While browsing Amazon.com the other day, I happened to come across this readers list of books of interest to Jews in the military. The list is simply titled, Jews in the Military and was complied by jmpersons, “A Jew in the Military.” I haven’t read many of the books myself, but it does seem like a pretty comprehensive list.
Read moreNate Bloom of the Jewish World Review recently wrote a story honoring the Jewish service members who have died in Operation Iraqi Freedom. In addition to describing the lives (and deaths) of the soldiers, marines, and sailors, Bloom talks about the challenge of distinguishing Jewish casualties from non-Jews. Mainly because, “the Defense Department no longer keeps statistics on the religion […]
Read moreAbe Plotkin, of Scranton, PA, will be one of 100 World War II veterans who will receive France’s prestigious Legion of Honor award in ceremonies in that country marking the 60th anniversary of the massive D-Day invasion of Normandy’s beaches. Mr. Plotkin enlisted in the Army in 1942 and served with the 284th Field Artillery, 3rd Army, in France and […]
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Yesterday, more than 140,000 people attended the dedication of the National World War II Memorial in Washington D.C.. President Bush was one of many distinguished guests who spoke at the dedication ceremony. For full coverage of the event, check out CNN.com’s story. You can also learn more about the memorial itself at the National WWII Memorial official website. As the […]
Read moreThe Lubavitch News Service has a brief story about Cpl Dustin Schrage, a marine with 2/4 who was killed this month in Al-Anbar Province, Iraq. While the death of a service member is always tragic news, it is reassuring to know that proper kosher burial preparations were able to be arranged with the help of a Jewish chaplain.
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While not about Jews in the U.S. military, Howard Blum’s The Brigade tells the story of the first all Jewish military unit in modern times. The Jewish Brigade was formed by the British army with Jewish volunteers from British Palestine at the end of World War II. This is by far one of my favorite books. It is highly motivating […]
Read moreEvidently, the Army doesn’t agree with that statement. A group of World War II paratroopers planned to parachute into Normandy to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the Allied invasion there. Unfortunately their plans were cut short when the Army said that the men were too old to make the jump. Howard Greenberg, a Jewish soldier from the 11th Airborne who […]
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