The Medal of Honor was created during the American Civil War and is the highest military decoration presented by the United States to a member of its armed forces. Recipients must distinguish themselves at the risk of their own life above and beyond the call of duty in action against an enemy of the United States. The medal is presented to the recipient by the President of the United States.
Since it was instituted there have been 3,473 recipients; at least 17 American Jews have received the Medal of HonorDifferent sources give different numbers and names of recipients; 29 different recipients are identified as Jewish Americans in the differing references not counting the various aliases used by many of them. for their actions starting in the American Civil War through the Vietnam War. The first recipient of the medal was Benjamin B. Levy of the 1st New York Volunteer infantry for his service at the Battle of Glendale on June 30, 1862. The citation for his medal read: This soldier, a drummer boy, took the gun of a sick comrade, went into the fight, and when the color bearers were shot down, carried the colors and saved them from capture. He was only seventeen years old when he earned his medal. David Orbansky also received it for his actions in 1863 during the American Civil War. Samuel Gross was the only Jewish American Marine to receive the medal for his actions in Fort Riviere, Haiti. During World War II, dentist Benjamin L. Salomon is credited with killing 98 Japanese soldiers to cover for the retreat of wounded American soldiers. After repeated recommendations, he was posthumously granted the medal in 2002, 58 years after he was killed in action. The last to receive it was Tibor Rubin in 2005, who was believed to have been overlooked due to discrimination. His medal was for his actions in the Korean War in 1950, 55 years before he received the medal.
American Jews and the Medal of Honor Depending on religious definitions and varying population data, the United States currently has the second largest Jewish community in the world (after Israel). The American Jewish population was estimated to be approximately 5,128,000 (1.7%) For persons 18 years or older, based on the Religious Landscape Survey, a survey conducted in the summer of 2007. of the total population in 2008 (304,060,000). However, it may be as high as 6,444,000 (2.2%). Christian Church Adherents, 2000, and Jewish Population, 2007—States. The Jewish population includes Jews who define themselves as Jewish by religion as well as those who define themselves as Jewish in cultural terms. Data on Jewish population are based primarily on a compilation of individual estimates made by local Jewish federations (as reported in the American Jewish Yearbook). As a contrast, Israel's Central Bureau of Statistics estimated the Israeli Jewish population was 5,435,800 in 2007.
The medal is bestowed "for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of life, above and beyond the call of duty, in actual combat against an armed enemy force" and the recipient must have distinguished themselves at the risk of their own life above and beyond the call of duty in action against an enemy of the United States. Due to the nature of this medal, it is commonly presented posthumously.
Until 1914 the Medal of Honor and the Purple Heart were the only medals that could be received so prior to 1916 the criteria for the Medal of Honor were much less restrictive than it is today. In 1916 however a board was established to ensure that future awards would be made only for the highest purposes, and some awards were rescinded.
Since the institution of the Medal of Honor, at least 17 have been presented to American Jews, of which four were received posthumously.
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a major conflict fought between the federal government of the United States and eleven of its member States which sought to secede and to create their own government, the Confederate States of America. It started on April 12, 1861, shortly after Abraham Lincoln was elected President of the United States, and ended four years later on April 9, 1865. During the war over 10,000 military engagements took place and more than 3 million people fought on both sides with 40% of the battles being fought in the states of Virginia and Tennessee.Borritt, 1995, p. 247
Since its creation, 1522 servicemen have received the Medal of Honor for actions during the American Civil War and depending on sources, at least four were Jewish.
Note: Notes in quotations are derived or are copied from the official Medal of Honor citation Image Name Service Rank Place of action Date of actionNotesReferencesArmyBattle of the Wilderness and Battle of the Crater, Virginia"During Battle of the Wilderness rallied and formed, under heavy fire, disorganized and fleeing troops of different regiments. At Petersburg, Virginia, bravely and coolly carried orders to the advanced line under severe fire."Brody, 2004, pp. 68–71Scharfstein, 1997, p. 320ArmyBattle of the Wilderness, Virginia"While color bearer, rallied the retreating troops and induced them to check the enemy's advance"ArmyBattle of Glendale, VirginiaDrummer boy, took the gun of a sick comrade and went into the fight, when the color bearers were shot down he carried the colors and saved them from capture.ArmyShiloh, Tennessee, Vicksburg, Mississippi"Gallantry in actions"
Indian Wars
Indian Wars is the name generally used in the United States to describe a series of conflicts between the colonial or federal government and the native people of North America. The wars, which ranged from the 17th-century to the early 1900s, generally resulted in the opening of Native American lands to further colonization, the conquest of American Indians and their assimilation, or forced relocation to Indian reservations.Thornton, 1990
From the time the Medal of Honor was created during the American Civil War, through the end of the Indian Wars there were 426 recipients who received it for actions in one of the Indian Wars, including one American Jew, Simon Suhler, who received it under the name Charles Gardner.
Note: Notes in quotations are derived or are copied from the official Medal of Honor citation Image Name Service Rank Place of action Date of actionNotesReferencesArmyArizonaEnlisted under the name Charles Gardner; "Bravery in scouts and actions against Indians"
Haiti In 1915 Haiti saw several bloody changes in Government leadership and the result was an unstable and dangerous environment for American citizens, business and interests. After a citizen led revolt overthrew and killed the brutal new dictator General Vilbrun Guillaume Sam within 6 months of seizing power President Woodrow Wilson ordered the United States Marines to restore order and protect American property and lives. When the Marines arrived they began engaging the rebel Cacos and in a battle that ended at Fort Riviere, Haiti and resulting in hand-to-hand combat, the Cacos were eliminated. After the battle six Marines received the Medal of Honor for their actions including Dan Daly, Smedley Butler and the only Jewish Marine to ever receive the Medal, Samuel Marguiles, who received it under the name Samuel Gross.Brody, 2004, p. 75
Note: Notes in quotations are derived or are copied from the official Medal of Honor citation Image Name Service Rank Place of action Date of action NotesReferencesMarine CorpsFort Riviere, HaitiAlso known as Samuel Marguiles; "was the second man to pass through the breach [in the fort's walls] in the face of constant fire from the Cacos and, thereafter, for a 10-minute period, engaged the enemy in desperate hand-to-hand combat".
World War I
When World War I broke out, the United States initially maintained a policy of isolationism, avoiding conflict while trying to negotiate peace between the warring nations. However, when a German U-boat sank the British liner Lusitania in 1915, with 128 Americans aboard, U.S. President Woodrow Wilson vowed, "America isn't too proud to fight" and demanded an end to attacks on passenger ships. Germany complied and Wilson unsuccessfully tried to mediate a settlement. He repeatedly warned that the U.S. would not tolerate unrestricted submarine warfare, in violation of international law.Brands, 1997, p. 756 In 1917, three years after the first shots of the war were fired, the United States entered the war and by the end of the conflict more than 4.7 million American soldiers, sailors and Marines would fight in the war.
More than 250,000 Jewish Americans served in the armed forces during the war with more than 3,000 killed in action and another 12,000 gassed or wounded.
One hundred twenty four people would eventually receive the Medal for their actions during the war, four of them Jewish. One of them, William Sawelson, received it posthumously, when he was killed by a machine gun attempting to assist another injured soldier.
Note: Notes in quotations are derived or are copied from the official Medal of Honor citation Image Name Service Rank Place of action Date of actionNotesReferencesArmyBois-de-Forges, France"Gumpertz left the platoon of which he was in command and started, with two other soldiers, through a heavy barrage toward the machine gun nest. His two companions soon became casualties from bursting shells, but 1st Sgt. Gumpertz continued on alone in the face of direct fire from the machine gun, jumped into the nest and silenced the gun, capturing nine of the crew."Brody, 2004, pp. 138–9ArmyForest of Argonne, France"He took out a patrol for the purpose of attacking an enemy machine gun which had checked the advance of his company. Before reaching the gun he became separated from his patrol and a machine gun bullet shattered his right arm. Without hesitation he advanced on the gun alone, throwing grenades with his left hand and charging with an empty pistol, taking one prisoner and scattering the crew, bringing the gun and prisoner back to the first-aid station."Brody, 2004, pp. 132–3*ArmyGrand-Pre, France"Hearing a wounded man in a shell hole some distance away calling for water, Sgt. Sawelson, upon his own initiative, left shelter and crawled through heavy machine gun fire to where the man lay, giving him what water he had in his canteen. He then went back to his own shell hole, obtained more water, and was returning to the wounded man when he was killed by a machine gun bullet."ArmyVesle River, France"Sergeant Shemin distinguished himself by acts of gallantry and intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty while serving as a Rifleman with G Company, 2d Battalion, 47th Infantry Regiment, 4th Division, American Expeditionary Forces, in connection with combat operations against an armed enemy on the Vesle River, near Bazoches, France from August 7 to August 9, 1918. Sergeant Shemin left cover and crossed open space, repeatedly exposing himself to heavy machine-gun and rifle fire, to rescue the wounded. After officers and senior noncommissioned officers had become casualties, Sergeant Shemin took command of the platoon and displayed great initiative under fire until wounded on August 9. Sergeant Shemin's extraordinary heroism and selflessness, above and beyond the call of duty, are in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and the United States Army."
World War II
During World War II 16.1 million American service members served and more than 650,000 of them were Jewish American men and women. More than 50,000 American Jews received medals during the war including four Medals of Honor.Brody, 2004, pp. 202–3