The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-08-16
HIS DOUBLE KILLED,
GOLDBERG TO FIGHT
Harlem Boy Who Claimed Ex-
emption Wants to Share.
in Glory.
MARKED OFF AS DEAD
Draft Board Mixed on Identity
of Two Men, One of Whom
Enlisted.

At a local draft board in Harlem
Yesterday there was listed for imme-
date induction into the army the name
OF Samuel Goldberg. The name stands
where II is at Goldberg's own request.
But IL ever a man had chance 10
shirk military duty Goldberg had that
chance, for when he walked In ana
stood before the draft board every
man on 1t thought him dead In France.
Behind the story Of Goldberg there
Is one Of another Goldberg, the boy
who actually laid down his lie IN
battle. Taken as single narrative
the two stories stand out as an ar
raignment of the critics WHO have de-
MED that the war will have at least
one great and good effect-that OF
welding the various strains and nation
alities which make up American life
into a type impossible through hun
dred years OF peace.
The Sam Goldberg who is dead and
the one who is living both lived In
Harlem when this country entered the
war Their people were not native to
this soil. The boys themselves had
read little and thought less Of the
varied ideals upon which are based
the foundations Of governments. The
war in Europe had seemed a thing re-
they glanced at the headlines Of the
war news and turned to the comic
page.
When this country threw In her lot
with the Allies and declared for war
upon the Germans the boys read more
about II. but It was not until the draft
law was passed that they realized that
it was something which touched them
intimately. Some or their friends en-
listed in the Regular Army and the
National Guard. They were troubled.
but they expressed only pity for these
youth who let ardor run away with
Judgment. Among their adult friends
they heard often the statements that
this was a rich mems war and that the
Germans would bring France and Eng
land to their knees before America
could fire a shot.
Awake ming OF the GoldSergs.
Acting on the advice Of those older
than themselves and allen to the ideals
upon which American life is founded.
they each claimed exemption when sum
moned before their local boards. One
OF them was a member Of a large fam
lily and his excuses had more lplausi-
bility than those of his namesake. He
was listed In Glass III. The other Gold
berg was told that his name would 80
In Class I and that II would be well
for him to arrange his affairs SO that
leave for military service at an hours
notice. Until they met in the draft Of
fees the boys had never heard Of each
other before.
When the first contingent was sent
from their neighborhood to Camp Up
ton both were congratulated by their
Older friends upon having escaped army
service. But within few weeks
friends of their own age began coming
home on leave. and their olive drab
gave them a prestige which they had
never known before. This reactsd on
them quickly and their demeanor toward
their acquaintances not in military uni
form. while wholly civil. was touched
strongly with condencension. Also they
carried themselves as men who were
Of the United States as we'll as in It.
Sam Goldberg of deferred Class III
was the first to alter his early plans.
He had learned what II means to be
American. The regulation did not re-
quire then that a draft man must gain
his boards permission before enlisting
on his own account. Without advising
the board of his intention he Joined the
Regular Army and in a few weeks sailed
tor France.
Sam No. 4 Was Killed.
His name appeared among those killed
in action a few weeks ago. The draft
board noticed 1t and assuming that he
was the Sam Goldberg on their lists In
Class / erased his name. Enlistments
OF Class III men were SO rare In their
experience that they never even consid-
cred that possibility.
And SO they never sent for Sam Gold
berg of Class I.
But he in his turn had learned the
lesson OF Americanism and was waiting
impatiently for his name to come up.
He did not know that the other Sam was
dead They were only casual friends
and they had no friends in common ex-
cept one or two.
One was a girl who met the living
Sam Goldberg In the street yesterday.
She uttered scream when she saw
him and a little crowd collected. When
the shock Of meeting alive one whom she
imagined dead had passed, she explained
and learned with establishment that far
from knowing that his namesake was
dead Goldberg had not even known of
his voluntary enlistment.
But You at least are alive. con-
graduate you" she said.
Goldberg had a ready answer for this :
You may congratulate me alive again
maybe" he said. but 1t will be with a
uniform on. I'll fix that quick and right
away"
And down he marched to his draft
board and said that he was ready for
the army.
II took the board five minutes to rid
itself OF the obeession OF his death Then
they put his name at the top OF the list
And In the meantime II the rule
about draft men enlistinS is suspended
one day between now and the time he
goes to an army cantonment, he proposes
to be first on the line at the recruiting
office ~ tina No rIpaa