GIs in Vietnam Id entify With Jewishness and Israel By MM. ALBERT HORNBLASS Prayer books and talesim were provided by the Jewish Welfare Board. Suddenly I found myself the Jewish lay leader to the "Pleiku Congregation." Itmatters little whether any attending the University of Cincinnati or all of these young men were Medical College, he served in addition observant in their civilian lives to his military duties as a lay spiritual leader to Jewish servicemen in his at home. What matters is that area where no Jewish chaplain was in this strange place, Isolated atailable. It was in that role that he made certain discoveries about Jewish from the world, in the middle Gls in Vietnam , which he relates la the of a war, they had a fierce desire following personal account written for the Jewish Telegraphic Agency. For to affirm their identities as his service as an ophthalmic surgeon Jews. in Vietnam, Maj. Hornblass was awarded the Bronze Star and was dec- We observed the major Jewish orated by the Vietnamese government with its Medal of Honor, First Class. holidays. On Rosh Hashana, Yom He is still serving in the U.S. Army and is stationed at Fort Meade, Mary- Kippur and Passover, Jewish GIs land The viewpoint expressed in this from all over the Two Corps area article is the author's personal view and in no way reflects the official attended services, many of them policy and thinking of the Department with weapons slung over their of Defense and the United States shoulders. They were of all ranks, Army./ I was one of many scores of from lowly privates to the colonel thousands of Jewish men fulfilling commanding the Air Force base whose example was responsible in their obligation to serve our coun- great measure for the increased at- try and like many others now- tendance.. Rank was dispensed with • adays, I entered the army to be on these occasions. We were in sent almost directly to a combat fact like a synagogue brotherhood zone, South Vietnam. with everyone on a first name Jewish servicemen, like most bisis. - other American soldiers, marines On Rosh Hashana, 1969, and airmen in the war zone are ed 90, men from my base I escort- by air apolitical when it comes to South- to Nhadrang where the Jewish east Asia. Their sole, over-riding chaplain arranged services. What - desire is to go home in one piece a thrill it was for me to see some and they ardently support _any- 250 of our kinsmen worshiping thing that will bring that day together in this remote part of the closer. I knew when entering the army world with the rumble of artillery that there would be certain per- in the background. A kosher meal was provided sonal problems I would have to face as an observant Jew, not the by the JWB. Then I made an least of them keeping kashrut and appeal for the UJA. Despite the observing the Sabbath. These fact that these were soldiers in proved to be no problem during a war zone, they demonstrated my basic training at Fort Sam strong feelings of kinship for Houston, Texas. The army was their brethren in Israel and in most considerate. But circum- the U.S.A. We maintained the stances in Vietnam are far dif- UJA campaign throughout the ferent. One of my first problems year and collected several thou- on arriving was to find fellow sand dollars from these GIs, I Jews with whom to worship and had a sign posted at our base with whom I could enjoy the that read, "Shalom—please sive to the UJA." comradeship of my own kind. Perhaps the most heartening There were no statistics on the thing I found among our Jewish number of Jews serving in Viet- servicemen was their strong nam. When I arrived, in the identification with During spring of 1969, the total U.S. Yom Haatzmaut — IsraeL 22nd force numbered somewhat over birthday—we made Israel's an elaborate 400,000. It was estimated by party and invited in addition to all some sources that there were Jewish personnel, the chaplains" about 2,000 Jews among them, and commanding officers of other though I have reason to believe faiths. The food service officer was that figure is too low. In the Jewish and with his help we had a vast Two Corps area of the Cen-• magnificent repast followed by He, teal Highlands where I was as- brew and Israeli music, readings signed, there Were about 500 from the Book of Psalms and a -re- Jewish army and air force men. view of Israel's history. The event - The commanding officer of the was announced by the Armed Air Force base, a career officer Forces Radio, and needless to say with the rank of full colonel, we had an excellent 'turnout. turned out to be Jewish, and Although I did my best to carry became a very much committed out the responsibilities of a chap- Jew.' lain, the fact that only three Jew- When I landed in that moun- ish chaplains are available in all tainous region with its triple Vietnam gives our Jewish young canopy of jungle, my first inten- men there a feeling that somehow tion was to seek out the Jewish they are neglected. This must not chaplain. Imagine my dismay happen when they return home. when I learned there was none available in the Pleiku area; there are in fact only three Jewish chaplains in all of Vietnam and no native Jewish community to speak of, even in Saigon. The Protestant chaplain told me there were Jewish personnel in the area and I -spent all of my free time those first days going from post to post to seek them out. By my first Friday night I had found three Jewish men to attend services. It was far from a minyan but we worshipped nevertheless in the empty post chapel at the Air Force Base which is used by all -faiths. In a short time our little jungle congrega- tion had expanded to 15 men. (Copyright Mg, 5TA, Int.) (Editor's note: Maj. Albert Hornblas s 31, a surgeon in the U.S. Army Medical Corps., just returned from Vietnam where he was a senior medical officer at the 71st Evacuation Hospital at Pleiku in the Central Highlands. A graduate of Yeshiva Unversity i before THE DETROIT JEWISH HEWS I believe the young Jewish GI in Vietnam is ready to make the most important personal commit- ment of his life. He has identified himself strongly with Judaism and with Israel, in large degree be- cause of his experience in Vietnam. When he returns home—and God willing, may all of them tome home — he will be undergoing another crucial experience — re- adjusting to civilian life in a con- fused, sometimes warring society. As at Pleiku, and a hundred other spots in Vietnam, he will seek something strong, affirmative and lasting to cling to. It can be Judaism to which he makes his life-long commitment. But that depends on how he is received and treated by the Jewish community. Frkieff, Seplisise 2S, 1172-7 Groups Mark Liberation LOS ANGELES (JTA)—Sixteen Jewish organizations will mark the 25th anniversary of the liberation of Nazi concentration camps at a citywide observance to be held at the Westside Jewish Community Center here Oct. 18. CALL 51I5. Ml 4-1930 RM.' 6424834 1350 P4. WOODWARD, •114.4191031A14 LAST SIX DAYS TO SIGN UP FOR VACATION SPECTACULAR!! Never before such a glorious Caribbean air-sea adventure" Sidney Hill N.W. 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