Pvt. Edward Weller
Wounded in Italy
A Detroiter in India
Pray With Flashlights
At Airbase Synagogue
Sgt. Keller Says Jewish Servicemen Are Proud of Their
Improvised Temple Where They Take Turns in
Conducting Services Every Friday
Sgt. Robert Keller, a former Detroit pharmacist and now
Base Pharmacist and Chiropodist of the field at an U. S.
Army airbase somewhere in India, recently received a May
5 copy of The Jewish News from his parents and thought it
so interesting that he took time out to write to the editor.
Enclosed with his interesting letter Sgt. Keller sent two
pictures, one of himself and the
other showing a group of Jewish
servicemen in an improVised
Synagogue attending a Friday
evening service, using flashlights
on their prayerbooks. This photo-
graph is reproduced on the first
page of this issue of The Jewish
News.
Inspired by Article
His letter, inspired by an ar-
tir!le' on India in The Jewish
News of May 5, follows:
"Just received a May 5, 1944,
edition of The
Jewish News
which my folks,.
send me weekly
and decided to
write in and see ,:-'-
what happens.
Enclosed you
will find a photo
-showing you the
average attend-
ance of a Friday
night's service, • Sgt. Keller
taken here at an airbase in India.
"We may be. 14,000 miles from
home but we are proud of our
little Synagogue and our services
sound as good as any that take
place anywhere in the States. It
is composed of a "Basha," about
50 seats made of iron, a platform
and a bottle of wine for 'Kid-
Friday, Augus+ 4, 1944
THE JEWISH NEWS
Page Twelve
dush'. Many a happy hour is
spent there and there isn't one
Jewish GI here who doesn't at-
tend each and every Friday.
No Jewish Chaplain
-"Although we have no Jewish
Chaplain we do very well and
`yours truly' takes over for a
while until someone else volun-
teers. Many of our men were for-
merly very highly situated in
their individual profession but
here it's just plain `Joesser, or
`Itsik', or whatever his Jewish
name may be.
."At the present time we are
trying to make preparations to
get into Calcutta for the holi-
days. We understand that one of
the most beautiful Synagogues in
the world is located there and we
don't want td miss the opportu-
nity of seeing it. There is so
much more that I could write
but would rather wait until I can
hear from you and what you
think of my 'Jewish Life in
India.' "
Before entering the service.
Sgt Keller managed the Cun.-
ingham Drug Store at Dumbar-
ton and Grand River. At present
his wife and child, formerly of
New York, are visiting his par-
ents, Mr. and Mrs: William Kel-
ler, 4026 Humphrey.
At'ukah-Hillel Leader Injured
It. David Crohn Wounded,
Escapes 'Death in France
Pvt. Edward Weller, 20, son of
Mr. and Mrs. Samuel L. Weller
of 16841 Wildemere Ave., was
Lt. David Crohn, son of Mr.
wounded in Italy on July 7, his and Mrs. Lawrence H. Crohn of
parents were in- Wildemere Ave., is in a hospital
formed last in England recovering from
week. .
Entering serv-
ice in July, 1943,
Pvt. Weller went
overseas in Feb
ruary. He is a
graduate of
Central High
School, w h.e r e
he was a mem-
Pvt. Weller ber of the foot-
ball and basketball squads. He
also studied at St. Johns Military
Academy. He is a graduate of the
religious school of /Temple Beth
El, where he was confirmed, ana
was Bar Mitzvah at Congregation
Beth Abraham.
His brother-in-law, Lt. Frank
Weiss, has been in service two
years. Mrs. Weiss (Sally Weller)
and 6-month-old daughter last
week joined their husband and
father at his station- in Denver
LT. DAVID CROHN
where he serves with the air
corps.
wounds he received in action in
Normandy, after escaping death
miraculously when attacked by a
Nazi sniper.
The report that reached here
last week revealed that on July
7, while returning to his contin-
Air Corps
gent from an outpost, he was
shot at by a German, soldier. His
helmet was punctured, but he
Ensign Joseph Newman, son of was not injured. But as he hit
Mr. and Mrs. Charles Newman the ground and crawled to cover,
of Montereyi the Nazi's second shot hit him
Ave., was grad--' through his left forearm.
uated as a Navy
Loses Little. Blood
Air Corps pilot
He reached help quickly and
from Corpus
C h r isti School,
Tex., on July 22.
Ensign N e w-
man, who will Inspector-General
be 21 on Oct. 30,
Lt. Denenfeld
w a s graduated
from Central Detroiter Given High Post
to
UJA
Ensign NewmanHigh School in
Formerly Under Command
June, 1941. At the time of his
of a Lieut. Colonel
Ever since D-Day the men of
enlistinent he was enrolled as a
the Eighth Fighter Command of
sophomoire at the 'Lawrence In-
Capt. Frederick S. Babbin re-
the U. S. Air Force in England Detroiter Has 300 Hours stitirte of Technology. He has -
cently was advanced to inspec-
have been hammering the Nazi
been
in
active
service
for
nearly
of Operational Flights
tor-general in his division, a po-
armies in France from the air,
17 months.
•
clearing the way for the Allied
Over India-China
For the next two months he sition Ordinarily
ground forces.
expects to be stationed irr Florida. filled by a lieu-
tenant - colonel.
However, the Jewish min irz
Lt. Philip S. Denenfeld, son of
He is the son of
the Eighth Fighter. Command are Mr: and Mrs: Samuel Greenber-
Mr. a n d Mrs.
not only concerned in delivering ger of 107 Tyler Ave., Highland
Now
Myer B. Babbin
the conquered peoples of Europe,
Park, has been
of 18603. Apoline
but also in speeding their re-
warded the Dis- With Army
•Ave. He was 27
habilitation and reconstruction. A
tinguished. Fly-
last January.
series of checks totaling $2,021.08,
ing Cr oss for
Cpl. Herman Rosenberg, 36, a
A graduate of
recently received from Chaplain
"extr a o r dinary
Morton C. Fierman, as their con-
achievement" in native of Czechoslovakia, who Wayne Univer-
came to.this m;:m ,.n.
;ityl Capt. Bab-
tribution to the United Jewish
service.
Din passed the Capt. Babbin
Appeal is evidence that they re-
T h e citation country seven
State Bar exams three weeks be-
gard as an urgent war job the
a'warding Lt. years ago, is now
fore he entered active service in
task of bringing about the rescue
Denenfeld t h e serving with the
April, 1941. He was employed in
and survival of large numbers of
coveted aw a r d, American forces:::
the tax department of General
their fellow-Jews whom Hitler
announced by in France. He
Motors Corp. while he attended
has marked for destructidn.
Lt. Denenfeld B r i g. - G e n. has been over-
school:
Thomas 0. Hardin, commander seas five months
He was formerly in the Quar-
of-''the India-China Wing, Air with the medi-
termaster Corps and supervised
Mothers Entertain
Transport Command, USAAF, cal corps.
-His
wife,
the sending of supplies for his
states that it was given for "par-
division during the invasion.
At Center Lounge
ticipating in more than 300 hours Shif r a Rosen-
of operational flight over the berg, and their Cpl. Rosenberg
For
dangerous and difficult Assam- infant son, David William, reside
After
China air routes, _where : enemy at 9274 Wildemere. •
Mrs. Rosenberg was notified of
A series of Bagel - and - Lox interception -- and attack were
her husband's promotion to Cor- 19 Months
breakfasts have been inaugur- probable and expected."
poral on Tuesday.
April
.
ated at the Jewish Welfare
Lt. Denenfeld. enlisted on
Lt. Abraham Cohen, just back
Board-USO Lounge at the Jew- 1, 1942, before graduating from
from 19 months of overseas duty,
ish Center, by mothers who Highland Park High School. He
is Spending a
sponsor the events for service- was graduated, hoWever, in June,
few .days in
men in honor of their sons who 1944, after earning the additional
Florida with his
credits
in
the
Army
Radio
School.
are in active service.
brother, Techni-
Hostesses on July 23 were:
Last February, he was given
cal Sergeant
Mrs. W. Burton of Broadstreet, the Presidential Group Citation.
Morton Cohen
in honor of son, Pfc. Herman M.
A brother, Sgt. Ernest •Denen-
A "Pop. and Candy Stand" con- who is statiOned:
Burton; Mrs. Alex Schafer of feld, is stationed at the Army
ducted in the northwest section there.
Hazelwood Ave., in honor of Air Base in Tonopah, Nev.
After the Flor-
by six boys has netted the sum
son, Capt. Max Schafer; Mrs.
ida visit, Lt.
of
$5
for
the
Red
Cross,
it
was
Bertha Weiss of Clements Ave.,
announced this week by James Cohen will be
in hOnor of son, Pvt. Theodore Engineer Kazmann
: Schermerhorn, public relatipns at home with
Weiss; Mrs. A. Moiseev of Cal-
Lt. Cohen
man for the Detroit. Red Cross his • paients, Mr.
vert Ave., in honor of sons, Pvt. Is Cited by
and Mrs. Joseph Cohen of 4280
Max Moiseev and S/Sgt. Nathan
WASHINGTON, D. C. (JPS)— headquarters.
The profits from the stand Pasadena Ave., for the remain-
Moiseev.
Raphael G. Kazmann of Brook-
run
by the boys on Wildemere, der of hiS leave.
Through the efforts of Ben lyn, N. Y., an hydraulic engineer
Bavly, past president of Aescu- employed by the Department of between Joy Road and Chicago
lapian Pharmacuetical Society, Interior, is one of 23 depart,- Biltd., was immediately turned Gen. MacArthur Thanks
ice cream and ices were pro = ment employes to receive over to the Red Cross. They are Brooklynite for Flag
vided for several JWB parties. awards for suggestions to im- now planning other hot-weather
This week's donors are J. Land- prove "home front service." The ventures to raise funds for the
NEW YORK (3PS)—Mrs. Bet-
man, Eugene Schiff, M. Kras- awards were announced by great mercy movement.
Mr. Schermerhorn announces ty Rogowitz of Brooklyn has
nick.
Secretary of Interior Ickes.
that the boys who conducted the received a special message of
Fort Custer servicemen have
been enjoying picnics sponsored received food packages from stand are: Newton Bernstein, thanks from General Douglas
by Jewish National Workers' Al- Bnai Brith Pisgah Lodge. The 9350 Wildemere; Chan Dempster, MacArthur, Commander-in-Chief
liance, Korostishever Ladies' East Side Bnai Brith Lodge 9355 Wildemere; Richard Fried- of the Southwest Pacific front,
man, 92.90 Wildemere; Johnny, for a silk American flag which
Auxiliary and Jewish Fraternal served at the Downtown USO.
Kay and Penny Wise, 9258 she made and sent to the
(Additional Servicemen's
General.
Wildemere.
News on Pages 6 and 8)
Fort Brady servicemen have
Jewish Fliers Send
$2,021
the
Ensign J. Newman
Graduates as Navy
Pilot
Capt. Babbin Made
Gets
DFC for Flying
Dangerous Routes
Czech Refugee
Overseas
.
Men in Service
Visits Here
Overseas
Six Boys Conduct
Pop and Soda Stand;
Red Cross Gets $5
•
lost very little blood, and the
doctors assured him after taking
X-ray examinations that he
would be back in action in -four
weeks. He was sent to the mili-
tary hospital in England on July
8, the day after he was wounded.
A 1943 graduate of the Univer-
sity of Michigan, Lt. Crohn was
assigned to one of the first con-
tingents that was sent to France.
One of his first experiences, ac-
cording to reports received here,
was with a group of -45 German
prisoners who were marched into
the American camp with their
hands up. When the Nazis learn-
.ed that David was a Jew, one of
them spat, thus revealing the
poison that had seeped into the
minds of the Germans. The Nazi
was promptly disciplined.
Avukah Leader
Lt. Crohn, 22 years old, was
one of the outstanding student-
leaders at • the University of
Michigan. During his junior and
senior years he was the leader of
the Avukah student Zionist or-
ganization, serving as president
for a year. During his final year
at school, he was associate direc-
tor of the Hillel Foundation.
In the latter capacity, he was
one of the principal speakers at
a dinner in Detroit at which the
campaign was launched for the
purchase of the present U. of M.
Bnai Brith Hillel Home. His ad-
dress showed a . deep knowledge
of Jewish history: 'His convinc-
ing speech was in the main re-
sponsible for • enlisting lupport
for the Hillel Foundation,
Ickes
Victory Workers
Open Canteen
For Servicemen
Victory Workers, a club of 12
girls who recently conceived -the
idea of providing help for serv-
icemen, have opened a Service-
man's Canteen at 317 W. Fort St.
The club, sponsored by Mrs.
Rose Ingeroff, includes the Misses
Ray Bigman, Frances Kozak,
Betty Levine, Edith Smolnick,
Rose Balanoff, Molly Barbas,
Ruth Burg, Dina Berry, Thelma
Bank, Lucy Sucher, Gussie Katz
and Charlotte Kurtzman.
The canteen, which opens
every Saturday at 7 p. m., fea-
tures entertainment; games and'
music, and refreshments are
served. Food is donated by local
organizations.
Entertainment has been pro-
vided by Herby Worna and his
band, Roth and Berdun and
Monte Carlo Studios.
Hostesses and entertainers are
invited to. cooperate. For infor-
mation call Miss Rose Bigman,
TO. 7-7463, or Miss Betty Levine,
TO. 5-0019, after 6 p. m.
Jewish Military,
Civilians Cited
By Soviet Russia
MOSCOW (JPS)—The roster
of Jews who haVe distinguished
themselves in battle and through
their behind-the-lines services to
the war effort and the recon-
struction of liberated territories ;
grows by the day. Mentioned by
the press in the past .few days
are: .
Daniel Davidov, an engineer,
and Friedlina, a woman agrono-
mist, for their contributions to
the restoration of the sugar in-
dustry which the Nazis had de-
stroyed in the Ukraine. •
Dr. Paul Emden, of Rostov, a
neuro-surgeon, was awarded the
Order of . the Red Star for his
surgical services under fire.
Major General ° Volkenstein
and Lieutenant Genera4 Rodzin-
sky are cited for services on the
Lemberg (Lwow) and Baltic
fronts respectively.
• Major General. Vogel and Ma=
jor Saks are cited for their role
in . the battles that preceded the
Nazi evacuation of WolkOwysk.