THE JEWISH VETERAN Volume 69 • Number 2 Sergeant William Shemin to be Awarded the Medal of Honor By COL Erwin A. Burtnick, USA (Ret) casualties, Shemin took command of the platoon Chairman, Awards for Valor Committee and displayed great initiative under fire, until he was wounded, August 9. President Barack Obama will award the Medal It took a little over five years from the time I of Honor posthumously to World War I veteran was requested to review Sergeant Shemin’s records Sergeant William Shemin and to Army Private until the upgrade of his Distinguished Service Henry Johnson for conspicuous gallantry during Cross to the nation’s highest military award. World War I. The ceremony will take place on After determining that Sergeant Shemin’s ac- June 2, 2015, at the White House. tions rose to the World War I level for the award Shemin entered the Army on October 2, of the Medal of Honor, I contacted his daughter, 1917. He was assigned as a rifleman to Company Elsie Shemin-Roth. I suggested that she contact G, 47th Infantry Regiment, which moved from her congressman as legislation would be required Syracuse, New York to Camp Greene, North to allow for the awarding of the Medal of Honor Carolina, joining the 4th Infantry Division. The to Jewish World War I veterans. She contacted Division arrived in France in May, 1918. Representative Blaine Luetkemeyer (R-MO), While serving as a rifleman from August 7-9, Sergeant William Shemin. whose office called me for assistance in the draft- 1918, Sergeant Shemin left the cover of his pla- ing of the William Shemin World War I Veterans toon’s trench and crossed open space, repeatedly fire to rescue the wounded. After officers and Act. The bill was introduced in 2010, but failed exposing himself to heavy machine gun and rifle senior non-commissioned officers had become Continued on page 16 Third Time Was The Charm By Jacob M. Romo, Ph.D., LTC USA (Ret) I had wanted to be part of a JWV Allied Mission to Israel for the past few years, and I am so pleased that I was able to be a part of the 2015 experience. I was delighted with the diversity of our group, both geographically and religiously. Our attendees were from all over the US and were Roman Catholic, Latter Day Saints, converts to Judaism, and of course, those of us that were born and raised as Jews. Twenty-nine people attended the trip, including several JWV members, and we were led by JWV National Commander Maxwell Colon. The Allied Veteran who joined us on the trip was Don Tretola, the State Chair for Employer Support of Guard and Reserve Office of DoD. We traveled all over Israel, spending much of our time exploring our surroundings and look- The JWV Allied Mission to Israel group posed on the steps of Independence Hall in Tel Aviv, where on ing at the beautiful scenery as our bus brought May 14, 1948, David Ben-Gurion proclaimed the establishment of the State of Israel and the Declaration us from one destination to another. In Tel Aviv, of Independence was signed. we met with the staff of TZEVET, the Israeli Defense Force (IDF) Veterans’ Organization, In Jerusalem we visited the Israel Museum, destinations included Masada, the Dead Sea, a and received a special briefing by Maj. General Yad Vashem, the Old City, the Church of the kibbutz, Nazareth, and Haifa. Baruch Levy, an officer of the IDF and a frequent Holy Sepulcher, and the Mount of Olives for a This trip was especially meaningful to me speaker at our National Convention. panoramic photo of the Jerusalem skyline. Other Continued on page 12 Upcoming JWV Teleconferences THE JEWISH Your opinions and ideas count! All JWV members are encouraged to VETERAN join in and participate by calling this toll-free number: Dial 1-866-266-3378 and enter the JWV Code Number: 202 265 6280#. The Jewish Veteran is the Official Publication of the Enter the full number, including the # sign. All calls start at 8:00 PM EST Jewish War Veterans of the United States of America National Commander COL Maxwell S. Colón, USA (Ret.) National Editor Monroe Mayer, PNC 2015 Schedule Associate Editor Barry Lischinsky Richard Goldenberg Preparing for the National Convention June 4, 2015 National Executive Director Herb Rosenbleeth Managing Editor Jordana Green National Convention Review Sept. 3, 2015 Graphics/Production Editor Christy Turner Editorial Fellow Robert M. Zweiman, PNC Outlook for the Coming Year Oct. 13, 2015 EDITORIAL OFFICE 1811 R Street, NW Washington, D.C. 20009 Telephone (202) 265-6280 x504 Fax (202) 234-5662 E-mail [email protected] Web Site www.jwv.org Amazon Smile The Jewish Veteran is published 4 times a year: If you shop at Amazon.com, you can have a portion of Amazon’s profit from your purchase Winter, Spring, Summer, and Fall, by the donated to our museum. Jewish War Veterans of the United States of America Go to Amazon’s website and sign in. Search for “AmazonSmile.” at 1811 R Street, NW Under AmazonSmile, select “Jewish War Veterans USA National Memorial Incorporated” Washington, DC 20009 (this is the way it’s spelled on the site; it’s also an old name for the museum organization) Periodical postage paid at Washington, DC, and at as the organization you would like to have receive your “gift.” additional mailing offices. 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JWV assumes no responsibility for in touch with JWV members and friends. products and services advertised in this publication. © 2015 by the Jewish War Veterans of the USA. NPA#112285 facebook.com/JewishWarVeterans ISSN 047-2018. twitter.com/JewishWarVets Reproduction without permission is prohibited. Display your JWV Membership proudly! DEPARTMENTS The JWV supplies store isn’t just YOUR LETTERS 3 for pins and poppies! MESSAGE FROM THE COMMANDER 4 You can also custom order polo NEWS FROM CAPITOL HILL 4 shirts, Post flags, badges, caps and jackets! DISPATCHES FROM THE EDITOR 5 COMMENTARY 6 MEMBERSHIP CORNER 11 Call Pat Ennis at 703-753-3733 JWV AROUND THE COUNTRY 14 Email: [email protected] NOTES FROM THE COMMITTEES 16 Or click the link NEW MEMBERS 18 on the JWV homepage PEOPLE AND PLACES 18 REUNIONS/IN SEARCH OF 18 For JWV caps, call Keystone Uniform Cap Corporation MUSEUM NEWS 20 Phone: 215-821-3434 • Fax: 215-821-3438 TAPS 22 http://www.keystoneuniformcap.com/Jewish-War-Veteran-Caps.html YOUR LET TERS SOS Program A Question of Nazi Identity phy of Rabbi Roland B. Gittelsohn (1910 – 1995). Both talks were informative and first rate. The current (Vol. 69, No. 1) issue of The Jewish I want to especially thank Michael Rugel, Veteran includes the touching story of Pvt. Bob the Programs and Content Coordinator at Levine whose survival during World War II was NMAJMH. Mike responded tirelessly and on dependent on the surgery of a German physi- a short notice request to provide live streaming cian, Dr. Edgar Woll, and Dr. Woll’s action to of the event’s audio and video. Live streaming discard Levine’s dogtags that identified him as The ringing phrase from World War II, provides a communications capability enabling a Jew. The story, apparently reprinted from the “Send a Salami to a Boy in the Army,” is JWV and/or NMAJMH members, as well as the New York Daily News, identified Woll as a Nazi just one example of how a taste of home general public, access to special programming and elsewhere in the article there are references has been important throughout history to anywhere in the world using a computer. He to “Nazi.” Our own headline says, “Nazi Saved those who leave their homes in order to needed to also connect all the cables and test the a Jewish G.I. ....” defend them. new system to ensure proper operation. One has to wonder whether Dr. Woll was a Mike, for me, it was a delight to partake in The JWV SOS (Support Our Soldiers) member of the Nazi Party or a surgeon in a Nazi- the program from the comfort of my home and program is the latest recognition of this related unit like the Waffen SS or was a German without having to travel hundreds of miles to the desire to let those who are currently military doctor whose code of ethics and belief in NMAJMH in Washington, DC. I hope we can serving know that we on the home front the Geneva Convention mandated him to save a experience the use of steaming for other future are thinking of them and supporting life rather than take it.