On August 17, 1945, the New York Times carried news confirming the death in combat of Private Henry M. Horwitz, during battle in Germany nearly five months before: on March 26, 1945. His family was associated with the Society for Ethical Culture (variously known to as the “Ethical Movement, the Ethical Culture Movement, Ethical Humanism or simply Ethical Culture”, and currently the American Ethical Union).
The son of Major (denoted in the article as “Captain”) Kalmen Horwitz, and Leah (White) Horwitz, and brother of John J. Horwitz, Private Henry Moses Horwitz (12228797) was born in 1926, and served in the 89th Infantry Division’s 354th Infantry Regiment. In addition to the Purple Heart, American Jews in World War II (where his name appears on page 348) indicates that he received the Bronze Star Medal. He is buried at Plot C, Row 18, Grave 789, at the Lorraine Memorial Cemetery, in Saint Avold, France.
Met His Death in Action In Battle of the Rhine
Pvt. Henry M. Horwitz, of the 354th Infantry Regiment of the Third Army, was killed in action on March 26, during the battle of the Rhine, while his company was assaulting a German position, according to a War Department notification received by his parents, Capt. and Mrs. Charles K. Horwitz, 875 West End Avenue. He was previously reported missing in action.
Pvt. Horwitz, who was 19 years old, was graduated on a scholarship at the age of 18 from Franklin and Marshall College, Lancaster, Pa., where he was a member of Phi Beta Kappa. While serving in Europe he received the Combat Infantrymen Badge and the Purple Heart has been awarded posthumously. His father now is with the headquarters of the Second Service Command at Governors Island.
A memorial service will be held for Pvt. Horwitz on the night of Sept. 14 at the Society for Ethical Culture, Central Park West and Sixty-Fourth Street. Dr. Theodore A. Distler, president of Franklin and Marshall, will be one of the speakers.
A contemporary view of his family’s residence appears below, in this image from StreetEasy.com.
This image of Private Horwitz’s matzeva (with genealogical information about his family) is from FindAGrave contributor Len.
Some other Jewish military casualties on Monday, March 26, 1945 (12 Nisan 5705), include…
Killed in Action
– .ת.נ.צ.ב.ה. –
Barofsky, Melvin, PFC, 42177218, Purple Heart
United States Army, 30th Infantry Division, 120th Infantry Regiment
Mrs. Dora W. Barofsky (mother), 607 Rugby Road, Brooklyn, N.Y.
Born 1926
Place of burial unknown
Casualty List 4/19/45
American Jews in World War II – 270
Ginsburg, Jack, PFC, 32858358 (at Ottestadt, Germany)
United States Army, 71st Infantry Division, 14th Infantry Regiment
Mr. and Mrs. Louis Leo and Katherine Carroll Ginsburg (parents), 20 Morton Ave., Albany, N.Y.
Sgt. William Ginsburg (brother), Miss Joan Ginsburg (sister)
Born 1924
Sons of Abraham Cemetery, Guilderland, N.Y. – Buried 12/12/48
Albany Times-Union 8/31/46, 12/9/48, 12/10/48
American Jews in World War II – Not Listed
These articles about Private Ginsburg are from FultonHistory.
Glassberg, Sheldon, PFC, 36348688, Purple Heart (Germany)
United States Army, 71st Infantry Division, 14th Infantry Regiment
Mr. and Mrs. Arthur L. and Esther Glassberg (parents), 85 Ainslie St., Chicago, Il.
Born 7/5/19
Arnold and Audrey Glassberg (brother and sister)
Westlawn Cemetery, Norridge, Chicago, Il. – Buried 12/21/48
Chicago Tribune 12/22/48
American Jews in World War II – 100
This image of Private Glassberg’s matzeva is from FindAGrave contributor Jim Craig.
Green, Philip S., Sgt., 31034199, Purple Heart
United States Army, Medical Corps, 3rd Infantry Division, 3rd Medical Battalion
Mrs. Flora Green (mother), 392 Norfolk St., Dorchester, Ma.
Born 1919
Dorothy Ackerman (sister)
Tablets of the Missing at Lorraine American Cemetery, St. Avold, France
American Jews in World War II – 162
Krasner, William V., PFC, 36031537, Purple Heart
United States Army, Americal Division
Mr. Thomas Krasner (father), c/o Mrs. Lillian Singer, 2506 West View St., Los Angeles, Ca.
Mrs. Bessie Krasner (mother), 2300 Harcourt Ave., Los Angeles, Ca.
Manila American Cemetery, Manila, Philippines – Plot B, Row 8, Grave 156
American Jews in World War II – 47
Morgenstein, Morris, 2 Lt., 0-1998093, Bronze Star Medal, Purple Heart
United States Army, 45th Infantry Division, 180th Infantry Regiment
Mr. and Mrs. Jacob and Celia Morgenstein (parents), 2156 Cruger Ave., Bronx, N.Y.
Born in New York, 1917
Estelle Morgenstein and Sgt. Samuel Morgenstein (siblings); Lloyd Morgenstein (nephew)
Baron Hirsch Cemetery, Staten Island, N.Y. – First Levetover Society, Section B, Map 70, Morgenstein Family Plot, Row 11, Grave 238-239; Buried 9/5/48
Casualty List 5/23/45
New York Times – Obituary Section: 9/3/48, 9/5/48 (obituary gives date of death as 4/13/45)
American Jews in World War II – 396
WW II Memorial Honoree Page by nephew, Lloyd Morgenstein
United States Army Air Force
Killed (Non-Battle)
Meltz, Irwin, Sgt., 34793201, Tail Gunner
United States Army Air Force, 8th Air Force, 34th Bomb Group, 391st Bomb Squadron
Mrs. Isle J. Meltz (wife), Mr. David Meltz (father), 1439 Alton Road, Miami Beach, Fl.
Sgt. Jerome Meltz (brother), Mrs. H. Werman and Mrs. H. Rothstein (sisters)
Born 2/25/23
No MACR; Aircraft B-17G 43-38402 (“P”); Pilot: 2 Lt. Hugh H. McCutchan; 9 crew – no survivors
Jewish Floridian 5/4/45
American Jews in World War II – Not listed
Place of burial unknown
WW II Memorial Honoree Page by Chip Hothem
This is Sgt. Meltz’s obituary, from the Jewish Floridian of May 4, 1945.
The elements of risk and danger have always been inherent to military aviation. This was strikingly evident during the Second World War (and not just the Second World War…), where the loss of many airmen – in training, or other activity – was not necessarily – or at all – directly and specifically due to enemy activity.
Sadly, this was so on March 26, 1945, with the loss of two B-17 Flying Fortress bombers during a mid-air collision over England.
As noted at (and archived from) the Valor to Victory (covering the history of the 8th Air Force’s 34th Bomb Group), “On this date … B-17 43-38402 was lost due to weather conditions, which at times was our worst enemy while flying combat in WWII. Upon returning from an operational mission, our group encountered inclement weather and the 34th Group leader instructed the squadron leader to peel off the aircraft on top of the cloud layer and make an SOP instrument let down on Buncher 19. At approximately 1802 hours an explosion was seen from Control Tower at Station 156, followed closely by a second explosion. Investigation revealed one aircraft to be 43-38402, piloted by 2 Lt. H.H. McCutchan, and the other aircraft was identified as one from the 452nd Bomb Group [728th Bomb Squadron B-17G 43-38876, piloted by 1 Lt. Arlin L. Porter], AAF Station 142, at Deophen Green. The two aircraft collided in mid-air about 8 miles southwest of our station. All personnel of both aircraft were killed. Responsibility was blamed 100% on weather.”
The crew of un-nicknamed B-17G 43-38402 (tail code “P”) – for which there is no Missing Air Crew Report – consisted of:
Pilot: McCutchan, Hugh H., 2 Lt.
Co-Pilot: Holt, James A., 2 Lt.
Navigator: Bowers, Julius H., F/O
Togglier: Sheetz, Paul E., Sgt.
Flight Engineer: Dalton, Thomas J., Sgt.
Radio Operator: Servo, Bert W., Sgt.
Gunner (Ball Turret): Lamkin, John B., Sgt.
Gunner (Waist): Armstrong, Howard J., Sgt.
Gunner (Tail): Meltz, Irwin, Sgt.
Remarkably, excellent in-flight photos exist of this specific aircraft – B-17G # 402 – at the flickr Photostream of John Funk, from the WW II photographic collection of Lew Funk.
This image shows the plane as it appeared during a mission to Stendal, Germany, on January 14, 1945…
…while this image of B-17G # 402 (also from the Lew Funk collection), shows the bomber during a mission to Nuremberg, on February 21 of that year.
And, this illustration by John R. Rabbets, from Roger A. Freeman’s 1970 The Mighty Eighth, is representative of the markings of 34th Bomb Group B-17Gs. Unlike the 8th Air Force’s other eight B-17 equipped bomb wings, the 93rd Bomb Wing, of which the 34th Bomb Group was a component group, was characterized by the absence of a more-well known letter-inside-geometric symbol on the tail.
United States Navy
As in the skies of Europe, so – in different circumstances – over the skies of the Pacific. During a strike against Okinawa by aircraft of the USS Yorktown (CV-10), a Hellcat fighter of navy fighter-bomber squadron VBF-9 (F6F-5, Bureau Number 71424), piloted by Lieutenant F.M. Fox, collided with the right wing of an Avenger torpedo-bomber of navy torpedo squadron VT-9 (TBM-3, Bureau Number 23358), piloted by Lieutenant Commander Byron Eberle Cooke. Lt. Fox was able to land his aircraft and escape (though the details are unknown), but Lt. Cdr. Cooke’s plane crashed, with the loss of Cooke, radio operator AR 3C Norman Bruce Brown, and aerial gunner AMM 1C Robert T. Matthews.
Brown, Norman Bruce, AR 3C, 5607867, Aviation Radioman, Purple Heart
United States Navy, VT-9 (Torpedo Squadron Nine)
Mr. Nat and Reba C. Brown (parents); Bette Ann Brown (sister), 444 SW 15th Ave., Miami, Fl.
Born Miami, Fl., 3/5/25
Aircraft: TBM-3 Avenger, Bureau Number 23358; Pilot: Lt. Cdr. Byron Eberle Cooke, commander of VT-9; 3 crew – no survivors
Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Va. –
Jewish Floridian 4/20/45
American Jews in World War II – 82
Here’s Norman Brown’s obituary, from the Jewish Floridian of April 20, 1945.
The Norman B. Brown Jewish Veterans Post (now Murray Solomon / Brown Jewish War Veterans Post 243) was established in Miami after WW II, as reported in this news item from the September, 1946 issue of The Jewish Veteran.
The bodies of all three crewmen were eventually recovered, with Lt. Cdr. Cooke and AR 3C Brown being interred in approximately June of 1950, in a common grave (Section 34, Grave 3099) at Arlington National Cemetery.
AMM 1C Matthews is buried in Plot F 35 at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific in Honolulu. Strangely, thought the date given on the common tombstone for Brown and Cooke is March 26, 1945, that on Matthews’ tombstone is April 4, 1945 – nine days later. The discrepancy is odd. It might be attributable to a simple error in records, or, the very disturbing possibility (albeit conjectural, without a review of his Individual Deceased Personnel File (even so, that document might not provide any answers)) – that Matthews somehow survived the crash and died later. In that vein, the Aircraft Action Report does not specify the sighting of parachutes or aircraft wreckage, simply stating that, “Lt. Comdr. Cooke’s plane crashed on the ground, and the pilot and his crewmen were believed to have been killed.”
Lt. Cdr. Byron E. Cooke, United States Naval Academy Class of 1939.
Here’s an image of the common grave stone of Brown and Cooke, by FindAGrave contributor John Evans.
And, here’s an image of AMM 1C Matthews’ grave marker at Honolulu, from FindAGrave Contributor Jeff Hall.
Aboard the USS Halligan…
An earlier post – about Torpedoman’s Mate Jerome Ernest Faber, killed in action aboard the USS Longshaw on May 18, 1945 – highlighted the casualties incurred seaman aboard destroyers of the United States navy during the latter part of the Pacific War, specifically in the context of the invasion of Okinawa. March 26, 1945 – even earlier – resulted in the loss of another destroyer – the USS Halligan – with an even greater toll of casualties.
Commissioned in August of 1943, the destroyer, commanded by Lieutenant Commander Edward Thomas Grace, was assigned duty as a fire support and shore bombardment ship during the invasion of Iwo Jima, where she was active as a lifeguard ship, providing barrage support for Marine landings, and as a screening vessel for aircraft carriers. She arrived off Okinawa on March 25 as a fire support ship, and began patrolling between Okinawa and Kerama Retto, and covering minesweepers during sweep operations through waters which had heavily, and randomly, mined.
She continued this activity on March 26, when, at 18:35 (from Wikipedia), “…a tremendous explosion rocked the ship, sending smoke and debris 200 feet in the air. The destroyer had hit a moored mine head on, exploding the forward magazines and blowing off the forward section of the ship including the bridge, back to the forward stack. PC-1128 and USS LSM(R)-194 arrived soon after the explosion to aid survivors. Ensign Richard L. Gardner, the senior surviving officer who was uninjured, organized rescue parties and directed the evacuation of the living to waiting rescue vessels. Finally, he gave the order to abandon ship as the smoking hulk drifted helplessly.
“The abandoned Halligan drifted aground on Tokashiki, a small island west of Okinawa, the following day. There, her wreck further battered by pounding surf and enemy shore batteries. Her name was struck from the Navy List 28 April 1945, and in 1957 her hulk was donated to the government of the Ryukyu Islands.”
Of the ship’s complement of 327 men, there were 167 survivors, of whom 43 were wounded.
You can read the ship’s full history – in great detail – in the account of E. Andrew Wilde, Jr., at DestroyerHistory.org.
Bear, Sherburn Nathanial, Lt., 0-102887, Executive Officer (Acting), Purple Heart
Mrs. Dee (Engle) Bear (wife), Route 1, Oak Ridge Farm, Mukwonago, Wi.
Mr. Isadore John Bear (father), 7317 14th Ave., Kenosha, Wi.
Tablets of the Missing at Honolulu Memorial, Honolulu, Hawaii
Casualty List 6/6/45
American Jews in World War II – 583
WW II Memorial Honoree Page by brother, Manford C. Bear
This image of Lt. Bear appears at his commemorative page, at the Registry of the National WW II Memorial.
Cohen, Milton, S 1C, 8098073, Seaman, Purple Heart
Mr. Jacob Cohen (father), 84 West 16th St., Bayonne, N.J.
Tablets of the Missing at Honolulu Memorial, Honolulu, Hawaii
Casualty List 6/18/45
American Jews in World War II – 229
Feinstein, Israel, RM 2C, 6471491, Radioman, Purple Heart
Mrs. Gwendolyn Feinstein (wife), 281 Crown St., Brooklyn, N.Y.
Mr. Benjamin Feinstein (father), 126 West End Ave., Brooklyn, N.Y.
Tablets of the Missing at Honolulu Memorial, Honolulu, Hawaii
Casualty List 6/18/45
American Jews in World War II – 306
Glick, Norman Donald, RDM 3C, 8026589, Radarman, Purple Heart
Mr. Theodore Glick (father), 79 Harvard St., Chelsea, Boston, Ma.
Tablets of the Missing at Honolulu Memorial, Honolulu, Hawaii
Casualty List 6/6/45
American Jews in World War II – 160
Lang, Irving, Lt. JG, 0-187921, Torpedo Officer
Mr. Frank Lang (father), 517 Louisiana St., Houston, Tx.
Tablets of the Missing at Honolulu Memorial, Honolulu, Hawaii
Casualty Lists 5/30/45, 6/10/45
American Jews in World War II – 572
Loeffel, Thomas Harry, RT 1C, 8101790, Radio Technician, Purple Heart
Miss Catherine Creedon (friend), 2236 Story Ave., Bronx, N.Y.
Mr. and Mrs. Arnold Loeffel, St., (parents), 2236 Story Ave., Bronx, N.Y.
Tablets of the Missing at Honolulu Memorial, Honolulu, Hawaii
Casualty List 6/5/45
American Jews in World War II – 383
Tarnopol, Jerome Alan, RM, 5772325, Radioman, Purple Heart
Mr. Lewis W. Tarnopol (father), 2419 Southmore, Houston, Tx.
Tablets of the Missing at Honolulu Memorial, Honolulu, Hawaii
Casualty List 6/20/45
American Jews in World War II – 574
French Army
Lewkowicz, Jacques Leon (Database record number AC-21P-76044), at Gjebsheim, Haut-Rhin, France
France, Armée de Terre, 152eme Regiment d’Infanterie
Born at France, Indre-et-Loire, Vernou, 12/3/25
Place of burial unknown
Au Service de la France – 141
Royal Canadian Air Force
Lindzon, Irving, F/O, J/42510, Navigator, 12 missions
Royal Canadian Air Force, served in Number 354 Squadron RAF
Aircraft: Liberator VI, EW319 (USAAF 44-10322) (“A”), Pilot: F/Lt. William G. McRae; 11 crew – 2 survivors – 9 dead
Mr. H. Lindzon (father), 80 Major St., Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Born in Toronto 12/31/23
Canadian Jews in World War II – Part II: Casualties – 46
Singapore Memorial, Singapore – Column 456 (photo by FindAGrave contributor Stombell)
The loss of F/O Lindzon’s plane is described in 354 Squadron RAF 1943 to 1945 – A Record of Their Operations, by Robert G. Quirk:
“The Squadron scored its biggest success on March 26th when a 1500 ton supply ship was sunk in the Andaman Seas. Aircraft “A” “G?” “F” “U” “X” and “Z” took off to sweep an area and four of the aircraft joined in a surface action between an enemy convoy consisting of 2 supply ships and 2 submarine chasers and of force of H.M. Destroyers. “A” (F/Lt. McRae) and “F” (F/Lt. Riffle) and crews were instructed to attack the enemy. “A” and “F” attacked at low level the largest enemy ship regardless of intensive anti-aircraft fire. “A” scored direct hits amidships. The vessel sank within a few minutes. Unhappily “A”, as already recorded, crashed into the sea being hit by enemy gunfire.”
The bomber’s crew consisted of:
Captain (Aircraft Commander) – McRae, William Gordon McRae, F/Lt. (J/6834)
Second Pilot – Payne, William Andrew Boyd, F/O (J/41431)
Squadron Navigation Officer – Slater, Cyril John F/Lt. (156021)
Navigator – Lindzon, Irving F/O (J/42310)
Flight Engineer – Parker, Gordon Sgt. (1685723)
Wireless Operator / Air Gunner – Pollard, Edward Walter F/O (J/43886)
Wireless Operator / Air Gunner – Parker, Harry F/O (J/43687)
Wireless Operator / Air Gunner – Campbell, Alexander Peter Sgt. (R/163475)
Air Gunner – McIver, Jack Samuel Sgt. (R/277937)
“Lost when A/354 attacked and sank the Hisui Maru (1500 tons) in the Andaman Sea, 10 36 N, 95 25 E. [Approximate center of Andaman Sea] There were two survivors, Sgt. P. Roberts (1817836) WOM/AG and Sgt. R. G Randford (578329) FME/AG, picked up by HMS Sumarez. F/Lt. W. G. McRae and his crew showed great devotion to duty in going in to attack this well armed ship from 50 feet – the intensive anti-aircraft fire claimed this very gallant gentleman and crew.”
This map of the Andaman Sea shows the location of EW319’s loss.
Soviet Army (Рабоче-крестьянская Красная армия)
Gorfinkel, Zinoviy Semenovich, Junior Lieutenant
(Горфинкель, Зиновий Семенович, Младший Лейтенант)
Tank Commander (Командир Танка)
5th Guards Tank Corps, 22nd Guards Tank Brigade
(5-й Гвардейский Танковый Корпус, 22-я Гвардейская Танковая Бригада)
Year and place of birth: 1907, City of Elektrostal, Moscow Oblast
(1907; Московская обл., г. Электросталь)
Mrs. Klara Borisovna Gorfinkel (wife), city of Elektrostal, Moskovskaya Oblast
(Жена Клара Борисовна Горфинкель, Московскяа област, г. Электорсталь)
Recruited in 1941 from Shirovskiy RVK, Ukraine SSR, Dnepropetrovsk Oblast, Ukraine
(Широковский РВК, Украинская ССР, Днепропетровская обл., 1941)
Memorial Book of Jewish Soldiers Who Died in Battles Against Nazism – 1941-1945 – Not Listed
(Книги Памяти евреев–воинов, павших в боях с нацизхмом в 1941-1945 гг – нет в списке)
Place of burial (first place of burial?): Hungary, Karakó village, 1 km east, area of pottery factory (Венгрия, с. Карако, восточнее, 1 км, район гончарного завода)
Zisman, Dmitriy Semenovich, Sergeant
(Зисман, Дмитрий Семенович, Сержант)
Cannon “Charger”
(Заряжающий Орудия Танка)
93rd Autonomous Tank Brigade, 3rd Tank Battalion
(93-я Отдельная Танковая Бригада, 3-й Танковый Батальон)
Next of kin and residential address unknown
Year and place of birth: 1923, Tirnovskiy Raion, Kishinev Oblast, Moldavia SSR
(Молдавская ССР, Кишиневская обл., Тырновский р-н)
Recruited 8/41 from district of Soroksiy, Tirnovskiy RVK, Moldavia
(Тырновский РВК, Молдавская ССР, Сорокский уезд, 8/41)
Memorial Book of Jewish Soldiers Who Died in Battles Against Nazism – 1941-1945 – Volume V, Page 622
(Книги Памяти евреев–воинов, павших в боях с нацизхмом в 1941-1945 гг – Том V, Страница 622)
Place of burial (first place of burial?): Germany, Upper Silesia, Bratsch village, 500 meters southeast, at edge of forest
(Германия, Верхняя Силезия, д. Братш, юго-восточнее, 500 м, опушка леса)
Tsapakh, Moisey Lazarevich, Guards Junior Lieutenant
(Цапах, Моисей Лазаревич, Гвардии Младший Лейтенант)
Platoon Commander – Sapper Platoon
(Командир Саперного Взвода)
9th Guards Mechanized Corps, 31st Guards Mechanized Brigade, 85th Guards Tank Regiment
(9 Гвардейского Механизированного Корпуса, 31 Гвардейского Механизированной Бригады, 85 Гвардейского Танкового Полка)
Severely wounded earlier – August 18, 1943 (probably while serving in 21st Autonomous Sapper Brigade)
Severely wounded and temporarily missing (even) earlier (!) – July 27, 1942, while serving in 21st Autonomous Sapper Brigade
Year and place of birth: 1918, Zhigalovskiy Raion, Irkutsk Oblast
(1918; Иркутская обл., Жигаловский р-н)
Recruited from: city of Irkutsk, Irkutsk oblast
(Иркутская обл., г. Иркутск)
Mrs. Ginda Abramovna Tsapakh (mother), Building 6, Apartment 1, Marata Street, Irkutsk
(Гинди Абрамовна Цапах (мать), г. Иркутск, ул. Марата, д. 16, кв. 1)
Memorial Book of Jewish Soldiers Who Died in Battles Against Nazism – 1941-1945 – Not Listed
(Книги Памяти евреев–воинов, павших в боях с нацизхмом в 1941-1945 гг – нет в списке)
Place of Burial: Hungary, Veszprém county, city of Papa, 3 km southeast
(Венгрия, варм. Веспрем, г. Папа, юго-восточнее, 3 км)
Soviet Air Force (Военно-воздушные cилы России)
Teplitskiy, Aleksandr Isaevich, Senior Sergeant
(Теплицкий, Александр Исаевич, Старший Сержант)
Aerial Gunner – Radio Operator
(Воздушный Стрелок-Радист)
Missing
[пропал без вести]
Military Air Forces, 4th Ukrainian Front, 8th Air Army, 321st Bombardment Division (242nd Bombardment Aviation Regiment?)
(Военно-воздушные cилы России, 4-й Украинский фронт, 8-я Воздушная Армия, 321 Бомбардировочной Авиационной Дивизии, (242 Бомбардировочного Авиационного Полка?))
Year and place of birth: 1921, Odessa, Ukraine, Stolbovaya Street
(1921, Украина, г. Одесса, ул. Столбовая)
Mother lived in city of Yazimka, Blagobezegoskiy raion
Aircraft: A-20J [А-20Ж]; Shot down by FW-190s near Pszów, Poland; No survivors.
Aircraft probably piloted by Lieutenant Ivan Vladimirovich Robakovskiy (Лейтенант Иван Владимирович Робаковский)
Other aerial gunner was Private Viktor Yakovlevich Shapovalov (Рядовой Виктор Яковлевич Шаповалов)
Memorial Book of Jewish Soldiers Who Died in Battles Against Nazism – 1941-1945 – Volume IV, Page 65
(Книги Памяти евреев–воинов, павших в боях с нацизхмом в 1941-1945 гг – Том IV, Страница 65)
Place of burial: Poland, Krakow, Rybnik
(Польша, Краковское воев., Рыбник)
The names of Senior Sergeant Teplitskiy and Private Shapovalov appear as entries “2” and “3”, respectively, in this “Report of Irretrievable Losses of the 8th Air Army as of April 20, 1945” (Report Number 33088), below.
Wounded in Action – Survived War
United States Army
Friedensohn, Oscar, Pvt., 32897128
34th Infantry Division, 168th Engineer Regiment, C Company
Initially reported wounded, but not a POW
Mrs. Florence Friedensohn (relationship unknown), 2385 Grand Concourse, New York, N.Y.
Mrs. Carolyn F. Scanlan (daughter); Patricia H. Townsend (?)
Born 1924
Casualty List 4/19/45
American Jews in World War II – 314
WW II Memorial Honoree Page by daughter Carolyn F. Scanlan
Grossman, Sol, PFC (in Germany)
Mr. and Mrs. Jacob and Elizabeth Grossman (parents), 2453 N. Front St., Philadelphia, Pa.
Born 1916
Jewish Exponent 5/4/45; Philadelphia Inquirer, and, Philadelphia Record 4/21/45
American Jews in World War II – 527
Katz, Joseph, PFC (at Cebu, Philippines)
23rd Infantry Division
Wounded by mine; left leg amputated below knee
Mr. and Mrs. Sigmond and Celia Katz (parents), 99-06 37th Ave., Corona, N.Y.
Born 1920
Long Island Star Journal 5/9/45, 6/14/45; 5/10/45
American Jews in World War II – 358
Here (also reproduced below) is the Star Journal’s May article about PFC Katz:
Pfc. Katz Loses Leg at Cebu
Private First Class Joseph Katz of Corona, who was seriously wounded by a land mine during the invasion of Cebu Island in the Philippines, March 26, is a patient in Maguire General Hospital, Richmond, Va., waiting to be fitted with an artificial left leg after an amputation below the knee.
The 20-year-old soldier, a veteran of 19 months in the Pacific theatre, also was wounded by shrapnel in the right leg. He was flown to San Francisco two weeks ago.
As an infantryman with the American [sic] Division, Private Katz fought on Bougainville, New Caledonia and in the Philippines. He was in the first platoon to go ashore from landing craft at Cebu.
The son of Mr. and Mrs. Sigmond Katz, of 99-06 37th Avenue, he entered the Army two years ago while in his second year at St. John’s University, Brooklyn. He is a graduate of Public School 19 and Junior High School 16, both Corona, and Newtown High School, Elmhurst.
When his mother visited him last week at the Virginia Hospital, Private Katz told her:
“I wouldn’t like to go through it all again, but I wouldn’t give up the experiences I’ve had for anything.”
Pinsky, Edward B., T/5, 33781714, Purple Heart (in Germany)
3rd Infantry Division
Mrs. Anna B. Pinsky (wife), 2906 Frankford Ave., Philadelphia, Pa.
Born 1925
Jewish Exponent 5/4/45; Philadelphia Inquirer and Philadelphia Record 4/21/45
American Jews in World War II – 543
WW II Memorial Honoree Page by Susan and Tom Bleeks (daughter and son in law)
Schwartz, Irving, PFC (in Germany)
Mrs. Mollie Schwartz (mother), 3011 W. Diamond St., Philadelphia, Pa.
Jewish Exponent 5/4/45, 6/22/45; 4/21/45
American Jews in World War II – Not listed
Vederman, Max, PFC, 33177086, Purple Heart (in Pacific)
Mrs. Gertrude Vederman (wife), 836 N. 5th St., Philadelphia, Pa.
Born 1921
Jewish Exponent 6/8/45; Philadelphia Inquirer 5/27/45; Philadelphia Record 5/28/45
American Jews in World War II – 557
United States Army – Prisoner of War
Benjamin, Stanley, PFC, 15308294
Captured 3/26/45
POW at Stalag 11B (Fallingbostel)
Mr. and Mrs. Aron and [mother] (Peters) Benjamin (parents), 418 13th St. SE, Canton, Oh.
Born Canton, Ohio, 8/5/24
NARA Records Group 242, 190/16/01/01, Entry 279, Box 5; German POW # 201381
American Jews in World War II – Not listed
United States Army Air Force – Missing on Combat Missions, but Returned
Staff Sergeant Meyers and Lieutenant Strauss were the left waist gunner and navigator of B-24J Liberator 42-51918 (piloted by 2 Lt. Randall L. Webb) of the 766th Bomb Squadron, 461st Bomb Group, 15th Air Force, which made an emergency landing at Pecs, Hungary, due to engine failure, during a mission to Straszhof, Austria (after leaving the target?). The plane’s loss is covered in MACR 13198. The entire crew of ten was uninjured and returned to the 766th.
Meyers, Roy G., S/Sgt., 16083741, Air Medal, 2 Oak Leaf Clusters
Mrs. Doris F. Meyers (wife), 2967 Monterey Ave., Detroit, Mi.
American Jews in World War II – 193
Strauss, Edwin F., 2 Lt., 0-2064673, Air Medal, 1 Oak Leaf Cluster
Mr. Leon Strauss (father), 1895 Harrison Ave., Bronx, N.Y.
Casualty List 4/30/45
American Jews in World War II – 457
Rosenberg, Lawrence M., 2 Lt., 0-718141, Bombardier
United States Army Air Force, 15th Air Force, 461st Bomb Group, 765th Bomb Squadron
Returned to 465th BG 4/28/45.
Mrs. Jeanette S. Rosenberg (mother), 771 West End Ave., New York, N.Y.
MACR 13197; Pilot: B-24L 44-49428 (“29”); Pilot: 2 Lt. Lloyd R. Heinze; 11 crew – all survived
Casualty List 4/26/45
American Jews in World War II – Not listed
Aircraft #428 suffered an in-flight fire in its #4 engine, and was last seen peeling away from the 765th’s formation – also near Pecs. Though the MACR contains no further details, it’s surmised that the plane also landed at that location. As per aircraft # 918, the entire crew returned, uninjured.
Spitalnik, Leonard, S/Sgt., 12110730, Aerial Gunner, Distinguished Flying Cross, Air Medal
United States Army Air Force, 14th AF, 308th Bomb Group, 373rd Bomb Squadron
Entire crew parachuted and returned safely.
Mr. Irving Spitalnik (brother), 2103 Vyse Ave., Bronx, N.Y.
Mr. and Mrs. Jacob and Rose Spitalnik (parents); Rubin Spitalnik (brother)
MACR 13458; Aircraft: B-24M 44-42140; Pilot: 1 Lt. Harold L. Folsom; 9 crew – all survived
Casualty List 5/16/45
American Jews in World War II – 452
Having taken off from Luliang, China, Lt. Folsom’s aircraft disappeared during a single-plane mining mission to the Yangzte River. The plane – believed to have been in the Kunming area – last contacted the 308th Bomb Group by radio at 0300 hours on the morning of March 26, asking for bearings, flares, and search lights. But, due to an electrical storm, there was no further communication. As reported after the war by bombardier 1 Lt. Rudolph S. Wilsher, all crew members bailed out in the upper area of the Yangzte River, and returned to the 308th on April 1.
United States Navy
Gellman, Leon Israel, S 1C, 8556850, Seaman, Purple Heart
USS Kimberley
Mrs. Minnie Anna Gellman (mother), 537 Armory Ave., Cincinnati, Oh.
Mr. Maurice Hyman Gellman (brother), 569 Armory Ave., Cincinnati, Oh.
Casualty List 6/6/45
American Jews in World War II – 487
Rasky, Edwin Adolph, Bkr 3C, 6116667, Baker, Purple Heart
Survived sinking of USS Halligan
Mrs. Anna Rasky (mother), 1057 W. Foster Ave., Chicago, Il.
American Jews in World War II – 112
WW II Memorial Honoree Page by sister Minora M. Rasky
References
Dublin, Louis I., and Kohs, Samuel C., American Jews in World War II – The Story of 550,000 Fighters for Freedom, The Dial Press, New York, N.Y., 1947
Au Service de la France (Edité à l’occasion du 10ème anniversaire de l’Union des Engagés Volontaires et Anciens Combattants Juifs 1939-1945), l’Union Des Engagés Volontaires Et Anciens Combattants Juifs, Paris (?), France, 1955
Canadian Jews in World War II – Part II: Casualties, Canadian Jewish Congress, Montreal, Quebec, Canada, 1948
Memorial Book of Jewish Soldiers Who Died in Battles Against Nazism – 1941-1945 – Volume IV [Surnames beginning with Т (T), У (U), Ф (F), Х (Kh), Ц (Ts), Ч (Ch), Ш (Sh), Щ (Shch), Э (E), Ю (Yoo), Я (Ya)], Maryanovskiy, M.F., Pivovarova, N.A., Sobol, I.S. (editors), Union of Jewish War Invalids and Veterans, Moscow, Russia, 1997
Memorial Book of Jewish Soldiers Who Died in Battles Against Nazism – 1941-1945 – Volume V [Surnames beginning with А (A), Б (B), В (V), Г (G), Д (D), Е (E), Ж (Zh), З (Z), И (I), К (K)], Maryanovskiy, M.F., Pivovarova, N.A., Sobol, I.S. (editors), Union of Jewish War Invalids and Veterans, Moscow, Russia, 1998
Society for Ethical Culture (Ethical Movement) at Wikipedia
34th Bomb Group – Valor to Victory
USS Halligan at Wikipedia
USS Halligan at Destroyer History