Military Unmasked
By Mimi L.
All the artifacts in this section connect to the military. They are from the ancestors of the 7th grade students who were in the military. The owners of these artifacts survived brutal wars in America, Israel, and other countries. Some examples are discharge papers from a war in France, a Katana, or Japanese sword, and more. We owe these war veterans so much for protecting countless numbers of people in many different countries.
Purple Heart
United States Government
Rachel C.
My Great Grandpa Ezra received the purple heart in the year of 1943. He was shot in the back, and because he was wounded while fighting for his country, he was awarded the purple heart. Since he was injured, my Great Grandpa Ezra was entitled to go home, but because he was so brave and loyal to his soldiers, he refused, and stayed to fight until the end of World War II.
My Great Grandpa Ezra fought for four years in World War II. When he got injured and was allowed to go home he chose to stay and to continue to fight. He wanted to show the other soldiers that a Jewish man would not turn his back on his fellow soldiers. He had a lot of faith in Hashem and always did the right thing. He was a very ethical person.
Discharge papers
Brooklyn, NY, USA
Grandpa Sonny E.
This is important to my family because this makes us remember how my great grandpa fought in the war and was a World War II veteran. He had his fingerprint on the paper and other information he needed for the army. He fought in France and fought against Germany. When the war was over, he left the army with these discharge papers. This hasn’t been forgotten about my Grandfather yet and hopefully it won’t ever be forgotten.
This is special to my Jewish heritage because as a soldier, he fought during WW II along with those who fought against the Nazis. That shows he was sticking up for Jews even if no one really knew it at that time.
Japanese Katana
Japan
Great Grandpa Ralph H.
This katana is a Japanese sword. My great grandfather Ralph H. grew up very poor during the Great Depression, and when he turned 17 years old he ran away from home and joined the Marines after lying that he was 18 years old. He trained with the Marines and then shipped off to fight in World War 2 as a gunner on a large ship. He brought back the Japanese Katana from his time in Japan as a Marine.
Many Jews fought in World War 2 to protect their country, and also to fight against the Nazis that had persecuted Jews throughout Europe. The Katana is a symbol of that struggle.
Photograph
USA
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IDF pin
Israel
Grandfather Nahom A.
My grandfather received this pin after completing a successful mission in the paratrooper unit in the IDF (Israeli Defense Force) This pin is important to my grandfather because it is a token of his service to his country of Israel.
This pin is significant because it represents the sacrifice my grandfather and other Jewish soldiers made to keep Israel safe.
Discharge papers
South Carolina, USA
Sari R.
My great grandpa, David Safdieh, served in the military. He got drafted in the 1950s and he served in the Marines. He was based in South Carolina and then got discharged in 1960.
As a Marine, he celebrated the Jewish holidays at his base.
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