Jewish D-Day Heroes by Avi Heiligman

Forgotten Her es Forgotten Her es Jewish D-Day Heroes Jewish D-Day Heroes

by Avi Heiligman by Avi Heiligman

After the British retreat at Dunkirk, France, in June 1940, the Allies began planning for an attack on mainland Europe. The American arrival into the war in December 1941 added greatly to the Allied arsenal and manpower, but they weren’t ready to attack yet. In late 1942, the Americans and their Allies landed in northern Africa. Once that area was conquered, they invaded Sicily and moved onto Italy. However, Allied planners knew that the way into Germany had to be through France, and the invasion was set for a day in early June 1944. The assault was pushed a day back by Supreme Allied Commander General Dwight Eisenhower: D-Day assault took place on June 6.

Called Operation Overlord, the invasion was ultimately successful and paved the way for the Allies to enter Germany and for the surrender of the Nazis. The numbers for D-Day are staggering. 160,000 troops assaulted German positions on the first day at the five beaches in Normandy, and by August, 2 million Allied soldiers were on French soil. 5,000 ships and other naval vessels took part in the crossing of the English Channel with close to 200,000 naval personnel involved in the crossing. 9,500 planes, including bombers, fighters, transport, reconnaissance and gliders, took part in the air assault that started soon af-

After the British retreat at Dunkirk, France, in June 1940, the Allies began planning for an attack on ter midnight. 23,000 paratroopers and glider troops from the American 82nd and 101st and the British 6th Airborne Divisions were airlifted into France by the mainland Europe. The American arriv- end of the day. al into the war in December 1941 added The cost was high as there were over greatly to the Allied arsenal and manpow- 10,000 casualties in the bloody landings er, but they weren’t ready to attack yet. with 4,414 soldiers killed on that day. In late 1942, the Americans and their Al- Despite the tremendous losses, Allied lies landed in northern Africa. Once that troops inflicted serious casualties on the area was conquered, they invaded Sicily Germans and soon were making their and moved onto Italy. However, Allied way inland. planners knew that the way into Germany had to be through France, and the invasion was set for a day in early June 1944. The assault was pushed a day back by Supreme Allied Commander General Dwight Eisenhower: D-Day assault took place on June 6.

Called Operation Overlord, the invasion was ultimately successful and paved the way for the Allies to enter Germany and for the surrender of the Nazis. The numbers for D-Day are staggering. 160,000 troops assaulted German posiMany Jews participated in the invations on the first day at the five beaches sion and were noted for their bravery in in Normandy, and by August, 2 million battle. Allied soldiers were on French soil. 5,000 New Yorker Henry Plitt was a Jewish ships and other naval vessels took part soldier from New York City with 502nd in the crossing of the English Channel Parachute Infantry Regiment, 101st Airwith close to 200,000 naval personnel borne Division (the Screaming Eagles). involved in the crossing. 9,500 planes, The paratroopers came in hours before including bombers, fighters, transport, the main assault to help open up the exits reconnaissance and gliders, took part to the beaches and silence the guns that in the air assault that started soon after midnight. 23,000 paratroopers and glider troops from the American 82nd and 101st and the British 6th Airborne Divisions were airlifted into France by the end of the day. The cost was high as there were over 10,000 casualties in the bloody landings with 4,414 soldiers killed on that day. Despite the tremendous losses, Allied troops inflicted serious casualties on the Germans and soon were making their way inland. Many Jews participated in the invasion and were noted for their bravery in battle. New Yorker Henry Plitt was a Jewish soldier from New York City with 502nd Parachute Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division (the Screaming Eagles). The paratroopers came in hours before the main assault to help open up the exits to the beaches and silence the guns that overlooked the landing zones. Leading the way were troopers known as Pathfinders overlooked the landing zones. Leading the whose mission was to come in a half-hour way were troopers known as Pathfinders before the other planes and set up a series whose mission was to come in a half-hour of lights to guide in the arriving planes. before the other planes and set up a series The day before the jump, there was a of lights to guide in the arriving planes. command change as the colonel in charge The day before the jump, there was a was unhappy with the officer who was command change as the colonel in charge going to lead the three Pathfinder planes. was unhappy with the officer who was Plitt was told to lead the contingent of 54 going to lead the three Pathfinder planes. men that would be the first Allied troops Plitt was told to lead the contingent of 54 to land in France for an invasion since the men that would be the first Allied troops to land in France for an invasion since the

His messages to the ships were dire: “If you His messages to the ships were dire: “If you don’t do something to blow a hole in the bluffs, don’t do something to blow a hole in the bluffs, we’re never going to get off this beach.” we’re never going to get off this beach.”

failed invasion of Dieppe in 1942. Plitt was one of the first men to drop failed invasion of Dieppe in 1942. into France, but there was a problem. Plitt was one of the first men to drop They dropped miles away from the drop into France, but there was a problem. zone so they were not able to guide the They dropped miles away from the drop incoming planes. Therefore, in the prezone so they were not able to guide the dawn hours, he gathered up over one incoming planes. Therefore, in the prehundred men as other paratroopers had dawn hours, he gathered up over one dropped into France at this point. Soldiers hundred men as other paratroopers had from the main drop were scattered all dropped into France at this point. Soldiers from the main drop were scattered all over Normandy, and Plitt’s ad hoc group knocked out a key gun position. over Normandy, and Plitt’s ad hoc group There were five beaches that were asknocked out a key gun position. saulted on D-Day. Gold Beach and Sword There were five beaches that were asBeach were attacked by the British, and saulted on D-Day. Gold Beach and Sword the Canadians invaded Juno Beach. That Beach were attacked by the British, and left Utah Beach and Omaha to the Amerthe Canadians invaded Juno Beach. That icans. The 16th Infantry Regiment 1st Dileft Utah Beach and Omaha to the Amervision landed on “Bloody Omaha,” and icans. The 16th Infantry Regiment 1st Dimany soldiers were hit by devastating vision landed on “Bloody Omaha,” and German machine gun and artillery fire. many soldiers were hit by devastating Private Henry Berkowitz of C Company German machine gun and artillery fire. of New York was a radioman, and as his Private Henry Berkowitz of C Company landing craft was coming ashore, it was of New York was a radioman, and as his hit by artillery fire. He jumped off the landing craft was coming ashore, it was stricken boat under heavy machine gun hit by artillery fire. He jumped off the fire and made his way to the shore with stricken boat under heavy machine gun his valuable Signal Corps radio in hand. fire and made his way to the shore with Though seriously wounded, he refused his valuable Signal Corps radio in hand. treatment, navigated a path through a Though seriously wounded, he refused minefield, and found his observation post. treatment, navigated a path through a Radio communication was vital to minefield, and found his observation post. maintaining a connection with ships that Radio communication was vital to could provide fire support. Many radios maintaining a connection with ships that had been lost in the surf or were destroyed could provide fire support. Many radios by enemy fire, thereby making Berkowitz had been lost in the surf or were destroyed and his radio even more vital to keep the by enemy fire, thereby making Berkowitz connection with the ships. For his actions and his radio even more vital to keep the on D-Day Private Berkowitz was awarded connection with the ships. For his actions the Distinguished Service Cross. on D-Day Private Berkowitz was awarded Arthur Seltzer, a signalman from the Distinguished Service Cross. Cherry Hill, New Jersey, was with the Arthur Seltzer, a signalman from 29th Division at Omaha Beach. As he Cherry Hill, New Jersey, was with the jumped over the side of his landing craft, 29th Division at Omaha Beach. As he jumped over the side of his landing craft,

Arthur Seltzer with some of his medals Robert Halperin, right

he sank due to heaviness of his 65-pound gear pack. He struggled to the beach and managed to assemble his radio. His messages to the ships were dire: “If you don’t do something to blow a hole in the bluffs, we’re never going to get off this beach,” he told them. That bluff was called Point Du Hoc, and with Seltzer’s directions, Allied naval gunfire blew a gap. This hole allowed soldiers from the division to their objective, St. Lo.

Soldiers weren’t the only ones who came ashore on D-Day. Some sailors were tasked with various missions that required stepping onto the beaches. NFL quarterback Robert Halperin was a Jewish navy lieutenant whose job it was to mark the beaches for the incoming infantry. Prior to the D-Day invasion, he had been decorated for leading his scout ship off the coast of French Morocco during the invasion of North Africa in 1942. Less than two years later, he led the first waves of assault troops onto the French beaches and in the process saved two American soldiers from drowning. He was one of the first Americans to land in France and assisted the wounded while helping those in swamped landing craft.

Halperin was part of the Scouts and Raiders, and his composure under intense enemy fire helped the assault troops land and eventually secured the beach. For his bravery on D-Day he was awarded the Bronze Star.

D-Day was just the first day of eleven months of war in Western Europe that saw the collapse of the Nazi regime on May 7, 1945. The Normandy landing was the largest seaborne invasion in history, and the men who went into France that day brought the first sign of hope to a devastated continent that the Nazi rule was soon going to end. Operation Overlord achieved its objectives with the elements of surprise, firepower and the sheer fighting will of the junior officers and enlisted soldiers, sailors, paratroopers, and Rangers.

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.