Jewish Veterans Reflect on Service and Solidarity During Memorial
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HEADLINES | 3 SPECIAL SECTION | 12 JFCS VETERAN SENIOR RETIRES LIFESTYLE After nine years, Frank Healthy cooking for empty Jacobson, VP of marketing nesters and making resolutions and development, exits JFCS during the summer JUNE 1, 2018 | SIVAN 18, 5778 | VOLUME 70, NUMBER 36 $1.50 Valley 95-year-old Jewish veterans reflect on service and JEFFbecomes KRONENFELD | STAFF WRITER first-time author solidarity during Memorial Day JEFF KRONENFELD | STAFF WRITER ike “The Hobbit” by J.R.R Tolkien, Leonard Samuel Baker’s Lfirst book began as stories he told to his children. However, it s they do every Memorial Day, local wasn’t until Baker, who is Jewish and lives in Scottsdale, turned Amembers of the Jewish War Veterans of 95, that he finally published his first book, “The Silly Adventures the U.S.A. (JWV) participated in a wreath- of Petunia and Herman the Worm.” laying ceremony at the National Memorial Herman the Worm is actually a caterpil- Cemetery of Arizona. They also raised money lar with a human-like face, the ability to to benefit organizations providing services speak and arms with hands, while Petunia for veterans by selling poppies at a number is a girl of around 6. The two strike up of local Fry’s Food & Drug Stores. a fast friendship. The chapter book was Despite declining numbers and an aging illustrated by Ann Ness and is aimed at membership, the organization continues readers 6 and up. It is currently No. 1 in its mission of supporting veterans through Amazon’s Children’s Reptiles & Amphibian service, giving and advocacy. Books category. Some of the JWV wreaths placed at the National Memorial Cemetery of Arizona on a previous Memorial Day. Baker was working for the U.S. Coast SEE VETS, PAGE 2 LEONARD SAMUEL BAKER and Geodetic Survey, now part of National PHOTO COURTESY OF JWV SCOTTSDALE POST 210. Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and living in Florida with his family when he first created Herman. “I was stationed at Cape Canaveral and I was in charge of mak- ing sure that all the tracking devices for the missile launches were Phoenix Comic Fest tied to the grid,” Baker said. “We had lots of tracking devices This group of cosplayers pose as Marvel heroes, from left, Black Widow, downrange and I had to go down there with my crew and make Star-Lord and Dr. Strange, while attending this Memorial Day weekend’s Phoenix Comic Fest. A number of celebrities with Jewish backgrounds, sure they were all correct. While I was gone, my wife used to read including William Shatner, famous for his portrayal of Captain James to the children. When I came back, they said, ‘No, Daddy, you T. Kirk in the “Star Trek” franchise, actress Barbara Dunkelman and tell us a story,’ so I created Herman the Worm.” author Cory Doctorow attended the event, which drew tens of thousands Born and raised in Clarksdale, Mississippi, Baker was the son of comic book fans. Read more on Page 10. PHOTO BY JEFF KRONENFELD SEE AUTHOR, PAGE 4 KEEP YOUR EYE ON jewishaz.com INTERNATIONAL ISRAEL NATIONAL Anti-Semitism rising in Netherlands Israel bombards Gaza Congress proposes Anti-Semitism bill HEADLINES VETS run-up to the war, Hayman was interview- abled American Veterans, founded in 1920. “Until the day he died, you could CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 ing a Jewish military doctor for a series of Another member of Post 210, Michael see the wounds from where the bullets While Jewish contributions to enter- public service announcements preparing Chambers, who is the current com- entered and exited both feet,” Troy said. tainment and science are well known, troops for the cultural and climatic chal- mander of the JWV of the Southwest, also Troy believes young men and women of their contributions to the defense of the lenges of the Middle East. doesn’t belong to other veterans’ groups. all backgrounds could benefit from mili- U.S. are sometimes overlooked. That’s when she learned how substantial Like his father, who was a professional tary service and worries about the future Combating misconceptions about the the numbers of Jews serving in the U.S. soldier and member of JWV, Chambers of the JWV due to declining membership long history of Jewish military service is military really was. enjoys the shared understanding of being numbers and the increasing average age one of the reasons JWV, then known as “The doctor there told me that in the around other Jewish veterans. of remaining members. the Hebrew Union Veterans, was initially Seventh Corps alone, there were 1,000 “I went to the funeral of my father’s “I would say the average age of our formed in 1896. Jews,” Hayman said. “That year, during commanding officer’s son in Arlington membership is around 80,” he said. “The original impetus for getting it Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, 1,000 National Cemetery and I remember see- Jewish War veterans, as well as other started was because people said that dur- Jewish American service members had ing all these soldiers in uniform crying, veterans’ organizations, are working on ing the Civil War Jews didn’t support services in the middle of Saudi Arabia.” because they saw this boy grow up and figuring out their next step in trying to this country,” said Rochel Hayman, the Hayman did take the precaution of hav- that he died in Vietnam,” Chambers said. appeal to the camaraderie and needs of commander of JWV Scottsdale Post 210. ing her dog tag redone, omitting her reli- “That’s Memorial Day to me.” today’s veterans. “There are Jews who have always been gion, before deploying to Saudi Arabia. Chambers joined the Navy in 1968, “It’s not just Jewish War Veterans who involved in the military here, though it’s “My thought process had been that, serving for seven years. Next, he attended are experiencing decreased membership, not necessarily up on the list of what your God forbid, if I’m captured, I would Syracuse University and, after graduating, it’s all of the different veterans organiza- mother says you should do, like being a already have going against me that I was relocated to Israel, where he served in that tions,” Hayman said. “One of the ideas doctor, for example.” an American, that I was in the military, country’s military reserves for eight years. that I would like to see, and not just here Hayman served as broadcast specialist in that I was a woman pointing a gun at He eventually returned to the states, in Phoenix, but also nationwide, is for the U.S. Air Force from 1987 through 1992. them,” she said. joining the Air Force Reserves until the all the Jewish newspapers to have a vet- She was deployed in Japan, Greece and Saudi After leaving the military, Hayman first Gulf War, when he finally left the eran’s column and to have a column that Arabia during the first Gulf War. initially lived in Florida and was not active military for good at his wife’s insistence. highlights people who are in Jewish War “In the U.S., you have American radio with any veterans groups. When she Another Post 210 member, Steven Veterans now and also highlight someone and TV that the troops can listen to, relocated to Arizona, she first learned about Troy, served in the U.S. Army for 26 who is in the military now. but overseas, depending on the country the JWV and quickly got involved. years, mostly doing public affairs work. “It’s not just about getting out infor- and the language, you don’t,” she said. She chose the JWV because she enjoyed Like Chambers, Troy’s father was also a mation about Jewish War Veterans to “Especially when it’s war time, the troops the shared identity and wanted to help veteran and member of JWV. say look what we did, it’s getting it out need something to be able to relax with maintain the venerable organization, which Troy’s father was drafted into the U.S. there from the standpoint of saying Jews and also something that you can recall she noted was older than the American Army in 1943 and sent to Italy, where he have been in the military, Jews are in from home. That’s what our job was.” Legion, founded in 1919; the Veterans of served as a sniper and was shot multiple the military and they have died for their After arriving in Saudi Arabia during the Foreign Wars, founded in 1899; and Dis- times during his service. country.” JN HEADLINES .................................... 2 OFFICE HOURS Local 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Thursday National 8 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Friday International 1430 E. 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