i

A Compilation of Facts Concerning Jewish Men in the Armed Forces l i ' during the First Year of the War t 07 ....

I TABLE OF CONTENTS

. Page

I. INTRODUCTION ...... i ...... '...... 3

II. COMMENT ON JEWISH SERVICE ...... 6

Editors and News Commentators ...... 7

Comment by Public Officials ...... 15

"The army today contains devotees of many religious faiths.

This is in accord with the democratic principles which we are III. RECORD OF HEROISM ...... 17 preparing to defend. There are thousands of Jewish soldiers in the Resume of the Year ...... 17 ranks of the army, and many officers of that faith. All are Ameri- cans, and all are involved in our effort to promote peace and Official Awards ...... 21 justice in the world." Battle Stories ...... 43 George C. Marshall

Chief of Staff IV. JEWISH SERVICEMEN AS SEEN BY THEIR

COMMANDING OFFICERS ...... 50 I V. ON THE CIVILIAN FRONT ...... 53

Published December 7. 1942, by the NATIONAL JEWISH WELFARE BOARD 220 FIFTH AVENUE, , N. Y. !

i t • ,,

Io INTRODUCTION

Since earliest Colonial days, men of Most difficult to satisfy have been re- Jewish faith have played a part in this quests for statistical information. Ade- country's struggles, participating in its quate collection and analysis of statis- wars and in its growth, sharing in its tics while we are still at war are not victories 'and its sacrifices. History has practicable and sometimes even unde- recorded the full measure of service sirable because they may be of value to rendered by Jews in wars fought by the the enemy. The War Department on from the Revolution to several occasions has declared that sta- the Great War of 1914-1918. In the tistics on religious groupings in the present conflict, Jewish soldiers and army will be available only at the con- sailors are once again fighting and dy- clusion of hostilities. It nevertheless ing on every front where American has said that religious groups today troops are meeting the enemy. have the same proportions in the army as their ratio in the general population. Events move faster today than in the past and, consequently, the desire for in- The position of the War Department formation about World War II often in this connection is summed up in two exceeds the speed with which the his- statements, the first from the Adjutant torian can make it available. He cannot General, Maj. Gen. C. S. Adams, issued get access to many important facts dur- on December 5, 1941, and the second ing the struggle. These may not be ob- from the Chief of Chaplains, Brig. Gen- tainable until after the war is over. eral William P. Arnold, issued on De- Nevertheless, there is at hand some in- cember 22, 1941. formation of general interest on the subject of Jewish participation in The Department has no statistics America's battle for the Four Free- for dissemination on the subject. Re- doms. This booklet, accordingly, has ligious aÿliations and denominational been prepared as a preliminary and in- preferences are approximately the formal compilation of facts available at same in the Army as in civilian life. this time. It covers only certain high- The current strength of the Army is lights and is intended to be indicative a fair cross-section of American life rather than conclusive. The sections in all its phases, including religion.- that follow include some figures on Adjutant General. Jewish participation, editorial comment on the patriotism of Jewish citizens, ac- It is believed that the present counts of distinguished service on the strength of the Army is a suÿciently part of Jewish soldiers and sailors and large cross-section of American life in related topics. all its phases, including religious pref- eliminate duplications and to ascertain other communities have made simi- erences, to warrant the assumption The most careful test so far was made that those listed were actually residents lar efforts. But the methods employed that the religious pre]erences o] sol- in Trenton, N. J., a medium-sized city of Trenton proper. With the co-opera- tend to understate the number of Jews diers in the Army are the same as in irÿ the East, where a thorough survey tion of the local organizations, addi- in the service. It is surprising, never- civil life.---Chie] o] Chaplains. was recently completed. This study has tional names and data were secured and theless, how often these local surveys been valuable in many ways, but out- Both of these official statements in- these again were checked against ear- have disclosed figures for Jewish men standing is the fact that it has clearly dicate in effect that men of Jewish faith lier lists. Draft board reports already in service in excess of their ratio to the shown that a thoroughgoing survey in- are fully represented in our armed made available for general use in an local population. creases in marked degree the number forces and that the number in service overall table, also provided comparative The information at hand, although of Jews known to have joined the corresponds proportionately to the figures. The most important aspect of limited, shows clearly that American armed services. The survey showed the number of Jews in the United States. the Trenton work, however, was the Jews are contributing their full share number of Trenton Jews in the armed systematic house to house canvass of to the national war effort. The Jewish forces to be S0 percent greater than an At the same time, the National Jew- every Jewish family in the city which Welfare Board proposes to continue to estimate based upon lists of such men [ ish Welfare Board, through its Bureau had at least one male member between collect information on their participa- assembled by various local organiza- of War Records, has been gathering the ages of 20 and 45. This exhaustive tion and through its Bureau of War tions. It was found that 22.7 percent statistical information on Jews in the canvass was the master yardstick which Records advise communities on the of Jewish men between ages 20 and 45 armed forces. The primary emphasis of made it possible to check other meth- methods to be followed that will insure were in service, as compared with 20.4 this effort has been placed on current ods and to arrive at findings as nearly greater accuracy and completeness of percent for non-Jews in the community. administrative needs to serve the men accurate as is scientifically possible. local statistics. Furthermore, 8.4 percent of Trenton's in the armed forces. Much of the in- men in the services are Jewish, al- formation it has gathered is, therefore, incomplete. The Bureau is, however, though Jews make up only 6.1 percent laying the foundation for more thor- of the total population of the city. This ough and accurate compilations which experience suggests that Jews of many it hopes will in the future meet the situ- other communities will likewise be ation more satisfactorily as the basis found to have contributed to the armed of an historical document on the par- forces more men than would be ex- ticipation of American Jews in the pres- pected on the basis of their proportion ent war. in the population.

So far the Bureau of War Records The Trenton study was undertaken has assembled material from about 200 by the city's War Work Council, con- communities on the nature and extent sisting of representatives of every Jew- of the services of their Jewish citizens ish organization in the city, working in the war. These early efforts have been under the guidance of the Jewish Wel- largely in the nature of tests to estab- fare Board's Bureau of War Records. lish scientific fact-finding machinery. Several different procedures were em- Still further checking must be done in ployed in conducting the survey. There these localities to obtain a complete were lists compiled by individual Jew- picture of the situation. It must be clearly realized that since our armed ish organizations; the general findings forces and our war production are still of draft boards for certain areas and expanding any statistics are soon out- finally and most important, a house to dated. Furthermore, unless compari- house canvass. The first method con- sons are available for other groups in centrated on the collection of lists of the general population of the same date, servicemen maintained by local organ- the figures are often misleading. izations. These Jists were reviewed to The Right To Pay Tribute

By GERALD W. JOHNSON

THE Navy Department announced this Obviously, we do not always do it; that any wise and good men can be week that Ensign Edward Irving but we have the right to do it, and that found among Jews, Catholics or Ne- Kohn, of Baltimore, is missing in action. rilÿht is our one great hope. Again and groes. There are Catholics who deny I did not have the honor of Ensign again we have made bad" choices and it as regards Jews, and Jews who deny Kohn's acquaintance, and I have not the error has cost us much money and l'. as regards Catholhrs. It might scan- talked to anyone who did. but I know endless trouble. But that is because, dalize a Jew who holds any such opin- everything about him that matters. He even after 166 years of effort, we still ion to be informed that in holding it was a young American. He did 'his duty. have learned too little about the art he is admitting that Hitler is right in He is missing in action. What else of self-government. Yet the possibility principle; but that is what he is doing. counts? of learning still remains, and it must be The whole Ku Klux program is a proc- This information is enough to estab- retained at any cost. lamation that Hitler is right. Any con- lish the fact that he is entitled to honor To find a good and wise man and cession to anti-Semitism is an admis- and praise from every American citizen, make him chief--that is the only busi- sion that Hitler is right. The fact that as are all his comrades who are defend- ness and the only justification of de- he confines excellence to Germans is ing us at the risk, and all too often at moci'acy. Unhappily, the power to do merely a difference in detail. II. the sacrifice, of their lives. But there that implies ti3e power to choose a bad --o-- is a reason for singling out this man and foolish man; but that is a risk that But so far we have managed, in this for special tribute. This reason is not must be run if we are to retain the country, to keep this thing beaten down. COMMENT ON JEWISH SERVICE based on his personal qualities, for I power to choose the good, and only by We are not free of it, but at least we do not know them, nor because he was exercising a free choice can we learn to have driven it to lurk in holes and conspicuously braver than many others, choose better. corners. It dare not emerge into the for I do not know that, either. The Always we have had among us persons light of day and openly threaten any The part that Jewish servicemen are playing in the armed forces has reason is the fact that I am permitted to who think democracy oan be improved ma/l. prame Ensign Kohn only because I am by circumscribing its choice. They So we can stand up in public and say found expression in numerous editorials and syndicated columns, and in a fi'ee man in a free cou'ntry. point out the incontestable fact that the what we think of Ensign Kohn, with no If he had served Germany or Italy, people have not always chosen the good fear of insult or injury from brown- statements by public officials. Reproduced herewith is a sampling of mate- or Spain, or even. horrible to relate, and wÿse; but they do not attribute that shirred thugs with blackjacks. Free men present-day , as faithfully as he to the human falhbdity that amicts us are we--free to salute a brave man and a true man, free to bewail the loss rial of this sort, presented as a representative cross section of public served the United States. and had been all They atlHbute it to something differ- reported missing in action, it would ent. Guodneÿ and wisdom, they assert, of an officer and a gentleman. And Irish O'Conor and English Jackson, and opinion on the role of the Jew in the present World War. not have been permissible for a news- are not scattea'ed thinly, hut pretty paper to say one word in his honor. For eÿenly--through all strata of the popu- Italian D'Alesandro, and German Sas- he was a Jew. lation, hut are concentrated at certain scer all are as free to mourn the brave It is only in a free nation that a man levels. Hence, the people should not be as are his nearest kinsmen. For .valor may publicly salute the brave and permitted to seek them beyond these and loyalty are still our measure of a honorable, no matter who they are. levels. man, not the obscene hatreds of some Slaves must first stop and consider the In the early days of the republic, this maniac overlord. prejudices of the master; and if the view prevailed. For a long time it was master so orders they must deny truth, not admitted that excellence could Our enemies accuse us of construing liberty as freedom to do what we like repudiate worth, insult valor. Only the exist in the propertyless. In Massa- and too often, God knows, it is true; free can honor the valiant always and chusetts, for a long time, it was con- everywhere; so it should be their de- sideÿed the monopoly of Congrega- but our great men have never construed light, as well as their duty, to do so. tionalists, and of Congregationalists it as anything but freedom to do what is Is this not, in the last analys,s, the with money, at that. In Maryland until right. The glory and dignity of Amer- very core and essence of that which much later it was considered the ica is the fact that, in theory at least, we defend under the vague name of monopoly of Protestants. is still our leader "the American way of life"? We fight, Today, however, that view does not rather than the Imperial Wizard of the in part, to defend our homes and pos- prevail offcially anywhere. That fact is Ku Klux Klan. That glory and dignity are all the finer now by reason of the sessions, of course; but property alone the glory of America. It is a glory some- even hearth and home, was never worth what tarnished, however, by the fact fact that so much of the world has gone the sacrifice of a man's life. We fight, that the view olficially repudiated is the other way, yielding, along with in part, to defend our form of govern- ocvertheless held and vociferously pro- other rights, the right to render honor ment, but we know by sad experience claimed by a minority. There are the v.here honor is due. But not in America, that in the hands of rascals it can be as Ku Klux, for example, who noisily deny dot yet, must courage and fealty stand rascally as any other form. We fight, aside and make way for malice and in part, to maintain the opportunities hatred and greed. We cannot all be of our children, but even as ruthless heroes, but by God's mercy we are a tyrant as Peter the Great could, and still able to shout for the heroes, to did, "open the career to talent." honor them, and to exult in them as ad- --o-- ditions to the honor of the country that But mainly we fight for the right to Reprinted From is theirs and ours. And certainly the recognize excellence wherever it may The Baltimore Evening Sun right to praise the valiant, all the be found, and to exalt it, regardless of valiant, is among the most precious held its source. September 17, 1942 b.ÿ an American citizen. Reprinted from Reprinÿ'ed from Jacksonville Journal Newspaper PM, New York City Jacksonville, I v His.Name Is Levin

Short Cut to Mount Holly - -- - He was just a little Brooklyn boy who FORT DIX-We were hot and dirty with grew up in a shabby neighborhood with the dust and most were sick and burning in- nothing but free air and hope to let him side with hangovers. This was our first day THE NEW YORK TIMES, SUNDAY, OCTOBER 11, 1942. in the Army and the I know he was an American. night before had been our last night Everybody worked at his house, and have also stumbled on the fact which 'theory"; it is a repeatedly demon- as civilians. We had everybody worked in the houses around Topics of The Times occurred to Mr. Johnson: this right of .ÿtrated fact. And if it seems too bad been going since six free Americans to give honor where that we do have these recurrent erup- that morning a n d him; and across the river in New York's most of us hadn't Gerald W. Johnson found tions of primitive mass-hate to stain East Side where Europe's weary and honor is due is chief among the things slept the night be- Praise the perfect title for his for which Americans are now fighting. the American record, one might recall fore. tempest-tossed were creating a new type [or the beautiful and heart-warm- what has often been said about the We stood in the It has not always been of American out of toil and thrift, they Missing ing message in the columns nature of true virtue. The really good street of C COmpany Th|s thus in a former America and we complained worked also. of The Baltimore Evening man is not one who has never been Frail and it is not always thus to- Sgt. Jimmy Cannon about what was hap- Sun of Sept. 17. His text was a Navy tempted but who has met temptation Flesh day, as Mr. Johnson pauses pening to us. It was Meyer Lenin, the boy we are talking Department announcement of the kind and conquered it. America meets the easy to squawk then, because the draft was to recall. In early Massa- about, was one of these new Americans. that by now has become tragically devil hate and beats him. new and we were a counhT yet to declare routine. It was to the effect that En- chusetts excellence dwelt only in Con- war. Now you think of the guys on Bataan The rea.ÿon we mention him is because he gregationalists 'and in early Maryland and what they went through and anythin sign Edward Irving Kohn of Baltimore If in this country of so many races is easy and all right. became a great American hero and will be only Protestants were blessed. Today was missing in action. Mr. Johnson and creeds no sign of discord ever We crowded around the steps of the or- remembered in the history books when we have the Ku Klux, who deny that never met the young man or any one manifested itself, if the new American derly room barracks and a tall, freckled cap. plenty of boys who came from Fifth who knew him. But he sat down and there can be any good in Jews, Cath- multitudes as they poured in were rain came out to talk to us. We had been Avenue are forgotten. warned all day by noncoms not to try to wrote a brief article for the Sunpaper olics or Negroes. greeted with 100 per cent love and "But so far," says Mr. Johnson, "we smuggle any booze into the Fort. But a few Another reason is that he was a Jew, and and called it "The Right to Pay kisses by their predecessors, it would of the guys had bottles buried in their have managed in this country to keep valises. the Jews have been so slandered in recent Tribute." be a wonderful thing, but that is the "Get rid of that liquor now," the captain this thing beaten down. We are not It is an arresting title, obviously, and peace that broods only over Eden, an.d years that they deserve all the favorble id.'Tour it on the wound. It won't hurt calculated at first reading to make the free of it, but at least we have driven even then not permanently. For our publicity they can get. it to lurk in holes and corners * * * e flowers." We laughed, because we wer shade of the late C. C. Pinekney, who human limitations we must be content standing in mud. One of the issues of this war is to de- The glory and dignity of America is "Captain," a selectee called. He was a said, "Millions for defense." etc., cry with the fact that bigotry from time to termine whether any minority such as the out indignantly. But Mr. Johnson had the fact that, in theory at least, George time raises its head in America and tall, pimply kid with a pale face and eyes Washington is still our leader rather which looked sore from lack of sleep. I Jewish has the right of life, liberty and the in mind a different kind of tribute. He gets smashed. than the Imperial Wizard of the Ku found out later he managed a newsstand in pursuit of happiness in this or any other meant the right to pay tribute to s the subway. "What's going to happen to the part of the world. Klux Klan." guys who got bottles?" youth who had given his life for his "Nothing ÿ tÿne,ÿ the captain said. country, even if he was a Jew. Such is established Amer- "But ff you don't get rid of them now, I'll Unfortunately there are some Americans ho have fallen for Hitler's doctrine that They ican practice. Under the Here is how the cooler not be easy with you." Never circumstances does it really 01d sociologist describes it: The guys searched their valises and force is the only law, that minorities poured the liquor into the mud. Because, says Mr. John- Win matter very much if this American "In their turn the cold "He sounds like a nice fellow,ÿ the news- haven't any right to exist. Why, son, he is a free man in a Game disapproving eye has glory and dignity of Amer- stand kid said as he erupted a quart of rye. It is because Levin is a symbol not only of free country he is per- ica which put the man above the creed been trained on newly ar- "But I'd hate like hell to get him mad." of the Jews but of all the other minorities Course mitted to praise the dead occasionally gets "tarnished" ? Does ved Germans, Irish, Scandinavians, d We were talking about t]ae captain yester- that have sought shelter in America that Ensign Kohn. If the boy it matter if a raucous American mi- South and East Europeans. The de- ay and Staff Sergt. John Lidak said what the kid said two years ago. this story deserves serious consideration. "had served Germany or Italy or Spain, nority, preaching ancestral hate. spised alien of yesterday becomes the "His men come first with him," John said. or even, horrible to relate, present-day makes itself heard from time to time ? 100 per cent American of today and "He always gave a man a break, but he It is because of this that the Americans France, as faithfully as he served the If in the Eighteen Fifties the Know- joins the native born in scorn of freshly wouldn't stand for a gold brick in the com- who do honor to , great hero United States, and had been reported Nothings came and disappeared, and arrived nationals." pany." of the Pacific war, should be reminded The captain is now Lieut. Col. A. H. Ro- missing in action, it would not have in the Eighteen Eighties the A. P. A. senfeld, an attorney out of the little town o£ that Kelly's bombardier was the Jewish boy been permissible for a newspaper to Scorn for the newcomers? Yes. Call came and went, and in our own time Mount Holly, who led one of the first outfits we are talking about. them, in turn, Dutchman, Mick, Jew, say one word in his honor. It is only in the Ku Kluxers came and went, why to land on the beaches of Africa. We had a free nation that a man may salute aren't we justified in saying that the Wop, Hunky? Yes. But along with been reading about how he asked the troops His was the steady hand and unerring the brave and honorable no matter normal American practice is to hit big- the scorn the first comers give the to pray and how he told them they must aim that laid those three bombs across who they are." Dutchman, Jew, Catholic, Wop, Hunky keep going no matter what they found on that Japanese battleship, whose stout otry on the head whenever that evil the dark beach beyond the breakers. Well, perhaps it was not so hard, a job and a home and a place in school heart an dsteadfast spirit helped snatch head raises itself too high and too I soldiered under Lieut. Col. Rosenfeld after all, for Mr. Johnson to think of insolently ? for his children; and after a while and what the kid said and what Lidak said victory from defeat. his arresting title, "The Right to Pay Wops get elected to the bench and is right. It made me proud I once had been Tribute." It demanded to be bÿnosen. George Washington's Jews become Governors; and "Whitey" in his company when I read of his rank and Let his deed stand as an eternal repudi- ation of those who spread disunity by Almost any one of us could have hit America, greater hold on our af- Kurowski speaks over the short wave his dangerously important assignment. He always was close to the men and square with upon that title, if we had first thought Not fections as against the to his brother Stanley in the Army, slandering religious and racial minorities. them and he gave you all the dignity a of the stirring words that go with it. Eden White Hoods and Silver Stanley who was born Stanislaus to soldier is entitled to. Let his deed be just another reminder that And while we were about it we might Shirts is not a matter of Polish parents. You remembered that Lieut. Col. Rosen- his much-slandered religious group, though feld, leading his commandos up on that dis- tant beach, is what I am and what you are. making up only three per cent of our He is no professional soldier, but a civilian population, has received eight per cent of from Mount Holly fighting in an army of the Distinguished Service Crosses awarded the people, who sÿall return to what he was by the American government. as soon as the war is over and won. We, who never asked for it, coming from Hats off to and all those the quiet towns and the tall cities, can fight better and longer and fiercer than any of like him who keep the glory in Old Glory, them. Like Lieut. Col. Rosenfeld, we must who keep the heavens free for America's cross the beaches of Africa to find the road 48 stars ! From Atlanta Constitution, July 13, 1942 Nationally Syndicated, May I I, 1942 From The Chicago Daily News, April 10, 1942

i By RALPH McGILL. Edwin A. DIVIDE AND CONOUER Facts always interest me. So do l_Al !-i mon emotions. Hitler interests me chiefly because he made clearer than any other of the great waÿ lords of history how effectively propaganda may be made to work for the armed forces. Hitler wrote for public consumption that one Lahey Runyon's of the best attacks was to tell a lie, the greater the lie the better, against your enemy. If th° lie is repeated enough there wilt be some who be= =,., o,. Brlg/ r $14e lieve it. He said again that one of the best ways to Cites the Heroic Records of Jews (Copyright. I'J42, King Fcalure.s Syndicate. [no Distributed by I]nterl]=ttionÿl News Service) conquer a nation was to divide it. He did that, before his army came, in most in the Army and Navy to LOS ANGELES, May 10.--The posthumous award re- of the countries now prostrate and enslaved. cently of the Distinguished Service Cross to Lieutenant His agentS are busy in this country. Some Disprove Vicieus Canard of them are unwitting dupes who follow tha Henry D. Mark, of Los Angeles, is still another indication enemy pattern without realizing it. that the spirit of my favorite soldier, Sam Dreben, "the One of the current enemy agent jobs is to Lieutenant Killed in Action. keep going any possible anti-Semitic propa- fighting Jew," goes marching on. BY EDWIN A. LAHEY. sug_ Capt. Robert Kushner of the From that great Valhalla where the souls of all gallant men ganda. They have as their aim to create suspi- cion and hatred in this country. , April 10.--It was abide, Sam must be watching with pride the exploits in this war of Army Dental Corps was cited for It seems to me that it is patriotic duty to gested in this column recently that distinguished service during the the Americans of his religious faith that the Fifth Column propa- discuss it and nail the lie, rather than to let it Jewish organizations take it upon gandists said would not fight. go unchecked. There is a whispering campaign attack. The answer to this lie has been given at Pearl Harbor, at Wake to the effect that Jews are seeking to evade themselves to assemble evidence to Lt. Henry D, Mark of Los An- Island, on Bataan and in the very plane that Colin Kelley flew. It military service. This despite the fact that the percentage of Jews give the lie to the vicious canard geles Was killed in the Phihppines will be repeated again and again on every field of battle where our in the armed forces in this war is greater than the percentage of that the Jew lets other people do their population in this country. This was true in the first war. when he attempted to cross an open troops are engaged. All of us have always known that there is no The effect of the propaganda has been, in some communities, to the fighting in war. rice field to throw some hand gren- difference in the courage of Americans, Jew or Gentile, when put to remember one case of attempted evasioR and to forget all those who Individuals and organizations re- the test, but the Fifth Columnists were trying to make it appear went willingly. ades at Japanese tanks. sponded with such a flood of evi- Lt. Comdr. Solomon S. Isquith, otherwise before she war. A LOOK AT THE RECORD I have sought, and obtained, fence that it would be impossible The Hitlerites were trying to spread the impression that the Brooklyn; Ensign Nathan F. Asher, some official records which !or a newspaper column to do it Jews were somehow different from other Americans--that they ought to be of interest to fair-minded persons willing to know the Brooklyn; Electrician's Mate H. justice. However, we'll cite a few would not take up arms in defense of the flag with the same pa- truth and to be on guard against the agentS of hate and disunion. Greenbaum, New York, and Fire- triotic fervor--an insult to the memory of Dreben and thousands of The American Bar Association Journal for February reports that of the instances received in the man H. Samuel, Atlantic City, were his faith who fought in our other wars, but nonetheless eagerly the first known fatality among the membership of the American mail: whispered about by the totalitarian stooges. Bar Association was Ensign Robert L. Leopold, of Louisville, Ky. awarded the Navy Cross by Secre- The first known casualty from the membership of the Chicago Corp. Theodore J. Lewis oz Phil- I think you will hear little of the blather now, for "the American tary Knox for outstanding service Bar Association was Captain Irving Maddelson, who was severely adelphia was mortally wounded at sons of Israel are writing their names in imperishable letters of in the Pearl Harbor attack. wounded in action while serving with MacArthur on Bataan penin- Pearl Harbor. His captain wrote fire across the skies of glory along with the Americans of every sula. He since has been promoted because of his bravery and Lt. Col. Joe R. Sherr of Milwau- to his mother thaÿ "several of his other religious faith and racial origin. The Jewish boys in this ability. kee accompanied Gem MacArthur war are no more heroic than anybody else, but surely they are not The first Japanese battleship sunk in the war was that one fn comrades owe their lives to him, which Captain Colin Kelly piloted his ship through heavy fire within in his spectacular dash from Bataan any less, which is the point I am making. since it was because of his action bombing range. The bombadier in that plane, who aimed the bombs to . and released them, was a Jew, ÿ:orporal Meyer Levin. in getting his comrades out of the LIEUTENANT MARK, 28 years old and in the Army seven Lt. Stephen. G. Saltzman of Wilm- The first fatality from Minneapolis was Ensign Ira Well Jeffery, line of fire of the machine guns years, was killed in the at the head of hfs troop of Fili- who received a posthumous reward for valor. ington, Del., was cited by the Army of an enemy plane that he exposed pino scouts charging Japanese tanks with hand grenades. One of Among the first fatalities from Chicago was Sherman Levineÿ for bringing down a Japanese plane an 18-year-old boy who died in action at Pearl Harbor. his brothers is in the service now and two others are going .in. His himself." with automatic rifle at Pearl ÿar- father, Abraham Mark, former City Health Commissioner of Los Perhaps the youngest boy in action at Pearl Harbor was Morris The first casualty from Minne- Angeles, served with Arthur MacArthur in the islands and is trying Samuelson, of New Orleans, who was a gunner on that morning 3or. and fired more than 250 rounds at the Japanese. He since has been apolis was Ensign Ira Jeffrey, who Six of the 75 flyers who made a to get in the Army again. mustered nut because it was discovered he falsified his age when died at Pearl Harbor. He recently Corporal Meyer Levin was Colin Kelley's bombardier and laid trans-Pacific formation flight last enlisting. He will re-enlist when he is 18 He now is 17. received a posthumous commenda- three bombs across the Haruna. Art Arthur, who was a noted col- The first fatality from Delaware was Sergeant Harry Finemart, September were Jewish. They were tion for valor from the Secretary of umnist in Brooklyn before turning Hollywood scenarist and who of Wilmington. Lt. Morris Friedman, Grand Forks, The first applicant for membership in the American Gold Star checked up on the list of Jewish heroes to date for me, calls my the Navy. N. D.; Pvt. Robert E. Altman, San- attention to the name combination of Kelley and Levin as a typical Mothers of this war was Mrs. Gertrude Kram, of New York, whose 18-year-old son, a gunner with a Navy (;rew aboard a tanker, was Jewish Private Cited. ford, Fla., Lt. Henry Goodman, American team, which it certainly is. killed in the torpedoing of his ship. She herself was the daughter Pvt. Jerome Mintz, who went Hampton, Va.; Sgt. George Br'an- of a Gold Star mother. ENSIGN STANLEY CAPLAN was commended by Secretary The first American soldier brought home for burial on American through the Pearl Harbor attack, deis, Waterbury, Conn.; Sgt Lester Knox for distinguished service at Pearl Harbor. He assumed com- soil was Sergeant Herbert Keilmon, of the United States Marines, received a citation from the com- Kramer and Corp. Meyer Levin, mand of a destroyer when the attack broke and although he had who was killed aboard a cruiser during the attack on the Gilbert manding officer at Wheeler Field, Brooklyn. Levin was the bombar- only eight months' experience afloat he conducted operations aboard and Marshall Islands some months ago. One of the youngest war mothers in America is Mrs. Michael T. H., which said "for the splendid dier on the plane flown by Capt. the ship for 36 hqurs "in an outstanding manner," as Knox said. Newman, of Oregon, whose 17-year-old son enlisted, with her per- attitude and exceptional bravery Colin P. Kelly, which sank the mission, in the Marines. SAM COHEN was a Marine Corps private on Wake Island and Lieutenant COmmander Solomon Isquith recently was awarded you exhibited under bombing and Japanese battleship Haruna. presumably captured. Silverman and Goldberg are other names the Navy Cross for "extraordinary courage and disregard for hig machine gunning, it is a pleasure Pvt. Joseph Guttman of Union that have bobbed up in the news of action on far-flung fields. I own safety" while directing the abandonment of the U. S. S. Utah and an honor to commend your City, N. J., was the first casualty think it was a paper that remarked as long ago as last March when it capsized during the . Private Leonard York, of Columbus, recently was honored or1 heroic and courageous action." of that town. His father, Jacob, that while only three per cent of the American population is Jew- the "They Live Forever" program. He received the Order of the Maurice Moscowitz, a 20-year- lost his life in the first World War ish, eight per cent of the 75 recipients of the Distinguished Flying for bravery while machinegunning Japanese during old private, was cited by the same in the Austrian Army. Lt. Henry Cross up to that time were Americans of the Jewish faith. the December 7 attack. Three young Jews were aboard the aircraft carrier Lexington. officer, who said that "in total dis- Mark of New York, leader of a And now I will present a letter that was written to the father Lieutenant Commander Max Silverstein was in command of th# regaÿ-d of personal safety you Filipino scout ÿroop, some time ago of Lieutenant Mark which covers my whole thought herein much destroyer Sims when it was sunk in the Coral sea engagemenÿ--- fought back with every weapon you wired his father, Abraham Mark, more briefly than I have been able to do. The writer of the letter was killed in the fight. does not wish his name used but has permitted me to publish the A number of Jewish privates and non-commissioned officers could find." Pvt. Daniel B. Rosen- who had served in the same poÿt 40 text. Here it is: were captured at Wake Island and at Guam, blum also was commended for valor ,ÿears ago, "Having wonderful time, "DEAR SIR: I know that this little tribute is small consolation SOMETHING TO REMEMBER The list could go on. These in this engagement. wish you were here." The next in your hour of grief. are but a few outStanding Ensign Stanley Caplan, 26 years message Mark received informed "Yet your son--and many like him--are providing the finest facts of the war we are in today. old, of Elmira, N. Y., was in com- :,im that his son had been killed in The enemy wants you to dislike some other American group. answer to the rat-like Hitlerites of this nation who have sought mand of a destroyer at Pearl Har- to make the American Jew seem different from his good neigh- It is spending money and time in an effort to make you do that. action. The enemy wants you to fall into the human error of condemning bors around him. bor that accounted for four Jpp This list was picked at random s whole group by the action of an individual or by the acts of a few planes and two enemy submarines. trom the mail, and is necessarily in- "Their propaganda palÿ and their infamy stands out unmis- individuals. takably and shameful in the light of this lad's valiant sacrifice. In time of war emotions are close to the surface. Caplan and the young officers with complete. It seems silly now to be "He was one of MacArthur's men. His race or religion didn't The best way is to doubt and deny all charges, and some of them him "met all emergencies and talking about the subject, but this matter. He died as a fighting American. are subtle, against a people or an individual until the real faeÿ operated the ship like veterans,'" much should be said--that the big- "In your sorrow there must also be great pride. are known. The enemy wants you to fall into the error of repeating whispers Secretary of the Navy Knox said oted whisper that the J?ws are "not "This, sir, is merely one small £alute. against other peoples in America. "My deeÿ)est sympathy." in his official commendation. in the war" flouts all the evidence. N.Y. Daily News, July 29

Reprinted from the Lawrence Bee, Lawrence, Nÿss.

"GREATER LOVE HATH NO MAN" pered by the bullets of a Jap flyer. "A modest hero, the Lawrence boy, who enlisted in the By ED SULLIVAN The Jews of this city abhor publicity of their race even though it may be to point out their record in the present Army Air Corps two years and ten months ago came home world crisis. In this characteristic of modesty they are a typ- WITH THE PURPLE HEART DECORATION hidden in some A secretary, at 1540 Broadway, writes: "Dear Mr. Sullivan: Of ,2cal segment of the Jews everywhere. pocket or in his wallet. He received the Purple Heart decora- course you wouldn't know it, but Ensign h'a Jeffrey, whom you men- N.Y. Daily News, July 27 Whether his habitat be the United States, Europe or any tion 'for bravery under fire' and a citation from Brigadier tioned in your Monday column tribute to Jewish heroes of this war, • t i J was my, dearly beloved nephew--an only child--lost at Pearl Harbor. of the other portions of the known world, the average Jew General H. C. Davldson, commanding officer of the U. S. | • You broÿught a note of sweetness to my heavy heart"... The writer is only wishes to be allowed to conduct his business and bring Army Air Corps." Lillian Jeffrey, secretary to Loew's Joe Vogel... Too bad that this up his family in peace and concord with his neighbors. courageous kid was an onlg, child, because that breed of courage should Yes, these boys of Hebrew origin knovÿ how to fight! have been continued... He was from Minneapolis, enlisted in the Navy Here in Lawrence the picture is every day becoming clearer, The second casulty list of the present war issued by the in August, 1940... Following an Atlantic cruise, he was sent to naval sharper and rpore glorious. Here traditions are being not only U. S. Navy contained the name of Sergeant Mitchell Cohen, aehool at Northwestern University, received his ensign's commission upheld but surpassed• Here the men and women of Hebrew U. S. Marine Corps, of 85 Tremont street, this city, who was and then flew to the West Coast to join his ship before it left for ancestry are once more covering themselves, their city, and Honolulu... But what an epitaph: "For distinguished devotion to duty one of six Massachusetts heroes singled out by the Navy de- and extraordinary courage and disregard of his own safety"...No their race with glory that will last thru this generation and partment for the AWARD OF THE PURPLE HEART, ac- prouder words can be penned. the next and even unto the end of time. knowledging their heroism in the battle of the Philippines. In the first World War, so-called, that of 1917-1918, one Sergeant Cohen was a member of the force that maintained By ED SULLIVAN of the first local boys to die in the service of the United Men and Maids, and Stuff It is boys like Jeffrey who contradict Japan's Prime Minister, Gen. the stubborn defense at Corregidor against vastly superior Hideki Tojo, when he boasts to 20,000 Japs at that "Japan will States armed forces was Joe Ravich. Joe was a clean manly numbers of Japanese. No confirmation of his capture has been No more thrilling reading than the National Jewish destroy the United States"... If this country were composed only of youngster, well known to the citizens of that portion of Law- Welfare Board's listing of heroes of that faith, and no received by members of the family. cheap politicians, if it were composed only of cynical citizens pulling rence known as the Plains or 'Cross-the-Spicket. In fact one more thrilling documentation of Americanism .... Corp. strings to get high commissions, then the boast at Osaka would be more The heroism of the Jewish race is daily being written in Meyer Levin, of Brooklyn, Colin Kelly's bombardier who than bragging: it would come true... But the backbone of this country of the bridges across the Spicket River bears a plaque com- blood on every battlefield in the world and nowhere is their blasted the Haruna; Lieut. Comdr. Solomon S. Isquith, are families like the Jeffreys, of Minneapolis, who taught their boy that memorating Joe's unselfish and untimely demise while a sol- awarded the Navy Cross at Pearl Harbor by Admiral record more glorious than in defense of this country of ours. God and country were more than splendid emblems... The backbone of dier defending his beloved land. Today, in this war for God, Nimitz, "for saving 90% of the U. S. S. Utah crew by this country are boys who stilI' thrill to Patrick Henry's line, and to In the wave of anti-Semitism that seems to have engulfed extraordinary courage under fire"; Ensign Stanley Caplan, 's defiance of tyranny; boys who get a shiver up their back, two of'Joe's brothers are in the service of Old Glory. the Jews of the conquered countries of Europe there is no cited for getting his destroyer out of Pearl Harbor and a shiver of sheer pride when the flag goes by...Tojo, of Tokio, is Sixty boys of Jewish descent were numbered amongst those vestige of reason why we should have any such "hymn of "sinking four Jap planes, two Jap subs in 36 hours of con- stymied by them. who went forth from this city in 1917-1918 to fight for tinuous engagement"; Ensign Ira Jeffrey, killed at Pearl hate" in this land of the free and home of the brave. Harbor, while maintaining, by hand, ammunition supplies Democracy in that first World War. Like Joe Ravich, some We should look well to those who would breed hatred The United States of America can be destroyed only from within, o the U. S. S. California, cited "for distinguished devotion of them never returned alive; others who did return were amongst us, who would have us fight, neighbor against neigh- to duty, extraordinary courage"; Lieut. Harry Mark, not from the outside . . . It might be destroyed by politicians . . . But broken in body and spirit, some even with lead still in their awarded the DSC posthumously for "his gallantry in we have here a tremendous bulwark, an informed Public Opinion that bor, brother against brother, race against race. Let us ex- charging a Jap machine-gun nest"; Radioman David Good- is sure death on knaves and rascals and poltroons . . . Public Opinion bodies, poison gas in their' stomachs and lungs, and destined amine well the background of those who whisper fantastic man, twice decorated under Lieut. John D. (Mosquito Boat) la still cooking with gas. never to recover full use of their physical faculties. charges in the night-time and seek the security of their homes Bulkeley .... Cohen, Kramer, Newman, Schreiber, Salz- In this present World War already there are over 100 Law- in the light of the day. man, Sdhleifer, Blum, Solomon Goldstein, York--all dec- For every phony commission you see drinking in New York night rence young men of Jewish origin in the service of the United orated because, in the "clutch," they measured up to the Behind their campaign of calumny and hatred of the Jew- €lubs, there are 1,000 boys of Jeffrey's stripe . . . For every lieutenant- States armed forces. With those earmarked to go in June noblest traditions. commander like the one on the Coast who is charged with accepting ish people you will find inferiority complexes, jealousies, and bribes, there are 5,000 kids like Lieut. John Bulkeley, who sent his that figure will be boosted to approximately 120 Jewish boys intolerence. And with these their inevitable cowardice, treaeh torpedo boat careening into a nest of Japanese destroyers... For every from Lawrence fighting for their country. cry and incompetence. phony commission in the Air Corps, there are a thousand men like And make no mistake about it, these Jewish boys can and Colin Kelly, who came up the hard way and went out the magnificent When next you are a patient listener to one of those anti- way ... For every draft-dodger, there are tens of thousands of Ameri- do fight! Semitic tirades remember, if you will please, 60 Jewish boys can boys in our camps who propose to fight it out to the last gasp In this World War, the first evidence of that came with the from Lawrence who were in this country's armed forces in ... For every miserable American collecting tremendous fees in Wash- return, unheralded and unsung, of Private First Class Walter 1917-1918, 120 who are in the present cataclysm. ington, there are hundreds of average earners buying War Bonds, serv- Silverwatch of this city On Aÿpril 15th. Here is what the re- iltg in the Red Cross, serving as air raid wardens. And this is all the more remarkable when you realize' that porter said of that morning: in 1917-1918 the Hebrew population in Lawrence was about ""A smiling white-faced boy with a scarred chin and the 5000 while the most optimistic give 3500 as the number of Tojo, of Tokio, will never live to see this country destroyed . . . suggestion of a limp, stepped off the Boston train at the Cen- The U. S. A. will be destroyed when eagles no longer can scream, when persons of Hebrew origin in our fair city at the present time. tral station Wednesday morning and gazed around at the trees stop growing, when flowers no longer give fragrance . . . It will In other words there are twice as many Jewish boys from smokey platform as if it were the most beautiful place in the be destroyed when the stars drop out of our flag, when Broadway runs Lawrence in the armed forces of this country now as there east and west instead of north and south, when Monday falls on a world. 'Gee, it's great to be home,' he said softly. was in 1917-1918 World War and still the local Jewish pop- Saturday, when John D. Jr. challenges Tommy Manville for the play- "He was Private (first class) Walter Silverwatch, air boy championship of the city. ulation is only slightly more than HALF WHAT IT WAS mechanic in the U. S. Army Air Corps. Wounded by machine- during the first World War. gun fire at Pearl Harbor on December 7, he is the first Law- "Greater love hath no man than to give his life for his Tojo, of Tokio, making with the sweet talk to the Japs, probably rence soldier of World War II to come home. He was running kept one slant eye on the on the skies over Osaka, for fear of Brig. Gen. friend." Jimmy Doolittle and a flight of eagles dropping large and explosive for his plane in the Hiekam Field hangar when he was pep- eggs .... They did it before and they'll do it again, Hon. Tojo, but the next time, they'll leave you something to remember them by .... So long as this land of ours breeds men of Doolittle's iron nerve and skill, even our politicians can't lick us .... They can worry the living hell out of us but battles are won in the field, on the sea, and in the air .... And in the field, on the sea and in the air we have kids like Jeffrey, who died carrying ammunition, by hand, to the U. S. S. California anti-aircraft guns .... Each time he picked up those shells he picked up his own death warrant .... Kids like that won't let the United States be de- 'Americans All!'

Los Angeles Examiner Comment by Public Officials January 14, 194ÿ "We who have in charge America's participate in the peace to come, and in vast preparation for the ultimate vic- the establishment of the better world tory of the United Nations know also we seek through bloodshed and sor- with what zeal and untiring energy row." James E. Murray SUN DIAL American Jewry is contributing to that U. S. Senator, Montana preparation." Robert P. Patterson "All of us have watched with deep Under-Secretary of War admiration the faith and courage of the By ILL phillips "The Jews of this nation have always Jews under the most terrible ordeal in been among the first to assume their re- their existence. Today, from the blue sponsibilities. As Americans, they have reaches of the Pacific to the bitter, ice- Study in American e,ÿ Eawÿr4 Strength. MÿZorÿ always made their contributions to the bound wastes of the Arctic, free men i "Thrÿe A'nÿ°ÿo,WSlÿi' W ÿb.ÿegaÿ, IlL, land of their allegiance. Jews served are marching to the liberation of the Vogel, Tpnÿsseÿ ÿ::ie C-o,dberg,were tkehÿrÿea BT side • by"' n.ÿ Edwin J. ÿ" " ot. Wtt arbor, in the American Revolution and in the world. These are men of all faiths, and takÿe-Ol] ÿn San Jltsÿ Indian Wars preceding it. Jewish mer- rode witlÿ a protestant chaplain, a lÿoÿrÿn cath they march as brothers in a great, com- print and ÿ rÿbO¢ olYwÿatÿng Tke flag for wh, Wk chants signed the non-importation res- mon resolve. Believe with me there is o,,gbt fLeW over thenL"ÿlÿeWSprlest and item.)a rabbiÿ tÿlA chaplain, a . ÿ olution of 1765, which was an immedi- no combination of despotism that can protestantÿCath°lic JeW ate precursor of the War of the Revo- resist our joint effort . . . a David has 'Three yankS in three simple casketS-" Three colors, red, white and blue .... lution... I know the pride that surges arisen, and the Philistines are doomed." A hush on a tropic island through you as you read the heroic ex- Frank Knox Aÿs noteS from a bugle fallÿ ploits of Jewish men in service; I can Three rituals slOWly chantedÿ Secretary of the Navy Three faiths in a commOn call! well understand the satisfaction you II. "They (the Jews) join with all the feel when surveys show that Jews are United Nations in the fight ÿto reestab- A lad from• ined the up BronX; in Tennessee; another more thah doing their part .... There Vv'ho 3° . ÿ Waukeganÿ lish the human rights of man every- A third one from taÿ are any number of outstanding Jewish where in the world. I know that the. A typical bunch, those threel a naVal airplane. • " ' heroes of the war. A few come to mind, crash in crumpled side. • * • Jews of the United States, and the A rush to its such as Meyer Levin . . . Ensign Ira world will not flinch until final victory And nearby Old Glory marking Jeffery... Lieutenant Max Silverstein. is won. I congratulate you and all of The reaSOn the trio died. II-I. And others, too numerous to mention." those with whom you are associated on Leverett Saltonsfall They answered a call to duty New York Times the bravery and courage of your people From church and from synagogUeÿ January 8, 1943 Governor of Massachusetts in this great world struggle." From hillside and teeming city • . • Three names in a naval tog: "As this conflict goes into its tenth Josh Lee Each raised in his separate concepts- THREE AMERICANS month, courageous men of Jewish faith U. S. Senator, Oklahoma Each having his form to prayÿ Three American airmen died in line But all for a faith triumphant have supplied the Army and Navy ar- "The courage of the Jewish people When rituals fade awaYÿ' of duty in the take-off crash of a Navy IV. plane in the harbor of San Juan, Puerto chives with brilliant pages which can- during the trying period of recent years - --alia phraseS--" Rico, on the last day of the old year. not be ignored by future historians. has been one of the brightest spots in A prayer m ÿ. ÿ ÿnre ancient lore, They were Lieutenant Edward Mallory se ice-- Vogel of Erwin, Tenn.; Issie Goldberg, Their names will live, as Haym Salo- the history of civilization." A ProteSÿ attached to aviation ordnance, of the mon's has survived, long after the black R. M. Jeferles Bronx, and Edwin J. Sipowsky, avia- -QuiAll onetollis on peccata a distant mundi" sharer • * ° tion machinist's maÿe, of Waukegan, chapters of greed and intolerance have Governor of South Carolina And, ,,Enter ye untoient rest" lÿoseS • • • • • Ill. Last Wednesday they were buried become a memory to be forgotten." A blessing from anc "In these trying days of humanity, side by side in the service cemetery in John W. McCormack For three who had met the test." Santuree. Officers and members of with the entire world involved in a V. their squadron carried the caskets. Representative, Massachusetts desperate war, the Jews may take pride This is the story mighty Every member of the squadron was present. A Protestant chaplain read "As the Jews have been the victims in the fact that they are fighting for Making our sinews strong: the service for Vogel, a Catholic priest of Nazi terror, so are the Jews fighting BoYs from the ÿnanY altars for Sipowsky, a Jewish rabbi for Gold- the cause of freedom and democracy." Warring on one great wrong! berg. The flag for which they died that terror hand in hand today with all William Green flew over each of them. To each of free peoples. So, too, will the Jews President of A, F. of L. ere each narrOw g them the Navy gave honor. Their three A lÿand wh- " he can't Prevadl" different religious faiths did not divide them. Their common faith, in their cause and in freedom, united them, as it unites all the millions who wear this country's.... uniform. # (Not printed at Government expense) on r ssional cord PROCEEDINGS AND DEBATES OF THE 77tb CONGRESS, SECOND SESSION i III. Ceremonies in Memory of Louis Schleifer Jews have been fighting oppression and tyr- anny for centuries. They received their basic tralnfng in Egypt and became seasoned sol- EXTENSION OF REMARKS diers on the battlegrounds of Europe. RECORD OF HEROISM OF Wherever tyranny threatens, wherever the rights of man and the four freedoms are in HON. CHARLES L. McNARY danger of being destroyed--there you will find the Jew, Joining forces with others will- OF OREGON ing to fight and die for freedom. That is Resumÿ of the Year IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES the reason Hitler took special pains to single out the Jews for persecution and, if possible, Tuesday, July 7 (legislative day o! complete annihilation. He knew what he Thursday, July 2), 1942 was about--he knew they would be in the Despite the relatively small percent- brought down a strafing Japanese Zero Mr. McNARY. Mr. President, I ask forefront of the fight to prevent him from enslaving mankind the world over. unanimous consent to have inserted in age of Jews in the general population, plane at Schofield Barracks with a rifle America has a great tradition of freedom. the RECORD a very able address delivered Much of that tradition comes from the Old men of Jewish faith have distinguished bullet that killed the pilot. by the distinguished Senator from New Testament. When the first settlers came to themselves in almost every en- Jersey [Mr. BARBOUR] at the Jewish Cen- this country they thought of the Atlantic The Philippines -- Bataan and Cor- ter, 131 West Eighty-sixth Street. New Ocean, which they had to cross to reach the counter of the war. At Pearl Harbor regidor--also had their quota of Jewish York City, June 30, 1942, on the occasion new promised land, as the Red Sea. When there were a score of Jewish heroes. of the ceremonies held in honer and America fought for independence, the story heroes. Lt. Henry D. Mark of Los memory of Louis Scbleifer, private first of God breaking the yoke of Egypt gave spir- Commander Solomon Isquith of Brook- itual Justification for our expression of the Angeles was killed while throwing class. right of all men to liberty. lyn, commander of the target ship grenades at a Jap tank on Bataan. He There being no objection, the address And now In this new struggle for liberty was ordered to be printed in the RECORD, we find Jews rendering servlce of the high- Utah, was decorated with the Navy received the Distinguished Service as follows: est quality, and, like Private Schleifer, often Cross for rescuing 90 percent of Cross. A number of Jewish doctors I am especially pleased that I was able to being among the first to give their lives for rearrange my itinerary in Washington and be their country, whose abiding democratic the crew of that vessel. During the were on hand during these engage- present with you tonight. With the tre- principles stem from the tenets of their own mendous degree of most vital legislation religious history. Pearl Harbor attack, a young inexperi- ments, men such as Col. Jack Schwartz pending before Congress I was very fearful That Lou¿s Schleifer, a Jew, was the first enced ensign, Stanley Caplan of El- and Capt. Alfred Weinstein, who cared that I would not be able to leave the Capitol. from Newark to fall in battle is, therefore, Fortunately, late this afternoon a little lull not surprising. Neither is it unusual that mira, N. Y., took a destroyer to sea and for the wounded under the most diffi- developed in the business on the Senate floor during the brief period that elapsed between which made it possible for me to be with you the time the Japanese struck and the time helped shoot down four Japanese planes cult and hazardous conditions. Some of tonight. he met his death, he so distinguishcd him- and depth-bomb two Japanese subma- these Jewish men died in the line of I am deeply appreciative that your organi- self in action that he was posthumously zation has given me an opportunity to pay awarded the for valor. He was rines. He received the commendation duty, some are prisoners and some are repreÿen*.a*Ave of his people and his heritage tribute to Louis Schlelfer, first boy from of the Secretary of the Navy. Ensign Newark, N. J., to lose his life in the second He made the supreme sacrifice that man reported "missing." World War. It is my understanding he was might breathe the air of freedom on this Milton Moldafsky was also on that In the naval action around the Philip- the first Jewish boy to lose his life in this earth. war, having been killed in the line of duty The story of Jewish participation, with all ship. Another young ensign, Ira Jef- pines, brilliantly highlighted by Lt. at 9:30 am. at Hlckam Field, T. H., when other groups in the United States in the the Japanese strafed the air field. present world conflict, has only begun to fery, of Minneapolis, was commended Commander John D. Bulkeley's mos- The record made by the boys of Jewish unfold. That story was written in the fox by the Secretary of the Navy for keep- quito boat squadron, a Brooklyn youth, faith in the last World War is unquestionably holes of Bataan, in the bomb bays of high- one of heroism and bravery. In my humble flying fighter planes, on the decks of ships ing an ammunition supply line going Radioman David Goodman, won the estimation that splendid record will be up- where the guns flash. One chapter was re- held in this present international world cently written at Corregidor by a Jewish on board the battleship California. Silver Star and the Oak Leaf Cluster, conflict. radio operator from Brook].yn, Sgt. Irv- Jeffery was killed. A new destroyer, the first for helping to torpedo a Jap- I mentioned that Private Schleifer was the ing Stroblng. It was he who tapped out first boy from Newark to lose his life. I also the final heartbreaking recor(ÿ of that island now being built, has been named in his anese cruiser, the second for helping to find that there are many other examples of fortress' last valiant stand. The authors of Jewish men being what we might call firsts that story of participation are the young honor. Capt. Robert Kushner, a den- bring General MacArthur out of Cor- in the news coming to us from the war men who did not plan to be heroes, but who tist of Atlanta, was cited for distin- regidor. Missing in action, young fronts. The first man from the State of nevertheless are risking their lives, and some- Delaware to lose his life in the defense of times losing them, so that life may be worth guished service in the treatment of the Goodman was one of the "expenda- democracy also was a Jew, Sgt. Harry Fine- the living for all peoples of good will. wounded. Private Louis Schleifer was man; among the very first---possibly the Before the sacrifice made by Louis Schlei- bles." Another Jewish Navy man who first---men in the to give for, we are all struck with our own inade- killed in action while seeking to rescue won the Silver Star in the Philippines, their lives in the second World War were quacy, with a profound sense of being un- two Jewish boys from Philadelphia, Corp. worthy. That is as it should be. Private his plane at Hickam Field. He was was Murray Weinrub of Los Angeles, a Theodore Lewis and Pvt. Jack Feldman. Schleifer has shown us, by example, the true posthumously awarded the Silver Star Connecticut's first casualty, Kenneth Harold nature of patriotism and the greatness of machinist's mate serving on a subma- Messenger, was a Jewish boy, and the first the human soul. Let us therefore rededl- for gallantry. Lt. Stephen Salzman rine. The citation declared that Wein- • body to be returned to the United States for cate ourselves to the great tasks at hand, burial from the Pacific battle zone was that that we may be worthy to live on in a world also was awarded the Silver Star. He rub was one of those who added "an- of Marine Sgt. Herbert Ketlson, a Jewish lad made sale for us by the sacrifices of all the from . Lores Sehletfers, of whatever faith, who have I do not think that this is pure coincidence. fallen in this battle for freedom.

16 17 other brilliant saga to the feats of the Arthur's command also come the Isquith decorated at Pearl Harbor. prominently in the first American air- Navy's undersea vessels." It was in this names of Private Sidney Schwimmer, Out of the Aleutians, there is the raid on Nazi held Europe on July 4th theatre of war that Sgt. Meyer Levin, of New York, winner of the Silver Star story of Lt. Irving Berman of Pater- and, in Egypt, among the many Jewish bombardier on the plane piloted by the for air action over Rabaul and Private son, N. J., who was lost with the crew men fighting there, there is Capt. Leo late Colin B. Kelly, sank his first Jap Julius Schellenburg of New York, a of a heavy bomber attacking the Jap B. Margolian of Boston who, with his ship, repeating the performance some refugee, decorated for action in New base at Kiska. Berman was posthum- flight squardron, has been cited for "ex- months later in the Coral Sea engage- Guinea. ously awarded the Order of the Purple cellent work" in air combat over Rom- ment. From the Solomons come the names Heart. reel's forces. At Corregidor's last stand, Jewish of Lt. Jacques Saphier of Brooklyn, The recent air fighting over Europe In the new North African campaign men were again in the thick of the another doctor, killed while treating has also produced its quota of heroes, there is, among others, Lieutenant fighting. The last brave words describ- Marines wounded in the front lines, of whom none exemplifies better the in- A. H. Rosenfeld credited witlÿ ing that hopeless fight were tapped Capt. Jacob Joseph of New York, domitable spirit of courageous Amer- leading the first American troops into out by a young Jew from Brooklyn, youngest Marine Captain who was ican youth than Sgt. Julius L. Klei- Algiers. Sgt. Irving Strobing. Surrounded by killed in action, and Corp. Leroy Dia- man of Staten Island, N. Y. On Labor There is, also, Corporal Bernard Kes- the dead and wounded, he stuck to his mond, leader of a group of three Ma- Day last, an American Flying Fortress sel, of Brooklyn, N. Y. whose tank be- post and gave the world the most stir- rines creditdd with repelling a Jap at- left its base in England on a bombing came separated from the main column ring message of great bravery under tack by killing 200 of them. Also from mission over Germany. A few hours and entered Oran alone. It smashed into insurmountable odds to come out of that battle area there is the story of later, the giant ship was on its way a road block obstructing the way to an this war. Barney Ross, the former lightweight home, its mission successfully com- airport, and ran head-on into a mobile As the fighting spread in the Pacific and welterweight champ, a native of pleted. The Fortress reached Rotter- 75-millimeter gun. With a picture of his --Java, Australia, Wake Island, the Chicago. Ross distinguished himself dam and swept on toward England m fiancee inside the tank to bolster his Coral Sea, Midway, New Guinea, the during a battle that took place some and ran squarely into a squadron of courage, Corporal Kessel rammed the Solomons, the Aleutians,--the names miles northwest of Henderson Field on 15 German fighter planes. Kleiman, the enemy gun, having no time to load his of Jewish men continued to figure Guadalcanal, when the American forces ball turret gunner, fought off attack own cannon, then rammed a line of among the heroes. There is Capt. Mor- were spearheading for a big push. The after attack. Three of the Nazi planes motor vehicles two blocks long by ris N. Friedman of Grand Forks, N. D., Japs attacked before the Americans had went down, and the squadron began to running along the road. The tank then pilot of a Flying Fortress, who saw ac- time to move up and dig in. Fierce break up. The Flying Fortress had proceeded into Oran proper, and opened tion in the Philippines, the Dutch East fighting followed, during which Ross been hit 2000 times but every second fire, becoming, in turn, the target for Indies, the Coral Sea and has been and two companions held up a Jap ad- the plane was getting closer to safety. a volley of hostile fire. twice decorated, holding the Distin- vance through an entire night until re- A lone German fighter zoomed down In North Africa, too, Captain Milton guished Flying Cross and the Silver inforcements arrived. He has since been on the bomber for a final try, before Simons managed to get the cooks and Star. Another man of similar stature is promoted to the rank of corporal, and turning tail for Germany. Kleiman got pots and pans ashore from an American recommended for a medal. When they Lt. Roy Bright, of Eveleth, Minn., who it in his sights and there was a ter- transport in landing boats, so that the piloted the first plane to land on Wake told him about the medal, Corporal rific burst of cross fire. The plane went first contingent of American troops to Island just prior to the outbreak of the Ross said, "Tell 'era to give it to my down smoking into the sea and the land on November 16th had their din- company. This is no one-man show." war and has since been decorated with bomber was safe. None of the crew ner that night. Captain Simons accom- the Distinguished Flying Cross for ac- And in the waters off the Solo- had been injured except Kleiman. He plished the landing despite the fact that tion during the and, mons, Lt. Commander Samuel Isquith had been killed in that last exchange of it was made under heavy and continu- more recently, with the Silver Star for remained at his post through the tor- gun-fire. ous fire. gallantry in the Southwest Pacific. Lt. pedoing and sinking of the Vincennes, There are other men in the European In St. Cloud, Algeria, Private First Alfred Heyman, of Youngstown, Ohio, of which he was medical officer, at- area--such men as Lt. Morris B. Pen- Class Harry Cohen picked up a 30 a Flying Fortress navigator, also has tending to the sick and wounded. He ner, former columnist of the "San An- calibre machine gun during one en- been twice decorated, receiving the is believed to be the last man to leave tonio Express" who was recently killed counter and tearing into a barrage of Silver Star for action in the Coral Sea the ship. When he was finally rescued, in action somewhere over England; Lt. heavy enemy fire, proceeded alone and the DFC for the completion of a he worked for days without sleep, help- Jerome Notowitz of St. Louis, who also under fire and established a position secret mission. He too saw action in ing the wounded survivors of the lost lost his life in the air over the British well in advance of his main force, hold- the Philippines and Java. From Mac- cruiser. He is a brother of the Solomon Isles; Sgt. Chester Davis, who figured ing the position until help arrived. Among the air heros on the new in action and the recipient of the Air Official Awards North African front are Lt. Morris Medal award; Lt. Melvin M. Coleman, Berenson who recently received the Denver, Col., killed in action on the Herewith is a listing of the names, deeds and citations of Jewish serv- icemen who have been decorated for valor since Pearl Harbor. Air Medal and two Oak Leaf Clusters North African front and winner of the The listing is necessarily incomplete since the records of such awards, for his part in successful bombing Air Medal for "performance of an ex- raids over Tunis and Tripoli, and for often made on distant battlefronts, are frequently delayed in tÿeir trdns- tremely hazardous offensive." disabling seven enemy craft in a Nazi mission to official bureaus in Washington. During initial landing operations, held port; Lt. Jacob Hochman, Plain- Collected and confirmed by the Jewish Welfare Board's Bureau of Pet. Milton L. Gorobetz, Brooklyn, had field, N. J., who has received the Air War Records, this record of heroism is presented as a tribute to the men Medal from Brig. Gen. James H. Doo- his ship torpedoed under him, swam themselves and is still another example of the high devotion and patriotic little for the courage he displayed in to the beach and, under heavy fire, loyalty displayed by American Jews in the present War. five successive air raids over enemy worked among the wounded men who held territory; Staff Sergeant Bernard had fallen there. He was later awarded Lieufenanf Isidore Alfred action in the North African front and Karasin, Bronx, New York, missing the Silver Star. (Received the 811ver Star) over occupied Europe. Lieutenant Alfred, 25, of Brooklyn, Lieut. Berenson has taken part in a Army Air Corps navigator who was score of raids on enemy-held territory shot down early last year in air combat and has participated in the severe drub- near Java, has been posthumously bing American forces have handed awarded the Silver Star. Tunis and Tripoli. Lieut. Berenson's The late lieutenant's parents, Mr. ship is the "Eager Beaner" and he re- and Mrs. Jacob Alfred of 3026 Brighton counts the storm of havoc his crew 14th Street, received a letter of tribute wreaked on a Nazi port in North Africa, to him from Col. E. L. Eubank. "Your smashing up seven vessels and reduc- son had been continually in action since ing harbor installations to smoking his arrival in Java and had taken part rub'ble. Once, he adds, the Beaner in several important missions. His caught it from a Nazi shell but made death was a severe loss to the organiza- its home base without too much diffi- tion and to his friends and comrades." culty. While on European operations, Lieut. Alfred met death while en- Lieut. Berenson participated in the epic gaged in a bombardment mission. His assaults on Rotterdam and Lille. squadron was intercepted by a very Lieut. Berenson is a graduate of Pat- large enemy fighter formation which by erson State Teachers College and was sheer force of numbers succeeded in a salesman before he joined the Air shooting down two Allied planes. Corps two years ago. He is the son of Private Milton Alfred, brother of Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Berenson, of 51 Isadore, is also in service, attached to Passaic Street, Garfield. an anti-aircraft unit. They are cousins to Sergeant Meyer Levin. Lieufenanf Irving Berman (Received the Order of the Purple Heart)

Lieufenanf Morris Berenson Lieutenant Berman, navigator (Received the Air Medal and Two Oalÿ Leaf aboard a heavy bomber plane which Clusters) was lost in action while attacking the Lieutenant Berenson, 24, of Garfield, Japanese in the Aleutians, has been N. J., Flying Fortress navigator, has posthumously awarded the Order of been thrice decorated, holding an Air the Purple Heart by the War Depart- Medal and two Oak Leaf Clusters for ment.