World War II vet, 95, gets COVID-19 vaccine, with help from Sayville’s Community Ambulance Company

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Receiving the first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine Saturday was like “winning the lotto” for 95-year-old Henry Prew.

The World War II veteran who earned a Purple Heart for being struck in the helmet by a bullet during the Battle of the Bulge was inoculated at Long Island Community Hospital in Patchogue.

Prew was there thanks to a team of first responders that included Sayville’s Community Ambulance Company and the Suffolk County Sheriff’s office, said retired MTA detective Jamie Atkinson, a longtime Community Ambulance member. 

Ambulance vehicles were sent to Prew’s home in Hicksville to surprise him and bring him to Patchogue, Atkinson said.

“He had no idea about it, but he was so happy to get the vaccine,” Atkinson said. “Like he was winning the lotto.”

Prew was a private first class in the U.S. Army and holds an engineering degree from Yale. He raised five children and has two grandchildren and a great-grandchild. He lives alone.

“His family reached out because he could not get in anywhere to get the vaccine, and they saw that I post a lot of vaccine info online,” Atkinson said. “He was falling through the cracks at the VA. We arranged for him to get the vaccine and the transportation for him to get to the hospital.

“For someone his age, COVID would be the end of his life if her got it,” he added.

After receiving the vaccine shot, Prew was presented with a special plaque that honored his courage and bravery. Here’s a picture of it:

Below are some photos of Prew being picked up at his home, then receiving the shot, and finally, being presented with the special plaque. The photos were provided to GreaterSayville.com by Atkinson.