Rabbis Among Young Warriors Ii

The story goes: two trim young Jewish navy officers, graduates of the U.S. Naval Academy at Annapolis, meet in New London. One says to the other:

“You and I have something in common.”

“What is that?”

“The Lindauers’ ice-box.”

On the Lindauer “fridge” hangs a “Memo for Mids”:

“For the harmony of the ‘Lindauer Hilton’ please:

“1. Call if you want to come over.

“2. Coordinate with other Mids of the house.

“3. Fill ice trays.

“4. Take out the garbage.

“5. Stack dishes in dishwasher.

“6. If we’re not at home, last one out secure the house.

“7. There’s always food and drink; if you want something special, you supply.

“We’re always available for tea, sympathy, and chicken soup.

The Management”

LINDAUER ‘HOME AWAY FROM HOME’

That story aptly illustrates how the midshipmen and their Gentile friends feel about the firm yet gentle JWB Commission on Jewish Chaplaincy-certified “lay leader,” Colonel Harry Lindauer (U.S. Army, Ret.) and his warm and charming wife Thea.

Theirs is a home-away-from-home for a virtual revolving-door parade of young men and women midshipmen who may be homesick, tense under academic pressure and military discipline, or just in need of homey relaxation and a change of pace.

Thea is known as “Mother of the Brigade” at Annapolis. “Just don’t make me grandmother of the Brigade,” she laughs.

SURVIVORS OF THE HOLOCAUST

She and her husband, Colonel Lindauer, a retired Military Intelligence officer of World War II and Patton’s Army in the Battle of the Bulge, have given their home and their own parental warmth to midshipmen from all over America.

They are both Holocaust survivors, who know what family means and how loneliness can gnaw at those far from home.

Harry (once it was Heinz) came to Chicago, was drafted in March of 1941, went to Army officer’s candidate school in 1944 and served in the European Theater of Operations in England, France, Belgium and Germany.

PATTON TAUGHT HIM TO ‘CUSS, AMERICAN STYLE’

His knowledge of Europe and the German language gave him an opportunity for a career in intelligence, where he took General Patton’s advice in the Battle of the Bulge “to cuss, American style.” It was protective since Germans were dropped behind U.S. lines in U.S. uniforms. U.S. security was tight, and to be able “to cuss in American” supplied swift identification “and not get shot” by U.S. security patrols.

Two years before his retirement, he had started being “a lay leader” for JWB-CJC, a volunteer service for Jewish servicemen.

‘A VISIBLE ENTITY’

There are 41 Jewish midshipmen at Annapolis, one of them a woman. The Jewish squad is a small but visible entity, with their newly furbished and remodeled Jewish Chapel in one of the Naval Academy’s historic buildings, Mitscher Hall, a project sparked and nursed to fruition by the Lindauers.

Beyond their official duties, the Lindauers “sponsor four kids.” Every midshipman has a sponsor-family whom he or she could look to as surrogate parents and a place to relax.

Mrs. Lindauer introduces the midshipmen to a touch of civilian life at her home. The “kids bring their parents, friends and grandparents. One midshipman came back to visit with three children of his own. They call on Mother’s Day and when they have babies.”

Annapolis soon is due to have a full-time, uniformed, active duty Navy chaplain assigned to Annapolis. He is expected to be Chaplain (Lt. Cmdr.) Norman Auerback of the Bethesda Naval Medical Center. No one is final about such things officially until “the orders are cut.” But whoever is assigned, the Lindauers are looking forward to helping him get settled in.

NO MONETARY PAYMENT

As lay leader, Colonel Lindauer gets no monetary payment, only psychic rewards. Ongoing support and monitoring of lay leadership activities is an important function of the JWB Commission on Jewish Chaplaincy, which assures the often-isolated Jewish volunteer lay leader that his efforts are recognized.

Patriotism and moral duty are twin supports of the professional naval officer, which midshipmen will become. Their religious background and belief plays a larger role in this than most civilians realize. Rear Adm. Stephen K. Chadwick, Commandant of Midshipmen, emphasized: “Our U.S. Naval Academy is a great educational institution and gives you a chance to serve your country. Our ideals are compatible with everyone’s faith. These men and women here are a great national asset. Their religious training will sustain them.”

JWB ENCOURAGES THEIR JEWISHNESS

As a symbol of the encouragement that JWB gives these midshipmen to stay connected to Jewish life, JWB gives each one of them a Jewish Bible upon his or her graduation.

Midshipman Matthew Horn, 20, of Monroe, N.Y., a former Yeshiva University student, son of Michael and Paula Horne, reflects a solid religious training. His father is an accountant. Matthew sees his role in national service. “I’ve always wanted to be a Marine Corps officer,” he said. (Many Annapolis graduates choose to enter the Marines upon graduating from the Naval Academy.)

Midshipman Louis P. Feuchtbaum, 23, son of pharmacist Donald and Linda Feuchtbaum, Spring Valley, N.Y., feels similarly: “The Academy trains the ‘whole person’; there are moral challenges and physical challenges in serving our country. I love the sea and ships.”

Feuchtbaum, a “firstie” upperclassman, is Deputy Honor Chairman at the Academy. He helps supervise the honor system. Any anti-Semitism? “We have never run into anti-Semites as a problem,” he says. “Once in a while we see it on an individual basis.”

Midshipman Michael Harnett, 19, son of Dr. Jeffrey and Barbara Harnett, of Huntington, N.Y., sees Annapolis “as a challenging way to serve my country in a challenging profession. My religion is supportive and necessary.”

Midshipman Scott Shire, son of Louis and Lois Shire of Pittsburgh, Pa., sees the Academy’s religious opportunities as a recognition of America’s religious freedom in action.

Colonel Lindauer nudges the midshipmen to take their own leadership into their religious service. The dignified Naval Cadet Jewish Chapel is used for Friday night Sabbath services conducted by the midshipmen under Lindauer’s guidance.

Chaplain (Capt.) John G. Glynn, the Command Chaplain at the Academy and a Catholic priest, enjoys visiting and dining with the cadets and Colonel and Thea Lindauer.

“Midshipmen don’t have to go far to meet their chaplain,” he says. “We make ourselves visible to them the day they arrive.”

High school students of all faith groups interested in Annapolis can write to Director, Candidate Guidance, U.S. Naval Academy, Annapolis, MD 21412; or phone (301) 267-4361.

JEWISH CHAPLAINS ARE VITAL

Jewish chaplains in the military services are vital in visibility as symbols of our tri-faith and multi-faith democracy. The JWB Commission-endorsed Jewish chaplains number: Army, 25; Navy, 14; Air Force, 12; Veterans Administration, 13. This does not include reservists who go on temporary duty who number about 200; nor does it include 160 part-time chaplains.

Lay leaders who are certified by the JWB-CJC number: Navy, 90; Army, 60; Air Force, 40.

Seminarians (theological student-chaplains, mostly Navy) get JWB-CJC “approved” status during their training and service.

Rabbis among young warriors, all.

Taken together, they represent a special national treasure for the military services and America’s civilian society.

Specifically, the Jewish community needs to become more aware of our chaplains, the special needs of Jewish men and women in uniform and the Jewish young men and women Officers-in-training at the national service academies-future leaders of America’s power to preserve the peace.