Waldemar Levy Cardoso
Encyclopedia
Waldemar Levy Cardoso was the last living Field Marshal
of the Brazilian Army
. He was of Jewish Algerian-Moroccan descent and was born on Rua Evaristo da Veiga in Rio de Janeiro
. Cardoso graduated from military college at the top of his class in late 1918, making him a World War I-era veteran although he never saw combat action. In 1924 he took part in the uprising against the Brazilian Federal Government and also fought in the Brazilian Revolution of 1930
. He was mentioned in dispatches
in World War II. As a lieutenant colonel, during the World War II, he served in Italy as the commander of an Artillery battalion of the Brazilian Expeditionary Force
. He converted to Catholicism in 1953. Between 1953 and 1954, he was the commander of the 2nd Artillery Regiment, in Itu
, São Paulo
.
He was promoted to Field Marshal
upon his retirement in 1966. After his retirement he acted as president of Petrobrás
between March and October 1969, acting as company's counselor between 1971 and 1985. He lived on Rua Tonelero
in the Copacabana district of Rio de Janeiro.
In 2007, with 107 years old, he returned to Itu to see the party of the 90th birthday of the 2nd Light Artillery Group, the actual designation of the old Regiment he has commanded. He died in the Hospital Central do Exército on May 13, 2009. Upon his death he was the last Brazilian Field Marshal
, the last surviving veteran of the Brazilian Revolution of 1930, and the oldest Brazilian World War II veteran.
During his career, Field Marshal
Cardoso was awarded with several decorations
such as: Brazilian Combat Cross Second Class, Brazilian Expeditionary Force
Campaign Cross, Military Merit Order, Military Medal in Gold with Platinum
bar (for 40 years of active duty), Brazilian War Medal, US Army Bronze Star, Croce Al Valore Militare
(Italy) and the Croix de Guerre
avec Palme (France) among others.
Field Marshal
Field Marshal is a military rank. Traditionally, it is the highest military rank in an army.-Etymology:The origin of the rank of field marshal dates to the early Middle Ages, originally meaning the keeper of the king's horses , from the time of the early Frankish kings.-Usage and hierarchical...
of the Brazilian Army
Brazilian Army
The Brazilian Army is the land arm of the Brazilian Military. The Brazilian Army has fought in several international conflicts, mostly in South America and during the 19th century, such as the Brazilian War of Independence , Argentina-Brazil War , War of the Farrapos , Platine War , Uruguayan War ...
. He was of Jewish Algerian-Moroccan descent and was born on Rua Evaristo da Veiga in Rio de Janeiro
Rio de Janeiro
Rio de Janeiro , commonly referred to simply as Rio, is the capital city of the State of Rio de Janeiro, the second largest city of Brazil, and the third largest metropolitan area and agglomeration in South America, boasting approximately 6.3 million people within the city proper, making it the 6th...
. Cardoso graduated from military college at the top of his class in late 1918, making him a World War I-era veteran although he never saw combat action. In 1924 he took part in the uprising against the Brazilian Federal Government and also fought in the Brazilian Revolution of 1930
Brazilian Revolution of 1930
The Revolution of 1930 was a movement that overthrew President Washington Luís and installed Getúlio Vargas as Provisional President.-See also:*Revolutions of Brazil*History of Brazil...
. He was mentioned in dispatches
Mentioned in Dispatches
A soldier Mentioned in Despatches is one whose name appears in an official report written by a superior officer and sent to the high command, in which is described the soldier's gallant or meritorious action in the face of the enemy.In a number of countries, a soldier's name must be mentioned in...
in World War II. As a lieutenant colonel, during the World War II, he served in Italy as the commander of an Artillery battalion of the Brazilian Expeditionary Force
Brazilian Expeditionary Force
The Brazilian Expeditionary Force or BEF was a force about 25,700 men and women arranged by the Army and Air Force to fight alongside the Allied forces in the Mediterranean Theatre of World War II...
. He converted to Catholicism in 1953. Between 1953 and 1954, he was the commander of the 2nd Artillery Regiment, in Itu
Itu
Itu is an old and historic municipality in the state of São Paulo in Brazil. The population in 2009 was 157,384 and the area is 641.68 km². The elevation is 583 m. This place name comes from the Tupi language, meaning big waterfall. Itu is linked with the highway numbered the SP-75 and are flowed...
, São Paulo
São Paulo
São Paulo is the largest city in Brazil, the largest city in the southern hemisphere and South America, and the world's seventh largest city by population. The metropolis is anchor to the São Paulo metropolitan area, ranked as the second-most populous metropolitan area in the Americas and among...
.
He was promoted to Field Marshal
Field Marshal
Field Marshal is a military rank. Traditionally, it is the highest military rank in an army.-Etymology:The origin of the rank of field marshal dates to the early Middle Ages, originally meaning the keeper of the king's horses , from the time of the early Frankish kings.-Usage and hierarchical...
upon his retirement in 1966. After his retirement he acted as president of Petrobrás
Petrobras
Petróleo Brasileiro or Petrobras is a semi-public Brazilian multinational energy corporation headquartered in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. It is the largest company in Latin America by market capitalization and revenue, and the largest company headquartered in the Southern Hemisphere by market...
between March and October 1969, acting as company's counselor between 1971 and 1985. He lived on Rua Tonelero
Rua Tonelero
Tonelero is the name of a street located in the neighborhood of Copacabana in the city of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, where an assassination attempt took place against Carlos Lacerda, the main adversary of President Getúlio Vargas...
in the Copacabana district of Rio de Janeiro.
In 2007, with 107 years old, he returned to Itu to see the party of the 90th birthday of the 2nd Light Artillery Group, the actual designation of the old Regiment he has commanded. He died in the Hospital Central do Exército on May 13, 2009. Upon his death he was the last Brazilian Field Marshal
Field Marshal
Field Marshal is a military rank. Traditionally, it is the highest military rank in an army.-Etymology:The origin of the rank of field marshal dates to the early Middle Ages, originally meaning the keeper of the king's horses , from the time of the early Frankish kings.-Usage and hierarchical...
, the last surviving veteran of the Brazilian Revolution of 1930, and the oldest Brazilian World War II veteran.
During his career, Field Marshal
Field Marshal
Field Marshal is a military rank. Traditionally, it is the highest military rank in an army.-Etymology:The origin of the rank of field marshal dates to the early Middle Ages, originally meaning the keeper of the king's horses , from the time of the early Frankish kings.-Usage and hierarchical...
Cardoso was awarded with several decorations
Military decoration
A military decoration is a decoration given to military personnel or units for heroism in battle or distinguished service. They are designed to be worn on military uniform....
such as: Brazilian Combat Cross Second Class, Brazilian Expeditionary Force
Brazilian Expeditionary Force
The Brazilian Expeditionary Force or BEF was a force about 25,700 men and women arranged by the Army and Air Force to fight alongside the Allied forces in the Mediterranean Theatre of World War II...
Campaign Cross, Military Merit Order, Military Medal in Gold with Platinum
Platinum
Platinum is a chemical element with the chemical symbol Pt and an atomic number of 78. Its name is derived from the Spanish term platina del Pinto, which is literally translated into "little silver of the Pinto River." It is a dense, malleable, ductile, precious, gray-white transition metal...
bar (for 40 years of active duty), Brazilian War Medal, US Army Bronze Star, Croce Al Valore Militare
Croce di Guerra
The Croce di Guerra al Valor Militare is an Italian decoration for military valour.- Past recipients :* Edouard Izac, Lieutenant, United States Navy* Douglas MacArthur, General, United States Army...
(Italy) and the Croix de Guerre
Croix de guerre
The Croix de guerre is a military decoration of France. It was first created in 1915 and consists of a square-cross medal on two crossed swords, hanging from a ribbon with various degree pins. The decoration was awarded during World War I, again in World War II, and in other conflicts...
avec Palme (France) among others.
See also
- List of centenarians
- List of last living war veterans
- List of veterans of World War I who died in 2009–11