A report on Jewish participation in World War II as complete as it is possible to issue at this juncture in the war, was made public today by the National Jewish Welfare Board.
The book – “Fighting For America” – reveals that Americans of Jewish faith are not only fully represented in this war but that “thousands have performed and heroic deeds for American victory.”
“Fighting For America” contains a chapter on statistics and surveys, reports on percentages of refugees in service, discusses the distribution of Jews in various branches of the armed services, including a section on the medical corps. Another section of the book is devoted to 10 first-hand accounts of battle action by topflight heroes of Jewish faith.
The last pages of “Fighting For America” are devoted to listing some 2500 American heroes of Jewish faith, hundreds of whom have been killed in action, others wounded, and others awarded medals and citations for valor under fire “above and beyond the call of duty.” Accompanying the name of each hero is a brief notation of his exploits.
The volume offers statistical proof that, in all communities surveyed thus far, the Jewish community has contributed to the armed forces as many sons, in proportion to their numbers in each community, as the general population. In reviewing Jewish service in the medical branches of the armed forces, “Fighting For America” reports that in a survey covering approximately one fourth of America’s physicians of Jewish faith, 32 percent were found to be in the armed forces.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
