Meet Our Members

Stewart Mednick

By Larry Jasper, National EditorMeet the current Department of Minnesota Commander Stewart Mednick. When asked why he joined JWV, he says his friend, Peter Nickitas (current National Judge Advocate), invited him to join. Like so many others,…

Raymond Elias

By Larry Jasper, National EditorMeet Raymond Elias, currently the Milwaukee, WI Post 701 Commander. When asked why he joined JWV, he says his son-in-law, Kim Queen (WI Department Commander and JWV Membership Chair), made a deal with him.…

Richard Pape

The future of the Jewish War Veterans lies in its youth, so it is only proper that we hear from a “younger” member. Meet Richard Pape, an unassuming man who said he had nothing interesting to offer about himself.Pape was a military brat.…

Steve Falkowitz

By Larry Jasper, National EditorDo you know what a patron is? Article V of our Constitution says “Any supporter of JWV that upholds, reflects, and pursues the values of JWV may become a Patron.” It is further stated that “Patrons are…

Irving Locker

Irving Locker recently turned 98. On June 6, 1944 Locker was one of the 156,000 soldiers to storm the beaches of Normandy, landing at Utah Beach. Six months later, Locker was a 19-year-old Staff Sergeant with the 116th AAA Gun Battalion of the…

Howard Berger

Howard Berger turned 99 in November. His father was a machine gunner in World War I. Berger was working as a salesman when WWII began, but when he noticed many factories starting to make war materials, he decided to enlist. He and his brother…

Murray Zolkower

Murray Zolkower, Co-Commander of Post 409 in Dunedin, Florida, turned 102-years-old last month. He was honored at his favorite restaurant, Mission BBQ.Zolkower is a World War II veteran who had his schooling interrupted by the events of…

Selina Kanowitz

By Larry JasperMeet Selina Kanowitz, the current Commander of the Department of New Jersey and a woman of many talents.Kanowitz joined JWV Post 215 in Philadelphia in 1991. Prior to becoming Department Commander, she served as Junior…

Dr. Ken Hartman

By Ken Greenberg, National Executive DirectorFormer Deputy Secretary of Veterans Affairs (VA) Tom Bowman participated in an advocacy session during the 2022 National Convention. During the session, National ExecuBy Larry Jasper, National…

Retired Col. Marc Neerman, U.S. Army

As a Jewish boy from New York, my parents were a bit surprised when I went into the Army in the late 1960s. There was a war going on. I never let my faith affect my work. I did well, retiring for the second time in 2009.I had several occurrences…

Hannah Deutch

By Larry Jasper, National EditorMeet Hannah Deutch. She grew up in Post-World War I Germany. Her father fought in the German Army during the war.In her younger days she belonged to the Reichsbund Judischer Frontsoldaten, or RJF, a veterans'…

Isaac Greenberg

By Larry Jasper, National Editor Meet Major Isaac Adam Greenberg of the Department of Florida. Greenberg grew up in Tucson, Arizona, attended the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, and served ten years of active duty. During that time, he…

Matthew Weinburke

Post: JWV Post 692 (Rockville, MD)Military Service: U.S. Public Health Service, U.S. Navy, and U.S. ArmyMember Since: 20171. Where and when did you serve in the military? I served in the U.S. Navy between 1986 and 1997 at National…

Paula Steinbach

Post: North County Post 385Military Service: U.S. NavyMember Since: 19741. Where and when did you serve in the military? I enlisted in the Navy in my hometown of Chicago under the delayed entry program in 1973 and reported to Naval…

Monroe M. Ginsburg

Post: Heritage Post 644 in St. Louis, MissouriMilitary Service: U.S. ArmyMember Since: 20051. Where and when did you serve in the military? I received a direct commission into the U.S. Army Dental Corps and went on active duty in…

Steve Krant

Post: Dr. Harvey J. Bloom Post 256 (Dallas, Texas)Military Service: Lt Colonel, USAF Retired (January 1967 to April 1994 — roughly equal parts Active & Reserve)Member Since: 20151. Where and when did you serve in the military?–…

Tredwell Abrams

Post: Martin Hochster Memorial 755Military Service: Marine CorpsMember Since: 20191.Why did you join the military?I wanted to see the world. My list of deployments include, two UDP’s (Unit Deployment Phase) to Okinawa including…

BG Donald Schenk (USA, Ret)

Post: 1LT Raymond Zussman Post 135Current Residence: Bloomfield Hills, MIMilitary Service: US Army 1969-2004; Operation Desert StormMember Since Year: 20111. What's your military story?It’s a 35-year story beginning with…

Aaron Scheinberg

Post: Col. Irving Heymont Post 299Current Residence: Hedgesville, WVMilitary Service: West Point class of ’03 (Mickey Marcus award recipient from JWV), United States Army, Infantry Platoon Leader and Civil Affairs Officer in Iraq (OIF…

Sheila Berg

Post: Lehigh High Valley Post 239Current Residence: Fogelsville, PAMilitary Service: February 1980-May 2014Member Since Year: 20091.When and why did you serve in the military?I enlisted in the Air Force Reserves because I…

Adam Goldberg

Post/Command: Post 158 Old Dominion of Tidewater (effectively Southeast Virginia)Current Residence: Norfolk, VAMilitary Service dates: 1999-2019 (from 1995-1999 I was enlisted in the reserves while attending college)Member since…

Joshua Ochs

Post: JWV Post 243 FLMilitary Service: 1993-2017Current Residence: Miami, FloridaMember Since Year: 2002When and why did you serve in the military?Back in 1993 I was twenty years old, working full-time as a cashier in a…

Sam Yudin

Post: Post 786Current Residence: Long Beach, CAMilitary Service: Iraq and AfghanistanMember Since Year: 2018When and why did you serve in the military?My decision to join the military is a long, complicated story centered…