GI Jews: How World War II Changed a Generation
by Deborah Dash MOORE, Deborah Dash Moore
Category: History

Over half a million Jews entered the U.S. Armed Forces during the Second World War. They joined every branch of the military and saw action on all fronts. Author Moore describes the struggles these GI Jews faced, having to battle not only the enemy but also the prejudices of their fellow soldiers. Through memoirs, oral histories, and letters, Moore charts the lives of fifteen young Jewish men as they faced military service and tried to make sense of its demands. From confronting pork chops to enduring front-line combat, from the temporary solace of Jewish worship to harrowing encounters with death camp survivors, we come to understand how these soldiers wrestled with what it meant to be an American and a Jew. These men challenged perceptions of Jews as simply victims of the war, and encouraged Jews throughout the diaspora to fight for what was right.--From publisher description.