Jewish Heroes in World War I by Avi Heiligman

The Jewish Home | SEPTEMBER 15, 2022 Forgotten Her es

Jewish Heroes During World War I

By Avi Heiligman

Sydney Gumpertz Colonel Abel Davis Private Hyman Silverman, second from right Soldiers during the Meuse-Argonne Offensive

Both sides of the conflict had been preparing for war in the months and years leading up to World War I. The assassination of the archduke of Austria-Hungary by a Serbian national was the spark that ignited the powder keg and caused a domino effect all over Europe and soon had many countries around the war declaring war. Austria-Hungry declared war on Serbia, which was backed by its Russian allies. Germany, who wanted to use war as a context to gain more trade routes among other reasons, joined Austria-Hungry and invaded Luxembourg. France, Belgium, Italy, Japan and soon Great Britain and Canada joined the Great War on the side of the Allies; Bulgaria and the Ottoman Empire joined Germany and the Central Powers.

The one noticeable world power absent from the war was the United States, which publicly stated its neutrality. However, in 1917, German submarines began attacking American ships bound for Great Britain. In April 1917, President Woodrow Wilson requested Congress to declare war on Germany, and four days later, they voted to join the war.

The United States began mobilizing troops and weapons of war to send to the fighting overseas. An estimated 225,000 of the 4.7 million American servicemen and women were Jewish. There were many who fought and served heroically, and here are a few of their stories.

Sydney Gumpertz was one of four Jewish soldiers to have been the recipient of the Medal of Honor during World War I. Gumpertz enlisted in 1917 in his hometown of Chicago and was assigned to Company E of the 132nd Infantry Regiment, 33rd Infantry Division. The Regiment was made up of soldiers from Illinois and was under the command of Jewish Colonel Abel Davis. Davis himself was decorated for actions occurring on October 9, 1918. The French did not properly clear an area of France after a

French attack, and when the Illinois regiment got there, they were met by heavy German artillery fire. Davis received the Distinguished Service Cross for “disregarding the heavy shell and machine-gun fire. Colonel Davis personally assumed command, and by his fearless leadership and courage, the enemy was driven back.” On October 24, 1918, First Sergeant Gumpertz was leading two other men ahead of the rest of the advancing line of Americans in the area of Bois-de-Forges, France. They had captured two machine gun nests along with dozens of German soldiers. Exploding shells cut down the other two men, leaving Gumpertz alone to face a third machine gun. He jumped into the machine gun nest, silenced the gun, and captured nine German soldiers. For his heroic actions that day he was awarded the Medal of Honor. The Allied (mainly French and American units) offensive had started in September 1918 called the Meuse-Argonne

Offensive. Also called the Grand Offensive, it was to include troops across the entire line that up to that point had be entrenched on the Hindenburg Line. The battle went until November 11, when the Germans were forced to surrender. Casualties were high, including 117 wounded, gassed or killed in Company E of the 60th Infantry Regiment, 5th Infantry Division. One of those wounded soldiers was Private Hyman Silverman.

Born to Russian immigrants, Silverman grew up in Chelsea, Massachusetts, and entered the army in November 1917. Less than a year later, on October 27, 1918, he was on the front near Verdun, France, during the Meuse-Argonne Offensive when German fire ignited an ammunition dump. Shells were bursting all around, but Silverman sprang into action and began removing ammunition away from the fire. He was hit by exploding shells but that didn’t stop him from moving most of the explosives away from the fire. Silverman then ran to help wounded soldiers and moved them to safety. It was only once the danger had passed that he went for treatment for his own wounds. He was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross and the French Croix de Guerre for his bravery on the battlefield.

Many soldiers were awarded medals for bravery on the battlefield during World War I. It was a testament to the tough and bitter fighting that these men fought until they had won. Their names may not be in most history books, but their heroism on the battlefield makes them Forgotten Heroes.

Exploding shells cut down the other two men, leaving Gumpertz alone to face a third machine gun.

Avi Heiligman is a weekly contributor to The Jewish Home. He welcomes your comments and suggestions for future columns and can be reached at aviheiligman@gmail.com.