By Larry Dandridge
November 11, 2023, is Veterans Day. I had planned to write this week only about Veterans Day, which will be observed on Saturday, Nov. 11, 2023. Americans owe so much to the men and women, and their families, who served in our Armed Forces. We should give thanks to Americans who wore the cloth of our nation and who have served in our Marine Corps, Army, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard, Space Force, and Merchant Marine.
However, I am writing this week about the tremendous contribution our veterans of the Jewish faith have made to not only America but also the entire world. Due to the long history of Jewish persecution and especially due to the tremendous atrocities committed by the Nazis in Wolrd War II against Jews and due to the recent genocide the terrorists of Hamas committed on so many innocent Jews in Israel, and the resulting war being waged in Gaza, I feel compelled to especially mention our Americans of the Jewish faith who have served our great nation.
Thousands of Jewish military men have died for the United States of America and their fellow military members. Jews have been awarded every medal of valor the military has to offer, including the Congressional Medal of Honor. Many more thousands of Jewish military members have been wounded and injured serving our great nation. Even though Jews make up less than a fifth of one percent (about 15.7 million) of the 7.9 billion people on earth, they as a group have contributed more to science, medicine, the arts, and education than any other group. For example, Jews have been awarded more than 200 Nobel Prizes.
I encourage every American to do the following four things to honor of our Jewish veterans:
1. Thank our veterans (Jews and Non-Jews) for their selfless and brave service and make certain no one harasses, harms, discriminates against, or threatens, our Jewish veterans, their families, places of worship, homes, or businesses.
2. Visit the National Museum of American Jewish Military History (NMAJMH). The museum is a nonprofit and a national treasure. Chartered by an act of Congress, NMAJMH under the auspices of the Jewish War Veterans of the U.S.A. (see https://www.jwv.org), documents and preserves the contributions of Jewish Americans to the peace and freedom of the United States.
The Museum educates the public concerning the courage, heroism, and sacrifices made by Jewish Americans who served in the armed forces. Most importantly, the museum works to combat antisemitism. Admission is free. The museum is located at 1811 R Street NW, Washington, D.C. 20009. Contact the Museum by Email at nmajmh@nmajmh.org, by phone at 202-265-6280, or by fax at202-462-3192. The museum is near the Dupont Circle Metro Station.
3. Visit the United States Holocaust Museum (USHM), which is located on the National Mall, just south of Independence Avenue, SW, between 14th Street and Raoul Wallenberg Place (15th Street) in Washington D.C. The Museum teaches that the Holocaust was preventable and that by heeding warning signs and taking early action, individuals and governments can save lives. This writer has visited this shocking reminder of NAZI evil three times. The recent tremendous rise in antisemitism and hate crimes against Jews in America is a powerful justification for every U.S. military member, student, and citizen to get more education on the holocaust and a tour of this museum. Learn more at https://www.ushmm.org.
4. Help stop the tremendous increase in hate crimes against American Jews and Jewish places of worship and businesses. According to the Anti-Defamation League Hate and Harassment American Experience 2023 (Report), found at https://bit.ly/46UlmoD, antisemitism and hate crimes against American Jews have drastically increased in recent years. With the recent atrocities committed by Hamas against our staunch ally, the democratic country of Israel, and innocent Jews, it is important for Americans to continue to condemn terrorism, antisemitism, and hatred.
A great thing about our veterans and their families is they come from all religions, creeds, colors, backgrounds, races, continents, countries, sexual orientations, sizes, and ages. It has been my honor as a past enlisted Infantryman, Attack Helicopter Pilot, and Officer, to witness the comradery, devotion, and love that military members have for their country and each other.
My 24 years of military service have convinced me that the vast majority of U.S. military veterans never looked at a battle buddy as a Christian, Jew, Muslim, Hindu, atheist, agnostic, African American, Asian American, American Indian, Caucasian, or anything else but a soldier and the person who would keep them alive when the sh** hit the fan. The few military members I observed who did exhibit prejudice and antisemitism were quickly found out, disciplined, or booted out of the military.
Americans have much to admire of those few Americans who occupy a foxhole together in the rain, snow, heat, insects, and other dangers for days on end. Our military members are bonded with absolute trust in each other and melded with a fierce determination to cover each other’s backs. This kind of honor and loyalty is carried from military life to civilian life by most veterans.
Another great thing about our veterans is that they all have red blood, swore an oath to defend our great nation, promised to protect and never leave behind a fellow soldier, and pledged to follow the orders of their leaders and the laws of our land — including our laws regarding equal opportunity and freedoms of religion and speech.
The bottom line
As a friend of many Jews, a member of the Methodist Church, a past police officer, a past adviser to the Israeli and Iranian Armies, and a soldier who came up through the ranks, I believe I have a unique perspective on antisemitism.
I have watched with great pain my Jewish friends suffer from extreme fear, worrying about what might happen to them if others found out they are Jews. Many Jews are afraid to hang a Mezuzah (doorpost with a parchment scroll with Biblical passages) or Jewish Star on their home, in fear someone would try to hurt them and their family.
I have watched with great frustration some of my non-Jewish friends, who lack education in world religions, do not know that Jesus was a Jewish Teacher (Rabbi). I have watched others distrust Jews because they are stereotyped as so thrifty and successful in school and business. Most disturbing I have listened in horror to hear some say the Jews brought the holocaust on themselves.
The anxiety exhibited by my Jewish friends, people’s lack of knowledge that Jesus was a Jew, the tremendous increase in antisemitism in the U.S., and the announcement of my friends that the Jews brought the Nazi Holocaust onto themselves are the tell-tale signs of the societal decay that the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum teaches about.
With the recent atrocities committed by Hamas, with the raging war going on now between Israel and Hamas, and with the huge increase in antisemitism, it is important for veterans to set the example and condemn terrorism, antisemitism, and hatred, and to support our fellow veterans and military members of the Jewish faith – and Israel.
Larry Dandridge is a Vietnam War wounded warrior, disabled veteran, ex-Enlisted Infantryman, ex-Warrant Officer Pilot, and retired Lt. Colonel. He is a past Veterans Service Officer, a Patient Adviser at the RHJ VA Hospital, the Fisher House Charleston Good Will Ambassador, and the VP for Veteran Affairs for the local Army Association Chapter. Larry is the author of the award-winning book Blades of Thunder and a contributing free-lance writer with the Island News. Contact him at LDandridge@earthlink.net or 843-276-7164.
