Jews Who Served-- Part 2

The exhibit concludes with a Wall of Honor with photographs of Jewish veterans, one of whom is Walter Cohn, 90, of Chicago.  He was born in Germany and was on one of the last of the Kindertransport trains (an interesting story in itself) to leave Germany with young Jewish children.  It took him to Holland where he received a visa to the United States in December 1939.  He enlisted at the age of 18.

He was accepted by his fellow soldiers, some who would say they didn't know he was Jewish when they found out.  These were mostly people from smaller towns and the South who had probably never seen a Jewish person.

But, as a Jew, he was motivated to join the Army for one simple reason, "Revenge.  I lost many members of my family.  The Gestapo picked up my grandmother, who was 84.  She died in the gas chamber."

The exhibit is at the Illinois Holocaust Museum and Education Center, 9603 Woods Drive, Skokie through June 17th.  Cost $6 to $12.  http://www.ilholocaustmuseum.org/.

All Served.  All Gave.  --GreGen