The Denver Jewish news., 1919-01-29
American Jews War
Record to Nov. 1918
STATISTICS GATHERED BY d.
RECTOR OF WAR RECORDS,
JULIAN LEAVITT, AMERICAN
JEWISH COMMITTEE.

of America perceived the wisdom of
establishing an authentic. cOntcmpor-
AIRY record of Jewish service in the
common cause.
To this end the American Jewish
Committee. ut its annual meeting in
November. 1g1T--the first since our en-
trance into the war-asSigncd to its
bureau of Statistics, as a major func-
tion. the task of collecting and collat-
ing all data bearing upon the war
service of American Jews.
Within the year this work has pro
cccdcd vigorously and Systematically
in the face of many serious obstacles.
Under these circumstances the pro
rress achieved in this first year has
we'll exceeded all expectations. The
time has not yet come to cast up the
count. for the information is still pour
ing in-cvcry mail brings packages oi
cards from the agents of the JcwiSh
Welfare Board in the camps; honor
rolls from Synagogues and temples
thruout the country: service rolls OF
fratclnal. national and labor organi-
cations, tc..--ncvcrthclcss it mny he
possihle to summarize. without danger
of serious misintcrprctation. certain
outstanding facts that have already
been developed in the course of the
inquiry.
OF the 100. 900 records ut hand about
10000 have been tabulatcd and claHSl-
fled in three great files. arranged tal
alphabetically lbD by branches of ser
vice and (cJ by cities of origin.
OF these 10000 records about G.oO0
are in the Army; about $500 in the
Navy: and about LOO in the Marine
Corps. OF the G9.OOO in the Army
about 5000 are classified in the In
fantry, G.5OO in the Artillery. 2.aOO in
the Medical Corps. 3.9G4 in the Signal
and Aviation Corps, 1.Sl3 in the En-
-sinccr Corps. 1.213 in the Cavalry, l.
Ol9 in the Ordnance, 3.521 in the
ouartcrmastcr's Corps and about SSH
in other branches lincluding men in
trainingD
A. to Rank
There are lO2l Jewish commission
cd officers in the Army, of whom IN
are Coloncls or Lieutenant Colonies,
oon Majors. ISI Captains and 1907
LicutcnantS. In the Navy there are
rOi commissioned officers. including
one Rear admiral, and in the Marine
Corps - commissioned Officers, III
Guiding one cl,rigud.cr-ticncrnl.
What is the total number. and
Derceniagc, of 9le Jews in the
Army and Navy of the United
States?
The best available evidence indicates
tnat. there are from 15O.OOO. or about
- urr cent. The estimate is based up
on two independent calculations when
tend strongly to confirm one another
Dnc is II study of the Casualty Lists
The total number of casualties in the
American EXpcditionary Forces pub
lshcd to Nov. /. 1918. was G4.l1I. Ihc
total number of Jewish casualties not
ed to that date was 2.JO2-or about
30 per cent of the total. This would
indicate that the Jews cOnStitut" about
four per cent. of the Army and Marin"
Corps.
As these two arms OF the service
numbered. at the close of the war
about 3.TOO.OO men, this would make
the total of Jewish soldiers and Ma
rincs about 145.OOO. And rs the same
ratio probably applies to the Navy, ITS
personnel of 50O.GOO would furnish ap-
proximutcly 10000 Jews. The total
for all branches Of the service would
therefore. according to this method Of
calculation. approximate 163.Ooo.
How does the percentage of
Jews in the service compare with
the Jewish population in the Unit
ed State?
The entire Jewish population of the
country. according to the latest cSt-
matrs. is about three per cent. OF the
total population The Jews in the
military and naval forces of the 'hltea
States. however, constitute from 1""r
to five per cent. Of the total personnel
The principal reason for the hiSh
percentage of Jews in the service rests
elsewhere. 1t is to be found i'll the
remarkable number of Jewish Noluh-
tecrs. The evidence as TO TINS Is oei-
mite and conclusive. This would m
d;cate that there are from 10000 u"
10000 Jewish volunteers in the service
today. In other words, the normal
Jewish quota of three per cent. seems
to have been contributed thru the
draft and the excess TO have been
supplied ny volunteers.