Let’s Spread the Word About JWV

By Jerry Alperstein, Post 1

In 2006 shortly after Representative John Boehner became Majority Leader in the House of Representatives, he met with leaders from the major veterans service organizations.  When a leader of the Jewish War Veterans introduced himself, Boehner said that he did not know there was a Jewish War Veterans.   Most of the other veterans’ leaders – as though on cue – said in unison, quote It’s the oldest veterans organization; unquote.

Boehner’s lack of knowledge of the Jewish War Veterans and of Jews in this country’s armed services was not unexpected.  While the participation and importance of Jews in our country’s armed services is well known and recognized within the veterans community, it is largely unknown and unrecognized within this country’s population at large – including within its Jewish Community.

The truth is that Jews have been a part of this land’s military history since 1654, the year after they first arrived in our corner of the New World.  When in the New Amsterdam colony, the Jews were charged an additional tax because they were barred from serving in the local militia, four Jews led by Asser Levy successfully appealed to the owner of the colony, the Dutch East India Company.  They were allowed to serve; and Jews have been serving and giving their lives to our country ever since.

In the 1890s, a number of prominent Americans were falsely claiming that Jews were not patriotic because they did not fight in the Civil War.  This prompted seven Jewish veterans of the Civil War to organize a meeting in Manhattan of other Jewish Civil War Veterans on March 15, 1896.  They organized the Hebrew Union Veterans Association which later became the Jewish War Veterans; today the oldest veterans service organization in the United States.

Unfortunately, one aspect of the Jewish legacy in the United States armed services that has continued since the days of Uriah Levy is anti-Semitism; but while it once was institutional – like when Levy was court martialed six times – it now is relegated to the acts of individuals.

In recent years, three Jewish soldiers finally became Medal of Honor recipients decades after their service because of anti-Semitism.  They were World War I veteran William Shemin and Korean War veterans Leonard Kravitz and Tibor Rubin.  On two different occasions Rubin was recommended for the medal; but an anti-Semitic sergeant both times neglected to fill out the required paperwork.  After lengthy legal battles by JWV, all of these heroic individuals were able to receive their Medal of Honor.

I have been asked whether I experienced any anti-Semitism during my two years in the Navy.  My answer has been that I do not know.  There are members of the armed services who pull rank on others of lower rank.  One usually does not know why.

To sum this up, over the last 363 years, Jews like all other Americans, have served in the armed services of our country, including many who served with distinction.  This record should not be a secret – especially within the Jewish community.  Let’s spread the good word.

Volume 71. Number 4. Winter 2017