A Hell Called Iwo, Recalled

By Sheldon Derer (From the cover) “At Tarawa, Saipan & Tinian, I saw Marines killed and wounded in a shocking manner, but I saw nothing like the ghastliness that hung over the Iwo beachhead. Nothing any of us had ever known could compare with the utter anguish, frustration and constant inner battle to maintain some semblance of sanity,” said Lt. […]

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TORAHS/TANAKHS FOR THE TROOPS

One of the most desired resources for many of our Jewish troops besides their own personal copy of “Prayer Book for Jewish Personnel of the Armed Forces of the United States” is a pocket size Torah or Tanakh, depending on one’s individual preference. A Torah (the Five Books of Moses) used to be available in the Department of Defense’s supply […]

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More Wartime Conversions

There was a big uproar the last time I wrote about conversions in Iraq, but this time there is a bit of good news on the subject. The Chicago Tribune ran a story recently about how troops tend to find religion in times of war. Go figure! For many servicemen and women, duty in Iraq stirs intense spiritual experiences, often […]

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Can’t We All Just Get Along?

Michael Daly of the New York Daily News recently wrote about Rabbi Jacob Goldstein (an army chaplain), and Imam Zameer Sattaur coming together to lay to rest SPC Azhar Ali of the Fighting 69th of the New York Army National Guard. Ali was killed by a roadside bomb in Iraq. The article reads more like a short story than a […]

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Incredible Feature on Jewish Veterans of Iraq

I’m contacted every now and then by reporters looking to do stories on Jewish service members, particularly about veterans of Operation Iraqi Freedom. While, I have been happy with every story I’ve helped out with (so far), I have to draw particular attention to the latest work by Nextbook. It is currently running as their cover story, or you can […]

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Jewish Stories From Iraq

I was recently interviewed by Megan Brown of New Voices for a story on Jewish troops serving in the current war on terror. Well, the story is complete and you can view it online HERE. It takes a look at Jews from all over; from a Jewish Air Force Academy cadet, to a wounded Iraq vet, to a Jewish chaplain […]

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