It’s true; because of his experiences in the Holocaust he will not ever grow a beard. It is not by his choice.
A beard is certainly a respectable thing unto itself; the Chafetz Chaim wrote a rarely learned pamphlet about it entitled “Tiferes Adam” urging people not even to “shave” with scissors even though it is certainly permissible; he writes extensively about the concept of a the way a Jew looks. So yes, it is a sign of Chashivus; but certainly many have valid reasons that they shave their beards, as the Chafetz Chaim himself points out. Hence, the lack of vomit. Remember, even before shavers, Bachurim used powder, (ach! The smell! the burning! hail shavers!).
Today, certainly, using a Shaver which is Kosher according to all de’os – which usually will leave a 5pm shadow – is certainly commendably. Or powder, which leave the closet shave you can possibly get, and it also permissible according to all de’os. Of course, it will also take off some of your skin.