10 | JUNE 27 • 2024 
J
N

T

he rank and file of the Jewish 
War Veterans Department 
of Michigan (JWV) were 
well represented at activities in the 
month of May, both 
within and outside the 
Jewish community. 
Their participation and 
philanthropic support 
at six different events 
shined a bright light on 
the JWV as its members 
remain steadfast to their 

commitment to be “a Jewish voice for 
veterans, a veterans’ voice for Jews.”

HONORING THE JROTC
On Thursday, May 9, Dr. Ed Adler, 
the senior vice commander of the 
Joseph L. Bale Post 474, presented the 
JWV’s Americanism Medal to Genesee 
Career Institute Junior Reserve Officer 
Training Corps (JROTC) cadet Nathan 
Bishop at the institute’s award ceremony 
in Flint. 
JWV “shares the core values of 

JROTC programs that aspire to foster 
in America’s youth the appreciation 
for ethical values and principles that 
underlie good citizenship.”
Dr. Adler is no stranger to the 
ROTC program, having completed his 
training while in college, later serving 
as a physician in the Army, caring for 
members of the 82nd Airborne Division 
during the Vietnam era.
Adler, who grew up in Flint, 
addressed the gathering, sharing the 
courageous and inspiring story of his 
friend and 1965 Flint Beecher High 
School classmate Duane Hackney. 
Hackney wasn’t Jewish, but living up 
to the previously stated JWV motto, 
Adler was being his “Jewish voice for 
veterans.” 
“Duane was the most honored airman 
in the history of the United States 
Air Force,” Adler told the cadets. “He 
joined the Air Force two weeks after 
graduating high school, served over 
200 combat missions in Vietnam. His 
helicopter was shot down five times 
and he survived multiple injuries and 
gunshots, eventually receiving over 70 
commendations.”

On the March in May.
Jewish War 

Our 

Veterans 

Alan 
Muskovitz
Contributing 
Writer

OUR COMMUNITY

Members of the JWV, Ladies 
Auxiliary and Color Guard 
lead the processional for the 
Holocaust Remembrance 
Day (Yom HaShoah) 
Commemoration at The 
Zekelman Holocaust Center. 

JERRY ZOLYNSKY

