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Salute to Jewish veterans
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Allen L. Wolkoff of Warren, with a stripe on his hat for every six months in Europe during World War II, talked about his Army experiences and said a Veterans Day service Friday at Temple El Emeth in Liberty “is a nice thing.”
LIBERTY
The Jewish communities of the Youngstown, Warren and Sharon, Pa., areas will conduct a special Oneg Shabbat service Friday, Veterans Day, to honor Jewish-American military veterans.
Some 70 veterans and their families are expected at the service, which begins at 7 p.m., said Elyse Silverman, program and education director at Temple El Emeth, 3970 Logan Way. Veterans are asked to contact the Temple office at 330-759-1429 to provide their names so they can be honored.
The Rev. George Balasko of the Youngstown Catholic Diocese, as co-leader of the Jewish Christian Dialog Group, and area rabbis and several veterans will participate in the service cosponsored by six area synagogues — Temple El Emeth, Temple Beth Israel in Sharon, Ohev Tzedek Congregation in Boardman, Children of Israel Congregation in Liberty, Congregation Rodef Sholom in Youngstown, and Beth Israel Temple in Warren.
Guest speakers are Chief Master Sgt. Mary Julian, chief of personnel programs, and Col. Teresa Hams, Mission Support Group commander, both at the 910th Airlift Wing at the Youngstown Air Reserve Station in Vienna.
Silverman’s father, Allen L. Wolkoff of Beth Israel Temple in Warren, is one of the men being honored at the first-of-its-kind service and was Silverman’s inspiration for organizing the event.
Wolkoff, 92, of Warren, served in five major campaigns in Europe with the Army’s 332 Engineers Battalion, including landing on Utah Beach during the Normandy Invasion and in the Battle of the Bulge.
“I’m happy about the service Friday. I think people who served and endangered their lives are entitled to a little recognition,” Wolkoff said.
“Friday is a time to pay tribute to those who died and honor those who survived. We owe them a debt of gratitude,” said Rabbi Franklin Muller of Congregation Rodef Sholom.
“It is an honor to participate in honoring veterans, and it is nice to be able to do it in Jewish context. It is special to do it on the Sabbath,” said Rabbi Daria Jacobs-Velde of Ohev Tzedek Congregation.
Several Jewish veterans talked about their military service from World War II to the Korean War and in peacetime during a group interview Wednesday.
Paul Gluck, 81, of Liberty trained in port security, served in the Coast Guard after the war much of the time at Sault St. Marie.Mich., to check the safety of ore boats going between Lakes Superior and Michigan.
Dr. William Gordon, 83, a dentist, was a Navy lieutenant senior grade attached for most of his tour with the 2nd Marine Corps Division at Camp Lejeune, N.C.
“The idea of being honored is all right, but I have more of a feeling for the young people in combat today who face roadside bombs. More are being killed and wounded,” said Dr. Gordon of Howland.
“I think the service will be a nice tribute,” said Eugene Mallen, 75, of Girard, who served four years in the Air Force beginning in 1954 after the Korean War and spent many years in the Air Force Reserve with the 910th Airlift Wing.
Sam Zians, 81, of Howland, was an Army basic- training instructor who ended up in Europe as a parts expediter in a Quartermaster unit.
Milton Swartz, 88, of Canfield, was a command pilot with the 8th Army Air Corps in 1945 near the end of WWII and flew missions over France and Germany.
A second lieutenant in the Army after the Korean War, Robert Rusnak, 78, of Boardman said he was a member of the first ROTC class to graduate from Youngstown College.
“We’re really fortunate that our parents and grandparents came to the U.S. to give us the privilege of serving. Here we have all the freedoms you could want,” he said.