Friday, November 30, 1945 DETROIT JEWISH CHRONICLE and The Legal Chronicle Page Twenty-Two "I Didn't Feel Right to Sit Safe Far Behind the Lines" (Tech. Sgt. Harold Katz, if you ask his friends and fam- ily about him, was just a "good boy." He wasn't out- standing in athletics or his studies at James Monroe High School, in the Bronx, but his teachers and the principal re- member him as a reliable though not extraordinary stu- dent. When he enlisted at eighteen in the medical corps he requested combat duty. He died saving a comrade. On his body the following letter to his mother was found.) Dear Mom: I realize that this is a war and that men will be killed win- ning it, and since I am included in these, I know there is a pos- sibility of my not coming back. If you receive this letter it will be because that possibility has come true. I am writing this letter now, while I have the chance, in the hope that it will ease the weight of the sad news, in that it will make you better understand my viewpoint of the matter, I am certainly not going out with the intention of getting killed, but I do hope to perform my duties, living up to the stand- ards of a man and a soldier. Mom, I have always loved you very dearly. There is no other person or thing on earth for which I could have more love. The army made me realize keen- er how kind, generous, and un- selfish you always were to me and Roily. I wish now that I had taken more opportunities than I did to show my apprecia- tion to such a swell mother. Mom. I want you very much to be more proud than sorry. I don't want you to think of it as losing a son for no good rea- son, but rather as sacrificing a son so that all of mankind could live in a peaceful and free world. Please use the insurance mon- ey to take life easy, happy, and comfortable. I hope you can do some things you hoped to do be- fore but couldn't get around to. I think it best for you to for- get about me as much as pos- sible, Mom, for tears do no one any good, and also it will be hard on young Roily to see his Mom sad. (Harold's Silver Star citation follows: "Technician Fifth Grade Harold Katz, who while serving with the Army of the United States, distinguished himself by gallantry in action on 30 March 1945. During an attack on the town of Attweilman, Germany, the Second Platoon of Company E was subjected to a heavy con- centration of enemy artillery and supporting fire which caus- ed many casualties and halted the platoon. Leaving the com- 'Take Life Easy' I hope you realize exactly parative safety of his position, Technician Katz, medical aid what I am trying to tell you, hoped to use in the future. Another reason why I was not satisfied in just being in the army, but wanted combat duty, is the fact that I am Jewish. I felt again, it wasn't right for me to be safe behind the lines, while others were risking their lives, with one of their goals the principle of no race preju- dice. I knew this meant fighting for me and my family because if Hitler won, my family—you, Roily and Pop—would certainly suffer more than the families of other soldiers who died in the fight. I felt that I musk risk my life, on that point, so that I could earn the right to live in peace and free from race pre- judice. I didn't think it right to stand by and let others fight for things which would benefit me. I asked for combat for the above reasons. The reason I joined the army was to fight for my coun- try, my people, and my ideals. Those are the feelings I had inside of me, Mom, and I could not push them aside. I felt if I did not face them, I was not a man of true good character. Sought Combat Mom, I want you to know that I asked for a combat as- signment. I did so for several reasons. One is that I had cer- tain ideals within my own mind for which I had often argued verbally. I didn't feel right to sit safe, far behind the lines, while men were risking their lives for principles, which I would fight for only with my lips. I felt that I also must be willing to risk my life in the fight for that freedom of speech and thought I was using and CHANUKAH GREETINGS Etsol Synthetic Products lasting inspiration to those who knew him and reflect the high- est credit upon himself and Armed Forces of the United States.") Joyous Chanukah To All • Midwest Chemical . Co. 1415 Ford Bldg. CAdillac 7450 Best Wishes for a Joyous Chanukah BOWLES LUNCH CO. 435 Woodward Ave. • BUY VICTORY BONDS t, • Draperies - Curtains - Bedspreads Linens - Towels - Blankets - Comforters • A. PUPKO TRINITY 2.7742 9030 TWELFTH Open Monday and Saturday Evenings—Closed Sunday 40 W. 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CHANUKAH GREETINGS Season's Greetings and Best Wishes man, exposed himself to the en- emy fire to reach the side of a wounded comrade. He adminis- tered first aid to him and placed him in a deep fox-hole for pro- tection against further injury. Although being fired at constant- ly he moved. to the side of an- other wounded soldier to whom he also administered first aid. Attempting to evacuate him, he was seriously wounded by the enemy fire. Despite his wounds and the fact that he was unab1.3 to move his legs, Technician Katz succeeded in pushing the wounded comrade into a shal- low hole which afforded him pro- tection from flat trajectory fire. His gallant actions and inspir- ing concern for the welfare of his fellow comrades remain a THE DOW CHEMICAL COMPANY Midland, Mich. BECAUSE WE CARE :—: BUY VICTORY BONDS :—: