Recognizing a Jewish Hero
In writing my recent review of Cast a Giant Shadow, I learned about a unique service held at West Point to honor Colonel Mickey Marcus.
This past May, the 39th annual ceremony brought in nearly 200 people. Colonel Marcus, a 1924 graduate of the U.S. Military Academy, is the only American officer buried at West Point that was killed fighting beneath the flag of another country.
He represents a visible example that anybody, regardless if they’re Jewish or not, can follow, said Cadet 1st Class Matthew Moosey, member of the West Point Hillel, a 60-member Jewish cadet organization. The Army values are universal to all Soldiers of any race and religion, and Col. Marcus embodied and reflected those in his life and that’s why he’s important for any cadet to recognize.
While Colonel Marcus is the main focus of the ceremony, the service also recognizes 40 other North American volunteers who died while fighting to preserve Israel’s creation. A recent article in The Journal News highlights some of the other contributors.
For more details about Colonel Marcus and his contributions to the United States and Israel, see: