Before heading off to serve in World War II, Bud Sabetay enjoyed a day at Coney Island amusement park in New York.

A fortune teller, during that visit, looked at his palm and assured him he had a long lifeline and would come through the war unharmed.

Throughout his time on the front lines in Europe, he kept that prediction in mind during perilous moments, as it provided him reassurance of his safety.

Now, Sabetay is celebrating his 100th birthday.

The fortune teller’s predictions didn’t stop there; she also mentioned that he would marry and have a son and a daughter, which indeed came true.

On Nov. 2, his children David Sabetay, 70, and Bonnie Burte, 68, organized a birthday celebration for him at the Sheraton Suites in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio, which saw over 60 friends and family members in attendance.

Wearing his Army uniform from 1945, Sgt. Robert L. “Bud” Sabetay basked in the affection of those around him, his blue eyes sparkling.

“Happy birthday!” the crowd cheered.

A Member of ‘The Greatest Generation’

Bud’s life has been a remarkable journey as a proud member of “The Greatest Generation.”

Bud and his twin sister, Reva, were born on Nov. 2, 1924, to Frances and David Sabetay. They welcomed a younger sister, Elaine, in 1929.

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

The Sabetays originally resided on Wesleyan Avenue and Hopocan Avenue in Barberton, later relocating to Akron, Ohio, during Bud and Reva’s teenage years.

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

The family were members of the Beth El Congregation. Bud and his siblings attended Buchtel High School, where he also delivered the Akron Beacon Journal to 99 homes as part of his job.

Although his parents might have been worried about the war in Europe, they kept their concerns hidden from their children.

“They never talked about it,” Sabetay stated.

On the morning of Dec. 7, 1941, the family learned about the Pearl Harbor attack while listening to the radio during breakfast.

After graduating from Buchtel High in 1943, 18-year-old Sabetay was drafted into the Army with dreams of becoming a pilot.

“I passed all the entrance exams and got assigned to the Air Corps for a short while,” he recounted. “But then they traced my health issues back to Akron, Ohio, and discovered I had sinus problems. They said, ‘You can’t fly.’ ”

Sabetay was subsequently assigned to the 773rd Field Artillery as a radio operator and field lineman, receiving training at Camp Bowie in Texas. He faced some antisemitism from his fellow soldiers during his service.

Occasionally, he was subjected to name-calling. He also noticed that while soldiers were granted alphabetical two-week furloughs, his name was always overlooked, even though he knew some men who had benefitted from two. An officer disregarded his requests and sent him instead on training in Louisiana.

“The lieutenant colonel cheated me out of two furloughs,” he said bitterly.

Sabetay’s unit later transferred to Camp Shanks in New York, where he and two friends took a break to visit Coney Island, leading to his encounter with the fortune teller.

In June 1944, he boarded the HMS Tamara and sailed to England. Shortly thereafter, his unit crossed the English Channel and entered Normandic France. Unfortunately, on that voyage, a captain publicly ridiculed him, claiming he didn’t know how to wear a life jacket correctly.

“He was on board, had too much to drink, and started saying nasty things over the microphone,” he recalled.

“about the Jews,” stated Sabetay.

The Battle of the Bulge

Sabetay successfully landed in France and joined the Allied forces. He was assigned to the 359th Infantry Regiment within the 90th Infantry Division, led by Gen. George Patton, where he fought during the Battle of the Bulge against German forces.

“I fought daily in various towns,” he remembered.

Over 19,000 American soldiers lost their lives during the battle, which took place from December 16, 1944, to February 7, 1945. Additionally, 47,500 were injured, and 23,000 were taken prisoner.

Explosions rattled the earth, and smoke enveloped the sky. Gunfire impacted trees, buildings, and people alike. Sabetay witnessed the loss of fellow soldiers. He passed through ravaged villages, observing fields littered with frozen corpses.

In Belgium, shrapnel struck his left forefinger, causing it to swell dramatically, and he suffered a burst eardrum due to a blast’s shockwave.

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

As the fighting in Europe drew to a close in 1945, U.S. troops were met with surprising welcomes from the understandably tired locals.

“Oddly enough, when we arrived in a German city, the locals seemed pleased to see us,” he shared. “They had a dislike for the Russians and were overjoyed to welcome us.”

While in the Czech city of Pilsen, he learned of Germany’s surrender on May 7. His platoon celebrated with cognac, but Sabetay opted to remain sober to truly appreciate the moment of tranquility.

“I stood on a balcony and noticed two men strolling down the street with Jewish scrolls,” he recounted.

These men had rescued the Torah after years of being hidden from the Germans.

“It was a remarkable sight,” he reflected.

A New Chapter After the War

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

He established Barberton Glass Co., which he successfully ran for over 65 years. He met his future wife, Betty Wessler from Cleveland, through a mutual friend.

“When I was around 28 years old, a friend showed me a picture of a beautiful girl,” Sabetay recalled. “I expressed my interest in meeting her, and he set it up.”

“After meeting her, I realized I liked her a lot. I began visiting Cleveland nearly every night to see her. One thing led to another.”

The couple married in 1953, settled in Akron, and had two children, David and Bonnie.

“He always made time for us,” his daughter noted. “Whenever I needed guidance, he was always available.”

She shared that her father taught her to confront her fears. Once, he placed her on a bike, spun her around, and let go.

“I yelled, ‘Look! I can ride!’—and then I promptly crashed into a tree!” she laughed. “He took me upstairs, cleaned me up, and brought me back out to try again.”

And she succeeded!

Sabetay also supported her in overcoming her fear of darkness. When she noticed a shadow on the wall and thought there was something lurking in the basement, he gently reassured her.

“Let’s check it out together,” he encouraged. “I’ll hold your hand. Why don’t you go touch that wall?”

She came to the celebration with her husband, Dr. Kerry Burte, and their son, Evan.

Lessons Learned from Father

David Sabetay expressed that World War II significantly influenced his father’s character.

“Regardless of the challenges he faced, he learned to manage them because of his experiences,” he remarked.

He compiled a list of valuable lessons he gained from his dad, such as:

• Character matters.
• Your word is your bond.
• When you’re down, lift yourself up.
• Keep moving forward; better days are ahead.
• Respect others’ beliefs, even if they differ from your own.
• Treat everyone with fairness.
• Maintain faith in yourself.
• Release anger, don’t hold onto it.
• Be adaptable.
• Always speak the truth.

For many years, Bud Sabetay was reluctant to share his war stories, but he began to open up after publishing his 2013 book, “Memoirs of an American Jewish Soldier: From the Heartland of America to the Frontline of the Third Reich.”

“He never harbored resentment towards the Germans,” David noted. “He believed there were both good and bad individuals among them. His perspective throughout life aligned with this sentiment.”

He attended the celebration alongside 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 believes that his long life is due to consistent exercise and the fact that he has never smoked. In his 60s, he learned to ski in Colorado and maintained a routine of 100 push-ups every day until he was in his 90s.

A dedicated learner, he has a passion for reading, especially about World War II.

As a veteran of the war, Sabetay holds strong opinions about the topic.

“In my view, everyone should come together and cooperate,” he stated. “There shouldn’t be any more wars because it’s foolish.”

‘He saved many lives’

Almost 25 years ago, Sabetay became a member of the World War II-Korean War Roundtable in Fairlawn, which has since grown to include discussions on other conflicts as well.

Former Army Captain C. David Post, 89, from Copley Township, met Sabetay at the roundtable, and they have remained close friends ever since.

“He is an exceptional person,” Post remarked. “Very humble and modest.”

Sabetay has given three presentations to the group, sharing his experiences with a tone of sadness for everyone who endured the pain of war.

“He saved many lives,” Post mentioned. “He often wishes he could have helped even more.”

Before relocating to Cincinnati to be near his daughter, Sabetay rode weekly with Post to their roundtable meetings.

“He once asked me, ‘David, why are you so kind to me?’” Post remembered. “I looked him in the eye and said, ‘You saved my life. When I was 10 years old, you were defeating the Germans. It was you and 13 million other men and women who kept us safe.’”

At the party on November 2, Post celebrated Sabetay’s service by recounting his military history, urging everyone to stand and salute him during the moment.

“Sgt. Sabetay, thank you once more for your service to our nation, and happy 100th birthday,” he declared.