Semper Chai: Sheldon Gross

Editors Note: The following is an excerpt from Howard Leavitt’s Semper Chai , an amazing book that profiles numerous Jewish Marines through many generations. This is the first of many features to come from Mr. Leavitt.

Sheldon Gross landed on Iwo Jima on D-Day with the fifth wave on February 19, 1945 and participated in combat action there as a private with the 3rd Battalion, 25th Marines. He remained there till relieved on March 16.

Gross was eighteen years of age at the time of induction. He came through the draft board and volunteered for the Marine Corps. Not only was he a college freshman at the time, but was an only child and entitled to a number of postponements, all of which he waived.

At boot camp at Parris Island, South Carolina, he says that he was the only Jewish Marine in the platoon although most of the men were from the New York metro area. He befriended an Italian immigrant who spoke very limited English, the result of which he became the target of the DI when he did not respond correctly. I taught him the general orders. During periodic inspections, I would stand behind him and feed him answers. The platoon was commended for being well prepared. The DI was happy.

During one session on bayonet instruction, the DI slapped Gross for not responding quickly enough. The other Marines in the platoon were incensed at that action and wanted Gross to report the incident. But Gross refused to do so. At the conclusion of boot camp, the DI said, “Gross, you’ll never make a pimple on a combat Marine’s ass, but you got guts and got us through inspection.”

His MOS qualified him to attend radar school at Hadnot Point at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. After thirty days of mess duty, he was assigned to a twelve months radio school program. One month later, he was reassigned to a Tent City to receive training as a .30-caliber light machine gunner. Gross enjoyed the assignment because he only had to carry the eleven-pound tripod while the assistant gunner had to carry the weapon and ammo weighing considerably more. After an abbreviated period of instruction due to the enormous number of casualties being suffered in the Pacific, they eventually arrived at the port of embarkation. They sailed the Pacific without benefit of a convoy. Upon arrival at Maui, Gross learned that they needed machine gunners and was assigned to L Company, 3rd Battalion, 25th Marines, 4th Marine Division.

One day, while walking down the company street, an officer approached and put his hand on Gross’s shoulder. It was Father Hurley, the Catholic chaplain, who asked him why he had not seen him at Catholic mass. When Gross informed him that he was Jewish, he informed Gross that he would be expected to introduce himself to Chaplain Rosenberg that Friday. Dutiful as the Marine that he was, Sheldon faithfully attended services every Friday thereafter.

With the approach of the High Holidays, they were all preparing for the invasion of Iwo Jima. The 25th Marines was scheduled to go into the field for an extended period of training. Gross asked Chaplain Rosenberg if he could return to attend services. Father Hurley arranged transportation for Gross and the other Jewish Marines to attend both Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur services. As it turned out, Chaplain Rosenberg “somehow on his own was able to commandeer a bus, took us all to the summit on Yom Kippur. No Hot dog stand, no sushi bars, no water, no nothing.” All the Jews in the 25th Regiment FASTED.