Women Warriors

A new exhibit in Washington, D.C., examines
Jewish women's roles in the military.

SARAH GORDON
Special to the Jewish News

7

/-

he history of women in the
U.S. military dates back to
the Civil War, when Roman
Chaplain Morris Adler — rabbi of
Catholic nuns boarded hos-
Congregation Shaarey Zedek — reads
pital ships to assist the wounded.
a ketuba at a wedding in the Western
Women also were known to have
Pacific as Staff Sergeant Harry Becker
fought in combat situations disguised
marries Corporal Evelyn M. Cowan,
as men. During the Spanish-American
March 1945.
War, the first trained nurses joined the
from their senior officers. The American
U.S. Navy in an unofficial capacity.
In 1942, Congress approved the
Jewish Yearbook of 1900 listed the
names and service affiliations of Jewish
creation of the Women's Army
enlistees in the Spanish-American War.
Auxiliary Corps (WAAC), which one
In 1896, 78 Jewish veterans of the
year later became the Women's Army
Union army formed what is known
Corps (WAC) and was officially estab-
today as the Jewish War Veterans.
lished as parr of the Army. But it took
until the fall of 1978, when President
As the pres-
on Tinian during World War
Jimmy Carter signed a congressional
ence of Jews in
Above: Army nurse Gertrude Shapiro at the U.S. Air Base rst
medical landing group of
act disestablishing the Women's Army
the armed forces
II. Shapiro was sent to Hiroshima, Japan, as part of the e effects of the atomic bomb.
Corps, that women were fully integrated Americans assigned to treat Japanese patients suffering t
increased,
While depicting women outfitted in
into the American armed forces.
accommoda-
being planned and eventually built at
"Women in the Military: A Jewish
tions were asked
the colors of army green and khaki,
nearby Arlington National Cemetery.
Perspective," currently on view at the
with accents of Red Cross red, the
for and granted
Cohen began gathering stories,
National Museum of American Jewish
photographs and wall text of "Women
pertaining to
photographs and memorabilia from
Military History in Washington,
in the Military: A Jewish Perspective"
Jewish holidays
Jewish female war veterans and delved
D.C., highlights the vital role played
are not charged with strong visual
and religious
into records from the Department of
by Jewish women in the military. The
impact (most are snapshots and class
needs. Just
the Army and the National Archives.
idea for the exhibition came about in
portraits preserved over the years). But
before World
Says Cohen: "This is the culmina-
1991 when curator Sandor Cohen
the personal stories of dedication and
War I, a survey
tion of what we considered the cream
From George held a brainstorming session with
bravery are stirring accounts of the
indicated that
of the crop — the most exciting,
Washington's early then-curator Leslie M. Freudenheim,
experiences, progress and dedication of
while Jews were
interesting stories."
support or a just as the Women's Memorial was
Jewish women in the military.
2 percent of the
Although the stories of women in
religiously to erant
Clarice Fortang, of Brooklyn, N.Y.,
population, they
the
military began over a century ago,
military to a seder Sarah Gordon is a University
was stationed at an office in St.
comprised 6
the bulk of the resulting exhibition
held in the desert
of Michigan graduate and freelance
percent of the
WOMEN WARRIORES on page 82
dates from World War II.
sands of Kuwait.
writer in Washington, D.C.
military force.
While Rabbi,
Isaac Landman provided civilian rab-
beginning 12 p.m. Saturday, May
nel during the Korean, Vietnam and
binic coverage to 2,000 Jewish men
Celebrating its 10th year, the National
29, and running through Monday
Gulf
wars.
serving in the Mexico-Texas border
Memorial Day Concert 1999 salutes
evening, May 31. TNT will cover
The first Jewish woman chaplain to
veterans with a special program 8 p.m.
area in 1916, the National Jewish
the third annual National Moment
serve on active duty was student Rabbi
Sunday, May 30, on Detroit Public
Welfare Board did not succeed in
of Remembrance at 3 p.m. Monday,
Julie
Schwartz,
who
began
serving
in
Television, WTVS-Channel 56. The
gaining sanction for Jewish military
May 31. A Civil War re-enactor will
the
Navy
in
1985
with
her
husband,
chaplains until the first group of 25
special features Gen. Colin Powell,
play "Taps" on the Gettysburg bat-
Steven
Ballaban,
also
a
rabbinical
stu-
Charles Durning, Rita Moreno and
rabbis was appointed to active duty in
tlefield, with the notes being echoed
dent
at
Hebrew
Union
College's
Jewish
1917. The JWB, the "official agency
others performing with the National
by a Vietnam veteran at a replica of
Institute
of
Religion.
The
Orthodox
Symphony Orchestra under the direc-
for Jewish welfare work in the military
the Vietnam Veterans Memorial,
contingent
on
the
JWB,
however,
tion of pops conductor Erich Kunzel.
camps of the United States," estimated
"The Wall That Heals," currently on
would
not
endorse
a
female
rabbi
as
a
Cable channel TNT presents a
that more than 5,000 Jews were in the
display in Gettysburg. Check your
military chaplain. This led to the
Memorial Day weekend tribute with
military by 1919.
local cable listings.
establishment of the new JWB Jewish
a presentation of classic war movies
Starting with World War II, the
Chaplains Council, which allows each
chaplaincy program has experienced
stream ofJudaism to endorse its own
willM,NOMMIVISiemailfMat
growth. SlOmovitz discusses the work of
diASCAMISOMMOSIMMSOSHodineliiMat
chaplains
for
the
military.
71
chaplains serving Jewish military person-

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5/28
1999

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