Mystery of Military
By Shelley Massry
Each of the artifacts in this section connects to our ancestors’ experiences in the military. There are artifacts from different wars, as our ancestors may have been defending America, Israel, or any other country. These ancestors wanted to protect their country. These ancestors had faith in Hashem. They wouldn't have fought and risked their lives for their country if they didn't believe Hashem was there to protect them. The artifacts include dog tags that the soldiers wore, parts of a military uniform , medals and plaques earned by our ancestors, a German’s pin, military letters and an army parachute.
Army Parachute
Belgium
Grandfather Eddie S.
This parachute belonged to my great grandfather Joseph S. He used it in World War 2. He was in the air force and jumped out of planes. It has a lot of different medals and badges that he earned pinned on it. It was given to me by my grandfather Eddie S. He was in the battle of the Bulge. It took one month from December to January in 1945.
During the war and training when he was in the army he had to eat. Although the food was not kosher. He didn't want to starve but he couldn't eat it. His mother snuck him in kosher salami so he could keep kosher when he was fighting. It was important to him to keep the Jewish laws of kashrut even though if he got caught it may not have not been good for him.
Photograph
Israel
Shula D.
This is a picture of my Grandma Shula in the military. She fought in the Six Day war.
My grandma helped fight for Israel. She watched the radar to see if any Arab planes were coming. She would tell the pilot that a plane was coming and he scared him off or crashed into it.
Plaque
Pacific Ocean
Grandfather Saul H.
My grandfather was in the army during Viet Nam and after his service he served as a corpsman on the USS Norton off the coast of California. This plaque was given to my grandfather when he was being transferred off the ship. This ship focused on research and development of Missles. They flew drones and practiced shooting them down. The plaque is important to my grandfather because it showed the ship's appreciation for his service.
The plaque was to show appreciation for him because he was the only doctor on a ship with 3,000 people. This plaque is important because it shows how he helped people with injuries or sicknesses to get better.
Army Medals
America
Michael W.
My Grandfather, Michael Winnick, was a Vietnam War veteran. He was a medic in the war, and he got the medals for curing most of the soldiers that came to him. He earned more than 3 medals for this action. I think it is amazing to know I am related to a veteran.
My artifact has to do with my heritage because it shows the equality of Jewish people in the U.S. army. Jewish people as well as all other people were able to join the army.
Army Uniform
Israel
Ovadia S.
This was given to my grandfather when he went into the Israeli army. It is the uniform that was assigned to him as he began his service. This uniform is important to him and to our family because it reminds my grandfather of how he served Israel with honor. He feels a great sense of pride when he recalls wearing it and we are also proud of him for defending our homeland.
This uniform was used to show that he was a proud member of the Israeli army.
Dog tags
America
Grandfather
The significance of this item to my family is that when my grandfather moved to America he became a soldier and fought in the Korean War. He wore these dog tags because if he were to die they would know who he was and could identify him. His information is imprinted into the metal. This item is important to my mom because now my grandfather passed. We also are very proud that he fought for our country.
The significance of this item to Jewish heritage is my grandfather did a great mitzvah by serving in the war. It makes us proud because my grandfather risked his life to save lives of others just because he wanted to, not because he needed to.
German pin
Germany
Rachel C.
This pin was taken from a German soldier by my great grandfather Ezra. He was fighting in World War II. While fighting a German soldier he took his pin, to prove that he did his job. My great grandfather Ezra was an amazing soldier. He served for four years overseas for his country. This pin is important to our family because it shows how good a soldier my great grandfather was.
This pin was taken from a German soldier. This shows how brave and skilled a soldier my grandpa Ezra was. He risked his life to fight for our country. He got shot with a bullet in his back, but he still wanted to fight for our country and he did. This pin is important because it was in the time of the Holocaust. This was a very tragic time for the Jewish people. This pin represents what happened to the Jews, and how the Germans and other people were killing the Jews.
Medals from WW II
Kiev, Ukraine
Grandma
This artifact belongs to my Great Great Grandfather. He earned the following twelve medals: 1. Victory of over Germany. 2. Valiant Labors in Great Patriotic War. 3. Order of Red Star. 4. Order of the Patriotic War 1st Class. 5. Jubilee Medal 60 Years of Armed Forces of USSR. 6. Veterans of Labor. 7. 1500th Anniversary of Kiev. 8. 20 Years of Victory in World War II. 9. 30 Years of Victory in World War II. 10. 40 Years of Victory in World War II. 11. Bravery and Determination. 12. Winner of the Social Competition.
My great great grandfather fought for his people during World War II, which made his time fighting worthwhile.
Dog tag
New York, United States
Isaac [Irwin] M.
This dog tag reminds my family of all the tough and dangerous times my grandfather went through during World War II. His public school gave it to him, because in case he got killed they needed to know his identity and information.
Even though this artifact is from a public school, where my grandfather didn't learn anything about Judaism, he still maintained his religion and was an orthodox Jew.
IDF Dog Tags
Israel
Moshe G.
This necklace was given to my Grandpa Moshe G. when he enlisted in the Israeli Defense Force, or IDF. His dog tag contains his name, and his nine digit identification number. As you can see in the picture provided,the corners are bitten and crooked, because when the guns jammed, and they didn't have tools, they used the edges of the tags to clean the guns. Down the middle of the tags, there is a dotted line. In the event of death, they cut half of the tag off to send home to the family as proof of the soldier's departure.
The dog tags are used to identify the soldiers. They have the soldier's family name, first name, and nine digit identification number of the soldier. Two more dog tags are stored in the soldier's boot as more proof of identification.
Army Fatigues
U.S.A
Richard W.
This uniform was worn by all soldiers in the U.S.A army during World War 2. My Grandfather went to basic training for eight weeks, and did everything while wearing this kind of uniform. For example he did exercise, bayonet training, rifle training, and training as Kitchen police He first learned about the existence of the gas chambers in Germany while he wore this military uniform during his service in the US.
This shows that someone who is Jewish was in the army. He was an American Jew and he served his country.
Military Letter
Mt Vernon NY
Leo S.
This military letter was passed down to my grandfather from his father. My great grandfather used to be a soldier in the military. The letter was written in 1945 and sent from a New York post office.
This military letter belonged to my great grandfather. It was complimenting him on being a good soldier.