jews d

in
the

Three WWII
veterans
honored for
their military
efforts —
and beyond.

Salute
To
Vets
D

uring a recent episode of Curb Your
Enthusiasm, Larry David forgoes
an opportunity to thank a young
veteran for his service after he hears others
offering the patriotic sentiment. In defend-
ing his behavior, the socially ungraceful
David says: “Three people thanked him;
why do I have to thank him?”
In honor of Veteran’s Day, allow me to
make up for Larry’s ineptitude by high-
lighting three of our community’s treasured
WWII Jewish War Veterans.

TEACHING, COACHING, SPORTS

TOP: Honored by Jewish War Veterans
Michigan: Bill Fagenson, 93, surrounded
by his son, Don Fagenson (Grammy
Award-winning record producer), niece
Linda Zyla, and daughter Nancy Potok.

Mort Harris is in the back row, second from the left. He
was a pilot in the 95th Bomb Group during WWII.

14

November 9 • 2017

jn

tion for his service. However, because of
those missions flown over France, recogni-
tion is coming his way.
On Nov. 14 at the Cranbrook Academy,
the Consulate General of France for the
Midwest, will award Mort the Knight of
the Legion of Honor, that nation’s highest
commendation. The honor is awarded to
U.S. veterans who risked their lives dur-
ing WWII to fight on French territory.
France continues to search its archives for
Americans deserving of this prestigious
decoration.

SALUTE TO 100

HEROISM OVER FRANCE

Morton “Mort” Harris, 97, of Bloomfield
Hills was a B-17 Squadron Commander
during WWII. He flew more than 30
combat missions with the 8th Air Force,
95th Bomber Group; all in the European
Theater of Operations.
A third of Mort’s missions involved air
strikes over France — missions that provid-
ed the support to stave off German assaults
and helped turn the tide of the war.
Mort is a successful businessman, phi-
lanthropist and, for the last 70-plus years, a
humble war vet who never sought recogni-

1943/95THBG.ORG/COURTESY MORTON HARRIS

Alan Muskovitz

Bill Fagenson, 93, is a war hero and a hall
of famer. While serving in the Philippines
with the 96th Infantry, 381st Regiment,
Bill volunteered to carry casualties under
enemy fire; an act of bravery that earned
him a Bronze Star.
After serving three years in the South
Pacific, he returned home where, with
the support of the GI Bill, he received a
Bachelor of Science degree, with a major in
physical education, from Wayne University
in 1948, and his master’s degree five years
later.
Bill’s love for teaching, coaching sports
and counseling students defined his career

as a beloved educator in the Detroit and
Oak Park school systems. He supervised
sports activities at the former Jewish
Community Center on Davison Avenue,
and he owned the Trailblazer Day Camp,
whose mission was helping boys develop
their athletic skills.
This September, he traveled from his
home in California to Detroit, where his dis-
tinguished career was recognized during his
induction into the Michigan Jewish Sports
Hall of Fame. Bill has been a proud member
of Michigan’s Bale Post of the Jewish War
Veterans since his return from the war.

Jewish War Veterans Michigan honor Dr. George Mogill
on his 100th birthday: Larry Berry, JWV Michigan
commander, Dr. George Mogill and Marty Meyers.

Instead of going into practice after gradu-
ating from Wayne State Medical School in
1942, family practitioner Dr. George Mogill,
100, of West Bloomfield enlisted in the
Army. He landed in Normandy just after
D-Day and served in France and England,
running the 8th Field Army Hospital, rising
to the rank of major.
Upon his return from the war in 1945,
George began practicing in Detroit. In a
2016 interview published on Wayne State’s
website, he said: “When I came home
from Europe, I was told to have different
office days to see white and black patients.
I refused to segregate.” He was seeing
patients up until his 92nd birthday.
George is the recipient of many awards
over his illustrious career, including
Lifetime Achievement Awards from Wayne
State, the Michigan Academy of Family
Physicians and the Jewish War Veterans
of Michigan, who also honored him on his
100th birthday.
On Veterans Day, please take a moment
to reflect and give thanks to all our men
and women in uniform, from our Greatest
Generation to those who serve to protect
our freedoms today. God bless America! •

