UPDATE: The list has been sorted alphabetically, broken out by rank, service branch, and basic home of record (if known).
UPDATE 2: You can now click on any of the names for links to articles about each of the fallen.
I think it’s appropriate to remember our Jewish service members who have given all in the Global War on Terror. If I missed any names, I do apologize.
For families of the deceased: Ha’makom yenahem etkhem betokh she’ar avelei Tziyon vi’Yerushalayim.
Agami, Daniel – Specialist, Army, Florida
Allen, Howard Paul – Sergeant, Army National Guard, Arizona
Ben Yahudah, Benyahmin – Specialist, Army, Georgia
Bernstein, David – 1st Lieutenant, Army, Pennsylvania
Bitton, Albert – Corporal, Army, Chicago
Blum, Aron C. – Sergeant, Marine Corps, Arizona
Bruckenthal, Nathan – Petty Officer 3rd Class, Coast Guard, New York
Budeysky, Steven M. – Sergeant, Army, Chicago
Clark, Ryan J. – Corporal Army, California
Cohen, Michael R. – Corporal, Marine Corps, Pennsylvania
Dvorin, Seth - 2nd Lieutenant, Army, New Jersey
Engel, Mark E. – Lance Corporal, Marine Corps, Colorado
Evnin, Mark A. – Corporal, Marine Corps, Vermont.
Fairbairn, Aaron – Private First Class, Army, Washington
Farkas, Daniel – 1st Lieutenant, Army National Guard, New York
Fisher, Zachary, M. – Sergeant, Army, Missouri
Fletcher, Jacob S. – Private First Class, Army, New York
Freeman, Daniel J. – Specialist, Army, Cincinatti, Ohio
Harrington, Foster – Sergeant, Marine Corps, Texas
House, John Daniel – Petty Officer 3rd Class, Simi Valley, CA
Jacobson, Elizabeth N. – Airman First Class, Air Force, Florida
Kane, Jeremy - Lance Corporal, Marine Corps, Cherry Hill, NJ
Krissoff, Nathan M. – 1st Lieutenant, Marine Corps, Nevada
Malachowski, James M. – Staff Sergeant, USMC, Westminster, MD
Mervis, Paul – Lieutenant, British Army, London
Paul, Robert, J. – Staff Sergeant, Army Reserve , Oregon
Pine, Shawn – Lieutenant Colonel, Army Reserve, Texas
Pontell, Darin – Lieutenant JG, Navy, Pentagon, died on 9/11
Rosenberg, Mark – Major, Army, Florida
Schrage, Dustin – Corporal, Marine Corps, Florida
Schulte, Roslyn – 1st Lieutenant, Air Force, St. Louis, MO
Secher, Robert Michael – Captain, Marine Corps, Tennessee
Seiden, Marc S. – Specialist, Army, New Jersey
Seidler, Matthew R. - Airman 1st Class, Baltimore, MD
Shackelford, Michael – Sergeant, Army, Denver, CO
Shapiro, Steven F. – Private First Class, Army, Hidden Valley Lake, CA
Sher, Gregory – Private, Australian Army, Melbourne
Sherman, Alan D. – Sergeant, Marine Corps, New Jersey
Sklaver, Benjamin – Captain, Army Reserve, Hamden, CT
Smith, Eric A. – Chief Warrant Officer, Army, New York
Soufrine, Eric D. – Private First Class, Army, Connecticut
Stern, Andrew K. – 1st Lieutenant, Marine Corps, Tennessee
Tarlavsky, Michael – Captain, Army, 5th Special Forces Group, New Jersey
Walker, Morris L. – Private First Class, Army , North Carolina
Weiner, Timothy R. – Tech Sergeant, Air Force , Florida
Weinger, Robert M. – Sergeant, Army National Guard, Illinois
Wershow, Jeffery – Specialist, Army National Guard, Florida
Wolfe, Colin J. – Private First Class, Marine Corps, Virginia
Wolfer, Stuart A. - Major, Army, Florida
Wong, Elijah – Sergeant, Army National Guard, Arizona
Yelner, Jonathan – Senior Airman, Air Force, California
Zilberman, Steven M. – Lieutenant, Navy, Columbus, Ohio
The last time I checked there were three other NJ fatalities including Lt. Seth Dvorin (JWV Post 972 is named for him). Also there were 2 marine officers from Tenn.( one might be from Ky.).Also one of the first Marines killed in Iraq was Cpl. Ervan from Vt.
Coast Guardsman Nathan Brunkenthal http://www.defendamerica.mil/articles/may2004/a053104a.html
Other Jewish service fatalities include Petty Officer Nathan Brickenthal, 1st Lieutenant David Bernstein and Marine Sargeant Foster Harrington
Brian, Thanks for mentioning our Jewish heroes. Please add the following heroes to your list:1stLt Andrew K. Stern, Marines, Tennessee;Cpl Mark A. Evnin, Marines,Vermont; Cpl Michael R. Cohen, Marines, Penn; LCpl Mark E. Engel, Marines, Colorado; Sgt Elijah Wong, Army, Arizona (Nat. Guard); Sgt Aron C. Blum, Marines, Arizona; PFC Jacob S. Fletcher, Army, New York; SPC Jeffery Wershow, Army, Florida (Nat. Guard); and please note that Sgt Alan Sherman was a Marine (not Army). Thanks again. All the Best, Ted
I think you mean Marine CPL Mark Evnin from vermont http://www.militarycity.com/iraq/1745963.html
One additional American Jewish heroe’s name who should be added:
1stLt Nathan M. Krissoff, Marines, Nevada
Thanks again, Ted
Daniel J. Freeman, US Army, Cincinatti (Cincinnati, by the way) was KIA in Afghanistan, not Iraq: http://www.wlwt.com/news/4368126/detail.html. I can still picture him in his uniform at his little brother’s bar mitzvah.
sadly there is another one to add. Major Stuart Wolfer.
Alan and Sheshe, Thanks for keeping us updated. This is very important. Questions will (and already do) come up on how many Jewish servicemen have paid the ultimate price. As a community we need to be able to provide an answer (as best we can) and most importantly to honor their memory. I recommend that JIG start a memorial/yerzeit page and that all of us participate in keeping it updated. Also, many thanks to Sgt Brian Kresge for bringing this issue up in the first place.
Also, sadly one more to add, we should not forget him: SPC Marc S. Seiden, US Army, of Brigantine, NJ – KIA in Baghdad, Jan 2004
Strange to think about Jews fighting and dying in the place that was once Babylon – the earthly location of the Garden of Eden, Abraham’s birthland, as well as our second exile and hence the place where the Babylonian Talmud was compiled.
I am saddened to add yet another name.
Major MArk E Rosenberg.
Very sad.
I note in today’s NYTimes “names of the dead” included Major Mark Rosenberg of Miami Lakes, Fla. Fourth Infantry Division.
Per this sentence in the original post:
Perhaps someday we can do better than a simple blog post.
The National Museum of American Jewish Military History (under the Jewish War Veterans) in Washington D.C. is not well-known. I’ve been there, and I think that doing something in commemoration with the museum may be a possibility (especially as the museum is about to celebrate the 50th anniversary of its congressional charter). Here’s the museum’s link: http://www.nmajmh.org/
JIG Administrator, When you have a chance please correct the first name at the top of the list (Capt Secher) – his first name is Robert. Thanks.
Please note: There is no serviceman with last name of Budeysky listed in any of the relevant national on-line data bases as being killed in either Iraq or Afghanistan. Can Mr. Schiller provide additional information on Sgt Budeysky? If so, the national data bases should be corrected/updated and appropriate honors should be given.
Paul Michael Felberg does not seem to be Jewish–his grave marker has a Christian cross (http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GSvcid=13367&GRid=9680945&
Here you go Samson he went to the same school as Corporal Albert Bitton here is the article
http://www.chicagojournal.com/Main.asp?ArticleID=4140&SectionID=49
Young medic, from West Rogers Park, killed in Iraq
Albert Bitton attended Ida Crown Academy
By LORRAINE SWANSON, Editor
For the second time in six years, the war in Iraq has claimed the life of a former student at the Ida Crown Jewish Academy.
Albert Bitton, 20, who grew up in West Rogers Park, was killed in Baghdad on Feb. 20, when the Humvee he was in was hit by an improvised explosive device.
Another Ida Crown student, Sgt. Steven Budeysky, was killed in action during the war’s early days.
STEVE18, Thanks for the assist but that’s not what I’m referring to. Example: If you punch in names any of the above listed heroes into Google or Yahoo search (i.e., Sgt Alan D. Sherman – 309,000 hits in Google) you will have thousands of hits showing where they are listed in National and local data-bases honoring KIAs from Iraq/Afghanistan and articles regarding their funeral services, etc. This is not the case for Sgt Budeysky although he is mentioned in some recent articles in relation to Cpl Bitton. If he was killed in Iraq/Afghanistan it appears, as an anomaly, that he was completely overlooked by the media. Thanks again, Samson
Senior Airman Jonathan Yelner of Lafayette volunteered to be sent to Afghanistan two months ago to help local residents build new roads and buildings and to set up water supplies.
Yelner, 24, was killed Tuesday when a bomb exploded near his vehicle near Bagram, about 25 miles north of Kabul and the site of an air base where U.S. forces are stationed.
Yelner, a six-year Air Force veteran, was a weapons loader who had been assigned to the 28th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron at Ellsworth Air Force Base in South Dakota. He was serving with the 755th Air Expeditionary Wing at Bagram Air Base as part of Operation Enduring Freedom, military officials said.
Yelner volunteered for duty in Afghanistan to help locals rebuild and improve their infrastructure, his family said.
“I’m very proud of him,” said his father, Bruce Yelner of El Cerrito. “He was performing one of the more nobler duties of the military in Afghanistan. He did a lot of good for the local Afghanis.”
His mother, Yolanda Vega of Lafayette, broke down Wednesday as she said, “My sadness is that I will not see my son. He wanted to wear the uniform of the United States Air Force, and I supported him. He wanted to go to Afghanistan. He said, ‘Mom, we’re really making a difference.’ I supported him. I never knew he would be killed there.”
Vega said, “However, I know he’s with God. I know he’s in heaven.”
Yelner previously served in Guam, Diego Garcia – a military base on an atoll in the Indian Ocean – and, for four months last year, in Iraq, his father said. “I want you to tell the world he’s a great guy,” he said.
Yelner was Jewish and Puerto Rican and was proud of his heritage. On his MySpace page, he proudly proclaimed himself a “Puerto Rican heartthrob.” At the top of the page is the statement: “Puerto Rican heartthrob is living each day like my last. Cause it might be.”
Yelner – known to his friends as Jake and Vega, one of his middle names – described himself on MySpace as a blunt and honest person. “I say what is on my mind and the truth no matter what,” he wrote. “I live life like I want to so I am not one of those guys that says, ‘Damn I wish I did that.’ ”
Retired Senior Airman David Scott, 23, of Rapid City, S.D., said of his friend’s bluntness, “There was a certain charm about it. It’s hard to explain, but it’s something he pulled off.”
Yelner’s prized possession was a Ford Mustang that he recently purchased, his family said.
Yelner was an Eagle Scout and played lacrosse while attending De La Salle High School in Concord, where flags flew at half-staff. He enjoyed swordplay and was just starting to get into martial arts, he said on his MySpace page. Friends said he also enjoyed role-playing games.
“I am a simple guy with simple interests and a complicated brain,” he wrote.
Aubrey Watts, 23, of Rapid City, S.D., said Yelner “had the biggest heart and the most beautiful soul of anyone I have known. Words can’t even begin to describe how generous he was.”
Just four hours before she learned that he had died, Watts said she got two dozen roses from him. “It was my surprise after having surgery and for being, as he put it, the strongest woman he has ever known besides his mama. It is very much ironic to receive the flowers on the same day I find out, but in his own fashion that was him.”
Watts said, “I can’t imagine him going out in a better way. He was a true warrior in every sense of the word.”
Caitlyn Morrow, 22, a native of San Jose, said Yelner was one of the first people she met in South Dakota after moving there from Portland. “It was like having an instant family,” she said.
Morrow said she would miss “his uncanny ability to make me smile while telling me the brutal truth. He would tell me the truth in such a way that you couldn’t help but smile, even if it hurt a little bit.”
In a statement, Col. Scott Vander Hamm, 28th Bomb Wing commander, wrote: “My most sincere condolences go out to the family of our lost service member. Our thoughts and prayers are with all those affected and impacted by Airman Yelner’s death.”
In a statement, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger said, “Senior Airman Jonathan Yelner answered the call to defend the United States with bravery, integrity and a relentless devotion to the ideals and freedoms that we all hold dear.”
Cpl. Albert Bitton, alav hasholom, and Sgt. Steven Budeysky, alav hasholom, both were graduated from Ida Crown Jewish Academy in Chicago, Illinois. Ida Crown is a small (350 students) co-ed, orthodox Jewish high school. I have heard that many of the boys have made aliyah and joined the IDF (I know of at least three boys just from my own synagogue within the past year or two). I called Mr. Danny Harris, Assistant Principal, Ida Crown (773.973.1450), to get more info on Sgt. Budeysky. Mr. Harris said that Sgt. Budeysky was in “Special Forces’, and that Sgt. Budeysky’s Hebrew name was Baruch ben Mayer. Northwestern University reported that Steven Budeysky , class of 2001, died on May 19th, but the year was uncertain.
Go to yahoo and put in name you will find about Sgt Steven Budeysky in pdf version like this
[PDF] BULLETIN
108k – Adobe PDF
1. Official notices in this bulletin are orders of the command. … indebted to the late SGT Budeysky, Steven M., Alpha Company, 314 MI Battalion, Lackland AFB, …
cs.amedd.army.mil/rmb/bull/doclib/…/upload/bulletin23FY05.pdf
Thanks, but the article about Sgt Budeysky that you’re referring to just states that he passed away, not that he was KIA in Iraq or Afghanistan. Not to take anything away from him, may his memory be a blessing, apparently he died on active duty, z”l. However, the specific place and circumstances of his death are not mentioned in that article, nor anywhere else on any web site or news article about him specifically, as is the case with everyone else on the list.
JIG Administrator: Can we add Senior Airman Jonathan Yelner, USAF, California to our list? Also, since he was killed in Afghanistan (and so was SPC Daniel J. Freeman) can we make this a list of KIAs from both Iraq and Afghanistan? (Currently the first sentence of the lead paragraph says Iraq.) Sgt Kresge, Thanks to you – Great job on getting us started on this!! This has become the unofficial memorial/yerziet page for the heroes of our community who have given their lives in the service of our country. May they never be forgotten.
Brian, First of all thanks for your quick response and action. I have a recommendation: for those who may fall into the category of Other/Unknown (i.e, Sgt Budeysky) – can we honor them by calling that category GWOT? As GWOT would be appropriate for ALL categories (other than OIF/OEF) as you stated, to include USA Garrison, Horn of Africa, etc. Brother, what you are doing here is extremely important – as once again, just as in wars of the past, the anti-semites are publicly (check the web!) blaring their hateful and blatant lies that the Jewish community is not doing it’s part on the front lines. Thanks again for your efforts, and all the other contributors to JIG, to tell the truth and set the record straight!
I have an offer. If anyone would like to write a well-expressed guest post for my blog http://www.mrslieutenant.blogspot.com about Jews serving in all wars of the United States, I would be open to this. You can contact me through my website http://www.mrslieutenant.com (which includes a listing for jewsingreen in the section on organizations that support military families). I would start the post something like “Perhaps because of what happened to Jews in the Holocaust, Americans today have a mistaken idea of the role American Jews have played and continue to play in our country’s armed forces.”
http://www.nmajmh.org/docs/jahm08/May%2026%20Memorial%20Day.pdf is a link to a “complete” list as of Memorial Day, 2008
I think LT. Daniel Farkas is Jewish
http://www.theyeshivaworld.com/article.php?p=20646
NYPD Officer Dies in Afghanistan
July 6, 2008
A New York City police lieutenant serving as a National Guardsman has died in Afghanistan, police said Saturday. Lt. Daniel Farkas, 42, of Brooklyn, who joined the NYPD in 1988, was assigned to the 112th Precinct in Forest Hills, police said.
The date and details of Farkas’ death were not available Saturday afternoon. A police spokesman said the military informed the department of Farkas’ death on Friday.
A spokeswoman for the U.S. Department of Defense declined to comment Saturday, citing a policy of waiting 24 hours after family notification to release names of casualties.
The New York National Guard did not return a call for comment, and family members at Farkas’ home declined to comment Saturday.
YWN has no further information.
(Source: Newsday / YW-11 / YW-112)
Rabbi (Col.) Goldstein has confirmed that Lt. Farkas is Jewish.
From 9/11 I just learned about another Jewish hero fallen in the first two hours of the war-
Lieutenant JG Darin Parnell, USN Intel
Thanks Jarred. You’re right – it’s important to remember Darin too. I believe his last name is spelled Pontell though, Full name LT Darin H. Pontell USN, he was killed in the terrorist attack on the Pentagon on 9/11. Darin was one of the very first casualties in the Global War on Terrorism. A Naval Academy Graduate, he was Jewish and he’s buried next to his brother (who was also a Naval Officer – killed in the line of duty on the USS Lexington in 1989) at Baltimore Hebrew Congregation Cemetary. Darin was awarded the Purple Heart. Brian, maybe he can be added to our list as well since he was killed in GWOT in the line of duty.
Thanks again Jarred, it’s good that you reminded us.
Thanks Sgt. Kresge- I would only ask that we make this a permanent part of our website- it is important that we memorialize our fallen heroes and it will serve as an everlasting tribute to their sacrifice.
Thanks again.
Today’s New York Times military deaths listed Scott Dimond of Franklin, New Hampshire. One of our tribe?
There was some discussion here questioning the death of Sgt. Steven M. Budeysky. I was his friend. We went to high school (Ida Crown) together. I’m still in touch with his family. Steven was on a classified assignment in Iraq when he was killed on May 19th, 2005. The exact circumstances of his death were never released by the Army because they are classified. He’s a hero and should be remembered as such.
Alex B.,
Thank you for clarifying that issue. Sgt Budeysky is a hero and should be listed on our Yerzeit/Memorial list of heroes who have given their lives for our country in Iraq and Afghanistan. May G-d bless him and and may he rest in peace. Thanks for taking the time to set the record straight. Respectfully, Samson
I’ve renamed the post and made some updates. Since this is a GWOT “memorial,” inclusion will be based off of eligibility for either the Global War on Terrorism Expiditionary or Service medals, as well as the Iraq or Afghanistan Campaign Medals, as applicable. This negates any need to debate inclusion.
Sgt Kresge, Thank you for making this Yerziet memorial for our community. This is an extremely important contribution both from an historical standpoint and a “living history” memorial (continually updated) to honor those who have made the ultimate sacrifice for our country in the Global War on Terrorism.
U.S. Army Ranger Ret. killed working in Afghanistan
http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1243872319758&pagename=JPost/JPArticle/ShowFull
Steve, Thanks for letting us know about LtCol Pine, KIA in Afghanistan.
Sgt Kresge, Please view the article in the link that Steve provided us. It points out that LtCol Shawn Pine, US Army Reserve, from Texas, was killed by an IED while in the same vehicle as Lt Roslyn Schulte. Although LtCol Pine was on temporary assignment as contractor, he was still an active reserve member of the US Army and died in the service of our country fighting in GWOT. I think he deserves the honor of being listed on our Yerzeit Memorial as such: Pine, Shawn – LtCol, Army Reserve, Texas. What do you think? Respectfully, Samson
U.K. soldier KIA in Afghanistan http://www.thejc.com/articles/jewish-serviceman-killed-afghanistan
Jewish serviceman killed in Afghanistan
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From The Jewish Chronicle
June 15, 2009
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Lieutenant Paul Mervis was killed in an explosion in Afghanistan, while on foot patrol with the British forces in northern Helmand.
The 27-year-old Londoner was one of the first officers commissioned into 2nd Battalion The Rifles in 2007. The Ministry of Defence said “it was typical of the man that he led from the front in one of Afghanistan’s most demanding and dangerous districts”.
His family said he was “a wonderful loving son, brother and friend, generous and thoughtful with an infectious sense of fun. Paul was killed doing the job he chose and loved.
“He had read widely about Afghanistan and went with a genuine desire to help bring enough stability to enable reconstruction to follow.”
Last updated: 5:00pm, June 15 2009
Today’s NYTimes lists a Jeffrey Garber, USN, among the dead. Is he a member of our tribe?
Please add one more fallen hero…
Aaron Fairbairn, US Army (not sure of the rank) killed in Afghanistan.
http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1246443726265&pagename=JPost/JPArticle/ShowFull
Sadly, Jewish soldier, Pfc Aaron Fairbairn, was killed in Afghanistan on July 4. He was from Aberdeen, Washington.
Sgt Kresge,
When you have time, please add Sgt Robert M. Weinger to our Yarzheit/Memorial Board:
Weiner, Robert M. – Sergeant, Army National Guard, Illinois
He was killed in Afghanistan on 15 March 2009 – awarded a Bronze Star and Purple heart. Previous to his tour in Afghanistan he served 2 years in Iraq. His funeral was conducted by Rabbi/Chaplain Ira Ehrenpreis and there is an article about him (with photo) on page 3 of the latest JWV “Jewish Veteran” magazine.
May he rest in peace and be remembered always.
Thanks, Samson
Just read that another American soldier of the Jewish faith was killed in the line of duty in Afghanistan, on July 4th: 21 year old PFC Aaron Fairbairn, US Army, from Washington State.
Thanks everyone for the updates. I’ve been out of the loop for a month or two, my apologies.
Has the JWV been talking about developing a permanent memorial in Washington, perhaps, to honor Jewish war dead in the GWOT (or whatever we are now calling it)? I was hoping to get to the convention this year to ask but it may not happen since I’m currently mobilized.
Brian,
Now that you’ve included a British officer in the Yahrzeit list, don’t forget the South Aftican-born Jewish soldier, Gregory Sher, who was killed on January 7, according to the JTA.
Forgot to mention that South African-born Greg Sher was in the Australian army.
Thank you for including LT Mervis (2 RIFLES, UK) in this list. Paul is the first British Militarz Jewish Service Member to loose his life in conflict since the Falklands.
He was buried 24 June at Aldershot Military Cemetary (Aldershot, Surrey, UK0 with ~ 400 in attendance at the grave side military service conducted by the Rabbi and Rabbi Emeritus of his childhood/family Synagogue.
Besides his unit, family, friends, there was a significant turn out from both the British Military Jewish Community and the British Jewish War Veterans.
Holly Doyne, COL, USA. US Military Liaison to HQ AMD, FASC, Camberley UK
I know he’s not a Global War on Terror casualty, but does anyone know if perhaps Scott Speicher was a MOT?
I saw a headstone for him it had a cross so i don’t think he was,never the less it could have been shown on T.V. for the purpose that in case he was alive it would appear that he’s not Jewish to the Iraqis,In any event may his memory be Blessed
Sgt Kresge, Please note that on the Yerzeit board, Sgt Robert Weinger’s name is spelled incorectly – it’s currently on the list as Weiner, but it’s actually spelled Weinger with a g. Thanks, SAMSON
To the woman that I talked to at the Illinois Motorcycle Freedom Run on June 20, 2009 – Thank you for putting Bobs name on this list and making sure that his name was spelled correctly!
I just want to correct one thing, he only served in Iraq for one year. He was home less than a year and volunteered to go to Afghanistan.
Also I would like to view the article in the JWV magazine, but when I went to JWV site couldn’t find it.
To Sgt Robert Weinger’s Aunt,
The article on Sgt Weinger in the JWV magazine can be found as follows:
1. Go to JWV.org web page
2. Click on “communications” in the choices bar at the top of the page.
3. Click on “The Jewish Veteran” (the name of their magazine).
4. Click on their latest issue (Vol.62, No.3, Summer 2009).
5. See the bottom left corner of page 3.
I hope your grief at his loss will be consoled by knowing that he always be remembered.
Regards, Samson
This is a possible Jewish KIA-Sgt. 1st Class David E. Metzger, 32, of San Diego:
http://www.wavy.com/dpp/news/bio_metzger_fallen_soldier_20091030
A possible Jewish soldier:
Spc. Ross E. Vogel, III, 27, of Red Lion, Pa., died Sept. 29 in Kut, Iraq, of injuries suffered from a non-combat related incident. He was assigned to the 67th Signal Battalion, 35th Signal Brigade, Fort Gordon, Ga.
http://www.fox43.com/news/wpmt-amnews-soldierdeath-redlion-10-1-09,0,1683438.story
Sorry to add to the list- Lcpl Jeremy M Kane, Cherry Hill NJ KIA Afghanistant. Services were at Mkor Shalom in Cherry Hill.
Please add Lt. Steven M. Zilberman, a Navy Pilot from Columbus, Ohio. Killed on 31 March, when his E-2C Hawkeye crashed into the Arabian Gulf. May he rest in peace and his memory and the sacrifice made never be forgotten.
I’m sorry for these people! I wonder if they didn’t get disappointed in this war.
Brian,
Today’s NYTimes reported that a specialist named Kisseloff was killed in action.
The loss of Spc Kisseloff is sad news in any case, but based on reporting in St. Louis papers, I do not expect that he was Jewish.
SGT Kisseloff and his family are Catholic, which of course doesn’t diminish the loss of a fine Guardsman.
July 7, 2010
Dear Sgt. Kresge,
I stumbled across the name of a possible Jewish serviceman killed in Iraq in 2005.
I do not believe that his name is listed
on the list of Jewish war dead.
Petty Officer 3rd Class
John Daniel House
killed January 26, 2005
Ar Rutbah, Iraq
Sgt. Kresge, I do not know if this Navy Medic hero was Jewish; however he is buried in a Jewish cemetery: Mount Sinai Memorial Park, Simi Valley, California.
Perhaps you can confirm if Petty Officer House, alav hashlom, was Jewish, and if he was, place his name on the list of Jewish heros.
I want to thank you for the selfless devotion you have given to remembering all our fallen children.
Harvey Schiller
Thanks Harvey. I think he should be added to the list. I’ve read everything available about him on the internet. I think we can safely assume that he was Jewish for 2 reasons: 1. It’s extremely unusual for anyone to get buried in Jewish cemetery unless they are Jewish; 2. Of all that was written about him and about his memorial service, there is nothing that indicates that he is not Jewish. My sense is that he was Jewish and was buried at Mt. Sinai Memorial Park because he was Jewish and this is family’s traditional cemetery. I vote that we add him to the list.
We are hoping to read a list of fallen Jewish personnel on Yom Kippur-from last year to this year. I notice the yahrzeit list above, which I check regularly, is listed alphabetically, without date of death. Is there a list of our fallen brethren from this past year alone (September – to September)?
Thanks, and Gmar chatimah tovah.
Respectfully,
-ao
HM2 Bruce Bryant Bernstein(no relation) was a Navy Corpsman killed in Vietnam in February of 1969.
I was in Vietnam at the time.I saw his name in Stars and Stripes along with Thomas Patrick Noonan Jr.,a friend of mine from college whom I always admired as a great athlete(wrestler) and good hearted man-Tom was an Irish Catholic,but many years later I learned that Tom received the Medal of Honor posthumously for attempting to rescue Bruce Bernstein and two Marines whose names I don’t recall unfortunately.None of them survived.Bruce Bernstein was officially listed as “NRP”,meaning no religious preference like I was.Jews don’t get to define themselves.Larger society does that.
My beef with the JWV is their parochial resistance to put their arms aorund our brothers and sisters of even minor Jewish descent.
I have two darling grandaughters-one( the eldest)is Black,Jewish,Honduran.Puerto Rican,and Cherokee.The younger one is Irish,Jewish,Scottish,Alsatian,and Inuit(!!).
Go figure.
We were historically oppressed for a drop of Jewish blood.
JWV-reconsider your approach to membership.
My cousin Richard ,a mustang Marine officer,received the DSC for valor in Vietnam and can’t be a member of the JWV because he is a Protestant by religion-both his parents were observant Jew.He never tries to deny or hide that fact-his beliefs are his own,but he’s a Jew to the rest of the world nevertheless.
I have cousins who are half Jewish and half Mohawk-”schmohawks”I call ‘em and they crack up over that name.Sometimes we just have to kick back and have a good laugh.
Please add Staff Sgt. James M. Malachowski, of blessed memory. He was KIA in Helmand, Afghanistan, 20 Mar 2011. His home state is Maryland. For his verifiable Jewish connection please Google “James Malachowski Grave” and you will see his grave stone in Arlingtion National Cemetary marked clearly with a Star of David. May he rest in peace and never be forgotten. Semper Fi, Samson
Concerning Staff Sgt. Malachowski this article seems to contradict him being Jewish. http://www.carrollcountytimes.com/news/local/fallen-marine-led-the-charge-in-brave-afghanistan-service/article_49784180-5978-11e0-ae60-001cc4c03286.html
Steven, that’s interesting. His gravestone clearly identifies him as Jewish but the news story tells of a memorial in a Catholic Church.
While I don’t know the full answer, I would guess it has to do with some mixed faiths within his family. While there is some room for changes, the symbol on your gravestone is normally tied to the official religious preference of the member, and I think it would be safe to say it is probably the case here.
Regardless, may his memory be a blessing.
Sorry, I meant to include a link to the grave: Staff Sgt. James M. Malachowski
Capt Rubin, i think Zev Kaufman of the 101st was missed in any event there is a whole site with videos photos and a story about him. http://zevy.weebly.com/sergeant-lowhide.html
Steven
Do you have any info on how he died? It’s not clear if he was killed in action or not. It’s clear he saw combat, but from the video it sounds like he came home and then went to the National Guard and worked in his community.
http://zevy.weebly.com/