B’nai B’rith is First Civilian Organization to Receive Navy Award for Wartime Service

B’nai B’rith became the first civilian organization to receive a special Navy citation for service to the nation in the war effort when Rear Admiral Forrest P. Sherman, former chief of staff to Admiral Nimitz, as the official representative of the United States Navy Dopartment, presented a certificate of achievement to Henry Monsky, president of B’nai B’rith, “in recognition of exceptional accomplishment in behalf of the United States Navy and of meritorious contribution to the national war effort.”

The citation was presented before more than 1,000 leaders of the Boston community at a dinner in honor of Mr. Monsky by the Greater Boston B’nai B’rith. In presenting the citation, Admiral Sherman said: “The Navy owes a debt of gratitude to the B’nai B’rith and is deeply appreciative of the unselfish service which it has rendered in this war. Particularly noteworthy has been the serve-a-ship program which was criginated in Boston by Lt. Col. Niles and was first inaugurated on the USS Massachusetts. Starting with the battleship Massachusetts in the Spring of 1942, through your program more than 800 ships ranging from battleships and aircraft carriers to destrcyers, submarines and landing craft have been provided with innumerable items which made life at sea less rigorous, and which, by improving conditions of our men, made them tetter fighting men.”