The Long Way Home
An American Journey from Ellis Island to the Great War
Submit Your Story
If you have a story about immigration,
war, or service you'd like to share,
to David Laskin.
Categories
Links
Mailing List
Enter your email address
to be notified of new posts.
Search the Blog
Archives
- July 2010
- June 2010
- May 2010
- April 2010
- March 2010
- February 2010
- January 2010
- December 2009
- November 2009
- October 2009
- September 2009
Subscribe to RSS
Allan Denenberg’s Father’s Story
Sunday, June 27th, 2010
My father could have been one of your subjects. Shortly after emigrating from Poland he was drafted. He was given the choice of serving and thereby automatic citizenship, or refusing, in which case he could NEVER become a citizen. He chose to serve and saw action in France. He never talked about the war and we never pressed him. Two things I thought would interest you. I once asked him if he encountered anti-semitism in the army. He replied that he found very little of it, which surprised me. He also told me that during the high holy days he was pulled from the line and boarded with a French Jewish family for the ten day period. I guess the army really was sensitive to ethnic and religious considerations.
My father told me that upon discharge he appeared before a judge who told that it was an honor to bestow citizenship upon him. That was a source of great pride to him. Your book made me regret not having pressed him more about his wartime experiences. It also instilled great pride in him for what he did but never talked about. Thank you for your fine book.
Leave a Comment | Permalink | Posted in Your Stories