Archive for month: February, 2018

By Gerry Levine, Post 125

JWV Jersey Shore Post 125 celebrated twenty WWII veterans November 12 in a special ceremony at the Ocean, NJ JCC. These former service members were regaled as members of the “Greatest Generation,” the name applied by journalist Tom Brokaw to describe the men and women of America’s WWII armed forces. Now in their nineties, these veterans recalled in brief comments, some of their still vivid recollections of wartime service during mobilization in England amidst Nazi bombings, in ground campaigns like the Battle of the Bulge in Europe, in the battle for Leyte and the Philippines in the Pacific, and elsewhere around the world during the 1940s. There were stories of admitted relief knowing that the atomic bomb saved untold numbers of American lives as the war with Japan came to an end.

Accompanied by friends and family members, the honorees rose, some with difficulty, but all proudly, as their individual service anthems were played and then again to salute fallen comrades and friends as Taps sounded in memory of those no longer here. As noted by event Chairman and Honorary Dept. of NJ Commander, Gerald Levine of Long Branch, honoring WWII vets has been a tradition in Jersey Shore posts, but the ranks of World War II service members are rapidly thinning. Seven potential honorees had passed during the planning for the 2017 event.

WWII is now 72 years behind us yet memories of the war years were still clear to many of the veterans as they recalled their experiences. Among those recollections were those of Bernard Tillis, senior surviving commander of Post 125 who served in the Battle of the Bulge. Milton Ziment, another former Post 125 commander saw the war conclude in Europe and was about to embark with his unit for the Pacific when VJ day arrived. Bernard Weinstein, Commander of Oglensky-Jackson Post 359 in Freehold, NJ was a young radar technician when the war ended. His collection of WWII memorabilia is scheduled for display at Brookdale Community College in Freehold, NJ. David Scheinhartz’s unit was scheduled for a dangerous Japanese mission about which he recalls having really ominous feelings. “I owe my life to Harry Truman’s decision to drop the atomic bombs,” he said, and then went on reflect on the miracle that enabled 16 of his acquaintances from the Bronx who fought in the war to return home safely. Harold Greenspan of Long Branch, NJ was wounded in the Philippines and then again, near mortally, in the battle for Okinawa. He credited his ultimate survival to a change in orders instigated by an Army physician who by remarkable coincidence was a medical school colleague of Greenspan’s brother. Sam Kaye, a board member of Post 125 and the first elected Jewish Freeholder in Hudson County, NJ, was in charge of the Army Pictorial Service repair shop in London and later in Germany. Kaye had two brothers in the Army and a sister in the Navy during the war years. No surprise Kaye pointed out. His father served in WWI and his grandfather was in the Army in the Spanish American War. Henry Lapidus was accepted as an aviation cadet after basic training but found himself transferred back to ground forces as the European campaign heated up. He ended up as a rifleman in the 276^th Infantry Regiment that fought its way up through France and then across the Rhine into Germany. Bernard Karasic, a Navy enlistee following high school in Asbury Park, was aboard ship off the coast of Japan when the Pacific war ended. He returned safely and ultimately practiced law in the Shore area for six decades. These were but a few of the experiences shared as the veterans and their guests enjoyed the warm spirit of the event.

Post Commander Dr. Allan Solden delivered welcoming remarks to the assembled crowd of more than 100 and, following the actual recognition ceremonies, Post 125, led by PPC and County Commander Stanley Shapiro, hosted a catered luncheon that was very well received as the good food and warm environment gave guests the opportunity to chat informally and reflect on the service of these veterans to America during a time of great need. Certificates recognizing their service were also given by the State of New Jersey to the veterans being honored and photographic mementos of the event are being arranged by Post 125 JVC Sid Marshall.

Volume 72. Number 1. Spring 2018

By Beth Lapin

A year or so ago, a sign went up on Route 9 as it passed north through my town, Middletown, CT. A section of the road was dedicated to the memory of Major General Maurice Rose. I decided to find out more.

Maurice Rose was born in Middletown in 1899; a plaque marks the location on Main Street. When he was four, his family moved to Denver. Rose was determined to join the military and served in both World War I and II. It was in 1944 in Germany, after multiple medals and heroic accomplishments, Rose was killed in combat by the Germans. His initial grave was later moved to the Netherlands. In his memory, the following are named after him: a school in the Netherlands, a hospital in Denver, a Jewish War Veterans Post 51 in Middletown, and the Middletown Armed Forces Reserve Center.

The most remarkable occurrence at a recent presentation about Rose by Post 51’s Karen Uberti was the arrival of a WWII colleague. Almost ninety-eight year old Bob Swarsky arrived by wheelchair, maneuvered by his friend Glenn, to tell of his personal recollections of the day that Rose was killed. With hearing and mental agility that surpassed most of us in the room, Swarsky spoke about many efforts of the 3^rd Armored Division, First Army.

As those who served during that time get fewer and fewer, it become even more important and poignant to hear their stories and honor their memories.

Volume 72. Number 1. Spring 2018

By COL Rich Goldenberg, Post 105

ALBANY, N.Y. – More than a dozen members of the JWV Capital District Council
came together on Christmas Eve this year for the annual JWV “Operation
Jingle Bells,” visiting with dozens of patients at the Stratton VA Medical
Center here December 24, 2017.

The event dates back for decades when JWV would visit with patients and
staff at the VA and distribute phone cards for veterans to make
long-distance calls to family over the Christmas holiday, explained Past
Post Commander Dr. Howard Pressman, DDS, the coordinator of the event.

The spread of cell phones made the holiday distribution of phone cards
unnecessary more than 15 years ago, Pressman said. Today, JWV distributes
coupons for patient use at the hospital canteen or exchange, where veterans
can purchase snacks or sundries.

“As times changed, so did JWV,” Pressman said.

Pressman worked full-time at the VA for more than three dozen years, and
annually leads the effort to identify patients unable to be discharged,
meeting with each ward’s nursing staff the day before Christmas Eve to
identify how many patients will still be under the hospital’s care for the
holiday.

“No veteran should be alone for the Christmas holiday,” noted Albany Post
105 Commander Fred Altman. “This is a terrific mitzvah to share our best
wishes with the VA staff and patients of all faiths who are unable to be
home for the holiday.”

Operation Jingle Bells is the high point of JWV efforts during the holiday
season. Support in the veterans’ community ranged from volunteers helping
load Christmas Trees bound for military installations for the annual Trees
for Troops program and the financial donation to place holiday wreaths at
the local national cemetery at veteran headstones for Wreaths Across
America.

Operation Jingle Bells is one of the most satisfying JWV outreach events,
Pressman said, because of the one on one interactions with fellow veterans
in need.

“One year, we were at the hospital and when a patient asked who we were
during the visit, I explained that we were the Jewish War Veterans and
offering our support,” Pressman said. “The veteran took one look at our JWV
caps and said he couldn’t accept our phone cards because he wasn’t Jewish.”

After a brief laugh and explanation about JWV’s commitment to all veterans
of all faiths during the Christmas season, the patient was happy to receive
the gift from JWV, Pressman explained.

The holiday season is all about sharing joy, Altman said, and there’s no
better way to do that than with our fellow veterans who can’t be home for
Christmas.

Back row from left, Post 105 Commander Fred Altman, Joe Weitzman, Howard
Pressman, Bert Isen, Victor Reiner, Linda Woodward Stein, Post 106
Quartermaster Gary Hoffman, Post 106 Commander Paul Zonderman. Front row
from left, Kelly Goldenberg, Alexa Goldenberg, Post 105 Adjutant Rich
Goldenberg, Hatti Wang and Post 105 Quartermaster Lance Wang.  Courtesy
photo.

Volume 72. Number 1. Spring 2018

By Robert Max, Department Commander of the Southeast Region

The 2018 Atlanta Jewish Film Festival was an exciting year for JWV Post 112.  The festival included the Atlanta Premiere of GI Jews – Jewish Americans in World War II, a film about Jewish American military experiences during World War II.   There were five screenings of this fabulous documentary during the Film Festival and each screening was packed.   The film honors the over half a million Jews who defended this country during World War II.

The special screening was followed by a panel discussion with two of our very own Post members who are WW II Veterans.  Jewish War Veterans Atlanta Post 112 provided WWII Veterans to speak on a panel, and I was honored to introduce the Sunday evening screening.  The Sunday evening screening was at the same time as the Super Bowl and the theater was full, which either says a lot about the commitment of our Jewish community to Jewish American Military History or their apathy for our Super Bowl choices.  Either way, it was very exciting to see such an engaged crowd.

Two of Post 112’s members spoke at the panel after the event.  “I saw myself in the film in about six places where I was physically present,” said JWV member Mort Waitzman.

Mort Waitzman was in the first wave of American soldiers who invaded France at Normandy.  He participated in the liberation of concentration camps, including the capture of the headquarters of the notorious Nazi Propaganda Minister, Josef Goebbels. He was awarded the Bronze Star for Valor. He went on to a distinguished career as a professor at Emory.  Mort’s story can be found in full at an exhibit in the Breman Jewish Museum in Atlanta.

Bob Maran served in Europe in the First Army and after the Battle of the Bulge with Patton‘s Third Army. Instead of returning home after victory in Europe, he was loaded onto one of several troopships that set sail to invade Japan. His ship did not turn back and he spent an additional two years In the Army of the Occupation of Japan. Bob turns 94 this month and continues to be one of our most active members with our Post.

The full video of their Q&A can be found on the Atlantic Jewish Film Festival YouTube Page.  If you have some time to look at it, I highly recommend it.  Until then, we will be working hard down here in the South.

Volume 72. Number 1. Spring 2018

by Amy Lefkof

During World War II, a bathtub saved Alan Goldberg’s life.  Goldberg served in the infantry — an eighteen-year-old private first class in the 13^th Armored Division, 46^th Tank Battalion. A bathtub was welded onto the back of his tank when General Patton visited Goldberg’s battalion as they were preparing to cross a bridge somewhere near Simbach, Germany. Patton refused to let Goldberg’s tub-tank go first. When the soldiers were unable to remove the welded bathtub from the tank, the tub-tank moved to third in line. The bridge collapsed under the weight of the first two armored tanks.

While in Germany, Goldberg went to a USO show held for the 13^th Armored Division. A woman in a two-piece swimsuit danced on a makeshift stage —a raised wooden platform in the back of an army truck.  Goldberg shouted to the men in his Company, “That’s my cousin Josephine from Brookline, Massachusetts!”  After the show, Goldberg, trailed by the hundred or so men in his Company, went “backstage,” took off his helmet and asked his cousin, “Jo, do you remember Alan Goldberg from Brookline?”  According to Goldberg, his cousin broke down crying and told the rest of the Company, who had lined up to meet her, to go on home and leave her alone with her cousin Alan.  In a letter to her mom dated May 12, 1945, Josephine Axelrod described her encounter with Goldberg: “I threw my arms around him and kissed him and he was so cute and excited and pleased that he got all choked up.” After commenting on how “this poor kid” was too young to endure army life, she added, “I kissed him goodbye and got lots of lipstick on his cheek and told him to be sure and leave it on till all his buddies saw it.” These and other Goldberg WWII antics are featured in Jewish American Soldiers: Stories from WWII, a documentary that tells the stories of Charlotte-area Jewish American World War II veterans.

After the war, Goldberg returned to the Boston area.  Brandeis University was in its infancy and a birthday party was given for Alan’s uncle who was a University founder.  The student selected to give a speech in honor of Alan’s uncle was a young woman named Ruth Abrams. Goldberg’s mother was in the audience and was so impressed with Ruth that she asked Ruth for her phone number. Goldberg’s mother gave him Ruth’s phone number and said, “This is the girl you should marry.”  With what Goldberg concedes was the worst pick-up line of all times, he dutifully called the number and said to Ruth, “My mother said that I should call you.”  Asked whether it was love at first sight, Goldberg says yes. Ruth says by the third date.  They both say that sixty-four years later they’re still in love.

For seven years, Goldberg has served as photographer for Shalom Park Freedom School, a six-week summer literacy-based program for economically disadvantaged children, mostly Hispanic and African American.  Each summer Goldberg braves sweltering southern heat to document between 50 and 80 children at barbecues, chess boards, swimming pools, and manure-laden horse pastures.

These days Goldberg looks a bit frail as he enters the Levine Jewish Community Center in Charlotte, North Carolina.  As he makes his way through the door carrying a large gym bag his hands shake.  “Parkinson’s,” he says to anyone who asks, and then adds with characteristic gusto: “I just came from a photography class and now I’m on my way to a boxing class — not bad for a 92-year-old.” Goldberg’s boxing class is run by JCC staff trained in the Rock Steady Boxing method that gives people with Parkinson’s disease hope by improving their quality of life through a non-contact boxing-based fitness curriculum.  In this boxing ring, Parkinson’s disease is the opponent. Alan’s wife, Ruth, who parks their car after dropping him off at the curb in front of the JCC, says that boxing keeps Alan moving.  She is on her way to join him.

Volume 72. Number 1. Spring 2018