Left row: Jack Richards, Arthur Becker, Arnold Berman, Charlie Weiner, John Nemon, Lou Kuretzky; Middle row: Harold Greenbert, Marty Marx, Marvin Milinsky, Larry Paul,
Larry Silverman, Carl Hoff, David Rosenthal; Right row: Sid Greenberg, Paul Fox, Bernie Friedman, Nathan Ludman, Sylvia Granader, Irving Stein, Arthur Braverman.

Precious Memories

Jewish Senior Life is home to many veterans who share their stories of service.

Lynne Golodner

I Special to the Jewish News

M

any Jewish Senior Life (JSL)
residents are veterans of the U.S.
Armed Forces. While a major-
ity served during World War II, there are
also veterans of the Cold War, Korea and
Vietnam. Here are some of their best recol-
lections and lessons from their time serving
our country.
Being a Jewish soldier in World War II
was a mixed bag, say veterans who live in
Jewish Senior Life residences. Many had
no idea what was really going on in Europe
under the Nazis.
But some did.
John Nemon, an emigre from Vienna,
gladly accepted the draft and his assignment
to go overseas. "The war against Germany

14 November 6 • 2014

JN

was my fight because Hitler
especially the World War II
killed so many Jews:' says
soldiers because they saved
Nemon, whose father per-
the world as far as I'm con-
ished in the death camps.
cerned:'
Sylvia Granader flew as
Order is part of
part of the Women Airforce
Michigan's Jewish War
Service Pilots; while 25,000
Veterans, which provides
women applied to join the
honor guards at military
WASPs, only 1,074 passed
funerals and celebrations
training and actually flew
like JSIs Walk of Ages and
during World War II. "I
assists veterans statewide.
always wanted to fly:' says
"You went where they
Granader, who was 18 when
sent you:' says Harry Krim,
Marty Marx holds a pic-
she joined.
who served as a mechanic
ture of himself when he
in the Air Force during
"Veterans should be
was in the Army in WWII.
respected:' says Jerry Order,
World War II. "The food was
who served in the 1960s
great — Sunday dinners of
in Korea and during the
fried chicken. There wasn't
Vietnam War, as a battery clerk "Without
a single Jewish person [in my unit]. The
their service, we wouldn't be here today —
United States is the foremost leader of the

world. Whenever there's a war, we have to be
the ones to make the difference."
Joseph Antin agrees. A Navy electronics
technician, Antin served on a small ship in
the South Pacific.
"I learned a lot in the Navy," he says. "I did
my duty as a citizen. I expect my country to
protect me and, in return, I have an obliga-
tion to protect my country:'
Sidney Leitson was decorated by the
Army with five bronze stars for bravery
under enemy fire. Stationed in Europe dur-
ing World War II, he refused to abandon
a U.S. radio on enemy territory and ran
among a rainstorm of enemy bullets with
the radio tucked safely in his arms. "I want-
ed to destroy the Germans because the news
was out what they were doing to the Jewish
people," says Leitson, who was never issued
a gun during his service.