[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 78 (Thursday, June 2, 2011)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1022-E1023]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      TRIBUTE TO MR. SYLVAN SIEGAL

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. CHARLES A. GONZALEZ

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, June 2, 2011

  Mr. GONZALEZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Mr. Sylvan Siegal, a 
San Antonio native who bravely fought in the front lines of World War 
II. Last month, I had the honor of presenting the Bronze Star Medal to 
Mr. Siegal's brother--64 years after Sylvan Siegal should have received 
it for his combat service as an Army infantryman in World War II.
  During World War II, Sylvan Siegal served in Rifle Co. ``B'' of the 
406th Regiment of the 102nd Infantry ``Ozark'' Division which helped 
obliterate the Nazi army in central Germany.
  After Sylvan died this past September, his brother, Ben Siegal, found 
his brother's Army documents among his belongings. It showed. Mr. 
Siegal had earned the Combat Infantry Badge and was awarded the EAME 
Campaign Ribbon with 2 Bronze Stars, the Victory Ribbon, 2 Overseas 
Service Bars, Army Occupation Ribbon and the Good Conduct Medal.
  Mr. Siegal passed away this past September, at the age 84. He is 
buried next to his beloved parents, Louis and Bluma Kagan Siegal.
  Because Mr. Sylvan Siegal was proud of both his Jewish heritage and 
his service to our country, Ben Siegal chose his synagogue, Rodfei 
Sholom, for the medal presentation where Rabbi Aryeh Scheinberg 
delivered the following remarks:

       When the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, 
     and the United States declared war on Japan and Germany, 
     American Jewish men and women responded to their country's 
     call for the armed forces.
       During the course of World War II, 550,000 men and women of 
     Jewish faith served in every branch of the armed forces of 
     the United States.
       Twenty-two Jews attained senior rank in the Armed Forces--
     18 were generals, 6 were major generals, 12 were brigadier 
     generals, 1 was vice admiral, 2 were rear admirals, and 1 was 
     a commodore.
       The total number of Jewish war casualties was 38,338; 
     11,000 Jews were killed, 7,000 in combat.
       Approximately 26,000 Jewish men and women in uniform 
     received citations for valor and merit. The number of awards 
     totaled 49,315, including 3 Congressional Medals of Honor, 66 
     Distinguished Service Crosses, 28 Nag Crosses, 41 
     Distinguished Service Medals, 244 Legions of Merit, 1,434 
     Silver Stars, 2,047 Distinguished Flying Crosses, 191 
     Soldier's Medals, 28 Navy and Marine Corps Medals, 4,641 
     Bronze Star Medals, 13,212 Air Medals, and 14,550 Purple 
     Hearts.

[[Page E1023]]

       Today, we honor the heroism and patriotism posthumously of 
     Sylvan Siegal, but we also pay tribute to the unsung heroism 
     and patriotism of the American Jewish servicemen of World War 
     II.
       Before these men could engage the true enemy, they had to 
     battle anti-Semitism while trying to enlist and later, when 
     confronting the prejudices of their fellow soldiers who 
     believed Jews were cowards, poor soldiers, and poor leaders. 
     These Jewish GIs would go on to prove themselves in battle, 
     but first they would be forced to fight for their comrades' 
     respect as soldiers.
       Dietary restrictions presented a challenge to traditional 
     Jews. They were ``eating Ham For Uncle Sam''. ``Uncle Sam'' 
     virtually ignored the ancient dietary restrictions of Jews, 
     and many had to eat ham or starve.
       Jewish service in World War II transformed Jewish world 
     views. The transformation began during military training 
     where many Jews broke out of their insular ethnic world and 
     discovered the diversity of America.
       Serving in World War II made American Jewish soldiers feel 
     both more Jewish and more American. Many anti-Semitic 
     soldiers were also racist. The seeds for the Black-Jewish 
     alliance of the 1960s were sown during World War II.
       Jews were fighting not just for their country, but also for 
     the fate of European Jewry. Their Jewishness resonated as 
     they searched for European Jews while on leave and then saw 
     their worst fears confirmed in the emaciated bodies at the 
     concentration camps.
       Prior to the War, both Judaism and Catholicism had been 
     outsiders to the American dream. Judaism assumed an American 
     legitimacy unanticipated at the start of the war. 
     Protestantism, Catholicism, and Judaism were deemed to share 
     common values that made them the religions of democracy. 
     Acceptance of the Judeo-Christian tradition in the armed 
     forces would force Protestants to share the Christian label 
     with Catholics and to include Jews as equal partners in 
     America.
       For post-war generations, the experience of the war changed 
     the generation that fought it and helped launch the civil 
     rights movement, the Great Society, and America's rise to 
     global predominance.
       For the Jewish people, patriotism, sacrifice and justice 
     were the cherished ideals of a people who seek peace, but 
     they were ready and are ready today, to sacrifice and pay a 
     very great price for real peace.
       May that peace come speedily in our time.

  Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring Mr. Sylvan 
Siegal for his dedication to our country, the military and to his 
faith.

                          ____________________