Gen. Somervell Lauds Valor of Jews in All U.S. Wars; Roosevelt Greets Jewish Veterans

Lieut. Gen. Archon Somervell, chief of the Army’s services of supply, speaking here last night before the 47th annual convention of the Jewish War Veterans of the United States, lauded the valor which Jews have displayed in all the wars of the United States and denounced as traitors and saboteurs those who spread prejudices against persons of any race, color or religion.

Prior to Gen. Somervell’s address the delegates heard a message of greeting from President Franklin D. Roosevelt, citing the fighting tradition established by American Jews. The message, addressed to National Commander Kaufman, read as follows,

“May I extend through you, to the Jewish War Veterans of the United States, my very sincere felicitations on the occasion of your forty-seventh annual convention.”

“The efforts of the Jewish War Veterans, particularly during the past nine months, toward greater participation in the war activities of the United States, are well known to me. In these efforts your organization is but following the example established by Americans of the Jewish faith during the Revolutionary period and in every other crisis in the history of our country. In the spirit of that fine tradition I trust your members will always carry on.”

National Commander Benjamin Kaufman, whom Gen. Somervell cited as a symbol of Jewish valor, pledged the full resources of the JWV towards winning the war and securing an enduring peace of honor and justice, A symposium on anti-Semitism held earlier in the day heard Frank Weil, president of the Jewish Welfare Board, Milton Woil of the JWB, Prof. James Sheldon of the Anti-Nazi League; Col.M.C. Kahn of the B’nai B’rith and Rabbi Fineberg of the American Jewish Committee.Another symposium, on Civilian Aid to the Government during war-time was addressed by representatives of the WPB, FBI,OCD and OPA.