jews in the d

Dispatches from the

Great War

100-year-old diary from Jewish GI sheds
light on what it was like to be at the front.

ALAN MUSKOVITZ CONTRIBUTING WRITER

I

never cease to be amazed by
the incredible stories I’m fortu-
nate to learn about and share in
the Jewish News. This is one right
up there in the incredible column
because it’s a story that is 100 years
old — and I have a handwritten jour-
nal to back me up, courtesy of Allen
Bennett of Detroit.
The journal, measuring only 2.5
inches by 4 inches, is barely held
together by its weathered leather
cover. The author of the entries is
Bennett’s great-uncle Samuel Curtis,
who documents in detail his experi-
ences serving on the front during the
Great War — World War I.
Allen, 78, reached out to the Jewish
News to share with the community
this jewel of an artifact he had.
“I realized 2018 was the 100th
anniversary of the Armistice, the end
of WWI,” Allen said, “and I thought
it would be interesting to share my
great-uncle’s experience as a Jew
and lifelong citizen of Detroit.” The
Curtis family’s history in the city
dates back to 1840.
That 100th anniversary will be
marked on the exact day of the
Armistice, this Nov. 11, former-
ly known as Armistice Day and
renamed Veterans Day in 1954 to
honor all our vets.
The first startling fact I learned
about Samuel Curtis’ journey was that
he was one of five brothers who served
simultaneously during WWI: Samuel,
David, Albert, Alec and Charles, all
from Detroit, five sons of Bennett’s
great-grandmother Esther Curtis.

Highlights from Samuel Curtis’ Diary

SCAN THIS PAGE TO
SEE HIGHLIGHTS OF
THE AMERICAN JEWISH
EXPERIENCE IN WWI
EXHIBIT IN KANSAS CITY.

Like so many of our courageous
and humble veterans, Samuel did
not share stories about his wartime
experience. “I often had lunch in the
1960s and 1970s with Samuel when
he worked for Prudential Bache in
Downtown Detroit,” Allen said. “But
he never talked about war; he talked
more about current things.”
Samuel preceded his wife, Anna,
in death by six months at age 84,
and Allen only happened upon his
great-uncle’s journal after her pass-
ing in 1979 at age 83. “I found his
journal while cleaning out her apart-
ment,” said Allen, who remained
close with his great-aunt and cared
for her in his great-uncle’s absence.
“His journal was among his belong-
ings in a desk drawer.” So much his-
tory hidden in clear sight.
Samuel’s journal entries are the
makings of a screenplay — moments

continued on page 32

30

November 1 • 2018

jn

Aug. 11
Pulled out under heavy shelling for
rest behind lines. (In the Loire Valley,
France.) )
F

Nov. 3
Picked up message dropped by aero-
plane stating Austria surrendered.

Aug. 18
Slept in first bed since coming to France.

Nov. 10
Reported that Armistice will be signed
11 am Monday.

Aug. 29
Waiting for orders to proceed to front.

Nov. 11
Armistice signed. Hostilities cease.

Sept. 12
First shot 11:59. Continued all night.
Drove the Germans back … no casual-
ties.

Nov. 19
Sent $50 money order home. Took bath.
Had clothes sterilized.

Sept. 30
Germans shelling roads ahead.

Oct. 11
Saw German prisoners. Got ring from
one.

Oct. 19
Germans shelling all night. One killed.

Oct. 20
Americans capture 1,250 prisoners.

Oct. 22
Sky full of planes. Germans again come
over in bombing machines.

Nov. 21
Went downtown. Sergeant Jewell got lit
up. Had to carry him up hill.

Nov. 28
Thanksgiving Day. Roast ham, apple-
sauce, celery, cocoa, dressing, mashed
potatoes, donuts and pumpkin pie for
dinner.

Dec. 6
People do most anything for a loaf of
bread and soap.

Dec. 26
Rumors that we’re going home by
January.