Born in New York City April 9, 1925 lived in the Bronx
Volunteered for US Army in 30th infantry division, heavy weapons. Was at D-Day.
Had a diabetic younger brother named Robert
2:40 His kids Susan and Andrew
3:27 Talks about the depression
4:10 Years with Ford Motor Company
5:00 Depression years, small apartment, father worked hard in garment industry
8:15 Religious upbringing –Orthodox, was in Hebrew School 7-13 years old
10:15 Wife has passed; says Kaddish; will for a year; was with her 65 years.
13:00 How he met Judy (his wife)- cousin told him about Judy (16)
13:40 Went in Army at 19 years old
14:30 First date
15:00 ’47 Buick parked in front of St. Patrick’s theatre, went to movie, had soda, tires slashed
17:15 Wedding, 1 week honeymoon in Florida
18:13 In 1949- emotional moment about having raised 2 wonderful children
18:58 Has 5 great grandchildren has 7 grand children
20:11 What makes a good marriage is compromise
20:35 More tears about wife- “I cant remember hard times” in marriage
23:03 How the Depression informed his life, tries to watch the dollars
26:20 His wife had Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s “Louie Body” dementia. She died May 23, 2015.
28:30 Dance- and play cards
29:19 “I had a wonderful life until now”
29:55 Thanks his children, grandchildren especially Emily and Amanda who were closest to Judy.
30:50 “I talk to my children every day”
31:29- 6/28/44 He was 19 when he went into the 30th infantry division, heavy weapons.
He was in high school when Pearl Harbor happened.
32:40 He was 16 listening to a football game on the radio
33:15 Next day the students were called to the auditorium to listen to FDR
34:00 How everyone was behind the war effort
34:43 17 weeks basic training
35:40 S.S. Wakefield to Liverpool remembers “Limeys” yelling to all the soldiers
“I guess your gonna tell everybody you won this one too!!
36:04 He was shipped to France, he was a replacement
36:20 8,000 killed on D-Day
37:00 So cold in France, in warehouse slept near potbelly store.
37:30 His first combat was at the Rhone River in Germany. It was daylight at the bridge.
38:30 Smokescreen, saw his first dead body – 28 hours straight taking the territory.
39:10 Crossing the Rhone River in the morning there was huge artillery fire for more than an hour, then his infantry unit got on the boat. Then he asked the sailor, “Do you know where you are going?” and he said, “No, do you?”
41:00 A shell killed a man where he had just been standing – he and his troops advanced 40-50 miles a day
43:30 They took the city of Magdeburg near Elbe May 6, 1945, war over.
44:00 Why he got bronze star (he’s not sure) shells all around while he went for food supplies
45:00 “Its not like in the movies…its complete chaos.”
45:30 Heard soldiers crying
46:00 After war- Army of Occupation sent to Auerbach near Black Forest
46:50 Made him Sergeant Major- his job was to give out passes to leave the area (people were afraid of Russian soldiers)
Division – 15,000 men- then back to France. Then you will have 45 day furlough, then to Japan to “finish” the fighting.
49:20 “you’re gonna have to find me!” (Laughing)
49:50 Heard about Hiroshima when he was in England then on Queen Mary to go home.
50:50 1st boat into New York Harbor
51:00 Sees his whole family in Penn Station looking for him
55:20 Story about trying out for baseball team
53:50 Back to college, finished in 2 ½ years
54:40 Didn’t think about what was going on with Jews “the only thing you think about while in combat is getting out alive”
57:00 The hard part is after you close the lights in the bedroom (missing Judy)
Speaking to people who think he’s doing well:
1:00:54 Talks appreciatively about Rabbi Cohen, Rabbi Susan Stone at temple during and since Judy’s passing.
1:03:00 Gotta reach out to others
1:04 How he wants to help new resident
1:05 You’ve got to think about people
1:05:30 I was just a soldier, wasn’t thinking about being Jewish, just surviving.
1:06 Wrote to his parents every day
1:09 Thoughts about how war has changed
1:10:24 I don’t believe in war anymore… compromise like in marriage
1:11:00 Saddam H
1:11:50 Supports Obama
1:12- Recent speech by William Jakes at Granada
1:13 You didn’t go to war for nothing
1:14 Trump
1:15 Gotta be honest with yourself