned of Germany’s surrender on May 7. While his platoon celebrated with cognac, he decided to remain sober to “fully appreciate the peace.”

“I was on a balcony and saw two men walking down the street carrying Jewish scrolls,” he shared.

These men had successfully rescued the Torah and emerged from hiding after enduring years of German occupation.

“It was something extraordinary,” he remarked.

A Fresh Start After the War

Sabetay was honorably discharged as a sergeant on December 2, 1945, and returned to New York aboard the USS Savannah, passing by the Statue of Liberty. He then took a train back to Akron to ease into civilian life.

He founded Barberton Glass Co., a venture he managed for over 65 years. Through a mutual friend, he met his future wife, Betty Wessler, a native of Cleveland.

“At around 28 years old, a friend showed me a photo of a stunning girl,” Sabetay remembered. “I expressed my desire to meet her, and he made it happen.”

“I met her, and I knew I liked her. I’d often travel to Cleveland each night just to see her. Things progressed from there.”

The couple married in 1953, made Akron their home, and welcomed two children, David and Bonnie.

“He always made time for us kids,” reflected his daughter. “Whenever I needed advice or help, he was always available.”

She recounted how her father taught her to confront her fears. As a child, he placed her on a bike, spun her around, and then let go.

“I exclaimed, ‘Look! I can ride!’ but promptly crashed into a tree and fell beneath the bike,” she recalled. “He took me back up, cleaned me off, and brought me right back down to try again.”

And she successfully rode!

Sabetay also assisted his daughter in overcoming her fear of the dark. When she spotted a shadow on the wall and thought something was lurking in the basement, her father calmly encouraged her.

“Let’s go check it out,” he reassured her. “I’ll hold your hand; go ahead and touch that wall.”

She attended the celebration with her husband, Dr. Kerry Burte, and son, Evan.

Lessons from a Father

David Sabetay remarked that World War II greatly influenced his father’s existence.

“Despite his experiences, he learned to cope with whatever life threw at him,” he stated.

He compiled a list of valuable lessons he learned from his father. Here are some highlights:

Character is important. Your word is your bond. When faced with difficulties, lift yourself up and keep moving forward; the situation will improve. Respect others’ beliefs, even if they differ from your own. Treat all fairly. Maintain self-belief, let go of anger, stay adaptable, and always be truthful.

For a long stretch, Bud Sabetay refrained from discussing his wartime experiences. However, he began to share more openly when he authored his 2013 book “Memoirs of an American Jewish Soldier: From the Heartland of America to the Frontline of the Third Reich.”

“He never held resentment towards the Germans,” David Sabetay explained. “He believed there were both good and bad Germans. This perspective was a consistent theme throughout his life.”

He participated in the celebration with his wife, Christa, and their children Eddy and Alexander.

Bud and Betty Sabetay enjoyed 57 years of marriage before her passing in 2010 at the age of 90.

Sabetay attributes his longevity to his commitment to exercise and the fact that he never smoked. He took up skiing in Colorado in his 60s and maintained a routine of completing 100 push-ups daily until he was in his 90s.

He has a passion for learning and enjoys reading, especially about World War II.

Having faced the realities of war, Sabetay holds strong opinions about it.

“In my view, people should unite and collaborate,” he expressed. “There shouldn’t be anymore wars because that’s just foolish.”

‘He saved many lives’

Almost 25 years ago, he became a member of the World War II-Korean War Roundtable in Fairlawn, which has since broadened its focus to include various other conflicts.

Former Army Captain C. David Post, 89, from Copley Township, met Sabetay at the roundtable, and their friendship has flourished since.

“He’s an exceptional individual,” Post commented. “Very humble and unassuming.”

Sabetay has delivered three presentations for the group, and his speeches often reflect the sorrow experienced by many due to the war.

“He saved many lives,” Post mentioned. “He only wishes he could’ve saved even more.”

Before relocating to Cincinnati to stay with his daughter, Sabetay used to ride weekly with Post to attend roundtable discussions.

“He once asked me, ‘David, why do you treat me so well?’ ” Post recounted. “I looked him in the eye and said, ‘You saved my life. When I was just 10 years old, you were on the front lines against the Germans. It was you and 13 million other men and women who saved us.’ ”

At Sabetay’s birthday celebration on November 2, Post shared details of Sabetay’s military service, asked everyone to stand, and guided fellow veterans in honoring him with a salute.

“Sgt. Sabetay, we thank you once more for your service to our country, and wish you a happy 100th birthday,” he said.