War Tokens
The Jacket In The Air
United States
Charlie F’s maternal great uncle Willy was an important person. He was born in Austria and he learned to speak fluent German. When World War II started, he moved to America and joined the army. He became a paratrooper. The item photographed, is Willy’s World War II paratrooper jacket. He parachuted into many battles with this jacket including the battle at Normandy. After the war Willy searched for Nazis who got away.
Charlie’s family is very proud of great Uncle Willy’s accomplishments.
Hat of a Hero
United States
In 1945 this hat was worn by Kira F’s maternal great grandfather, Haim Agus. Haim Agus was a medical doctor in the United States army and had the ranking of captain. Haim Agus was part of the squad that liberated concentration camps during World War II with General Patton. This special military hat was part of his uniform. Haim Agus sent letters to his family in New York City from Europe because he was far away from them for a long time. This letter is one of the letters that he wrote about the concentration camps. Currently, Haim Agus is not alive, so his hat and some of his letters are kept in Kira F’s grandfather’s house. Haim Agus’s hat is important to Kira F’s family because Haim Agus wore it while saving people in the concentration camps.
Haim Agus’s hat has been in Kira Fox’s family for 67 years.
The Soldier’s Jacket
United States
Aidan T’s paternal grandfather Myron T is a great man. He was in the United States army and received this jacket to wear. It is on loan to Aidan as Myron T still keeps it in his home. Myron T received the jacket in 1964. He was a dentist in the army and if anyone was injured or shot in the mouth, he was there to help. Myron was so proficient to his job that the government gave him a captain’s jacket. Aidan decided to present this object because he thinks it is very interesting.
Aidan hopes the jacket gets past down to him.
Great American Hero
Korea
This uniform is Mia W’s paternal grandfather’s army uniform. It was given to him when he fought in the Korean War. George W was born in Hungary and came to the United States after he was liberated from a concentration camp during the Holocaust. Soon after being liberated, he volunteered to join the United States Army during the Korean War. Mia never met her grandfather because he died before she was born.
However, every time she sees this uniform it reminds her that her grandfather was a great American solider and hero.
Recognition from the Army
Washington D.C.
Gabriel’s great-great uncle, Meyer Berman, was a World War II hero. He received a bronze medal for the heroic deeds that he did. At one time, he saved a man’s life by stopping the bleeding of his wound. Gabriel likes to remember his great-great uncle as a true and valiant hero. He always liked to talk about his life in the army and the soldiers he fought with.
The U.S. Army only gives bronze stars to soldiers who are exceptional.
The Victorious Medal
Rechovot, Israel
Asaf M’s maternal grandfather’s medal is very important to the family. Asaf’s grandfather, Shemaria Ben Chaizkiau, received the medal for fighting in the War of Independence against the British and Arabs who controlled Israel. He was a member of the Haganah organization.
The medal is important because every time the family looks at the medal, it reminds them of how great of a warrior he was, and his great accomplishments in battle.
Protection for our country
United States
Sarah L’s paternal grandfather, Michael joined the United States army in 1959. Sarah L’s family has owned this object for fifty two years. Michael L served in the U.S Army for six years and was a sergeant in the sixty ninth regiment. On this army jacket there are a lot of different pins which stand for various things. One of the pins is a blue rope, which means that he was always ready to go to war and fight for his country. The pin that has a rainbow on it means that he belonged to the rainbow division. Another pin had a wreath on it which showed he was an expert shooter. Sarah L’s family values this object.
Michael L is a brave and loyal citizen of the United States.
Life Preserver
A boat in the Mediterranean Sea
Adam F received this life preserver from his paternal grandfather Dennis F. The life preserver that Adam’s grandfather has was originally from a boat in the Mediterranean Sea called the Esso Switzerland. Adam’s grandfather was in the United States Navy on a boat in the Mediterranean Sea. During that time there were two ships that crashed near them and one of them was sinking with people in the water. The men in the Navy heard what happened, and they went to save the other boat. Only about a dozen people from the Navy jumped in the water to help. Adam’s grandfather was one of them. A life preserver was in the water from the Esso Switzerland. Adam’s grandfather saved someone in the water with it and brought him onto the Navy boat. A week later, the man who he saved gave him the life preserver as a gift. This will remain in Adam’s family forever because they will always want to remember his grandfather saving someone’s life.
This life preserver is important to the F family.