Jewish American WWII Soldiers in Italy Receive Proper Headstones Decades Later

Honoring Fallen Jewish American Soldiers

• 🕊️ Jewish American soldiers who died fighting Nazis in WWII were mistakenly buried under Latin crosses for over 80 years in an American cemetery outside Rome.
• 🎯 The nonprofit Operation Benjamin, in collaboration with the American Battle Monuments Commission, is correcting these inadvertent errors.
• 📜 The initiative aims to set the historical record straight by replacing Latin crosses with Stars of David for Jewish soldiers.

Operation Benjamin's Mission

• 🔍 Shalom Lamm, chief historian for Operation Benjamin, explains that some Jewish soldiers may have concealed their faith on dog tags due to fear of capture by Germans.
• 💡 These were true errors, not purposeful omissions, and Operation Benjamin's role is to find these soldiers and correct their identities.
• 🤝 The organization requires substantial proof to change headstones, as these changes are considered permanent.

Stories of Sacrifice and Remembrance

• 📌 The families of Ben Bernstein, Sheldon Fender, and Paul Singer traveled to Italy to witness the ceremony and honor their relatives.
• 🎖️ Ben Bernstein, a member of the First Special Service Force, was killed by a Nazi grenade in 1943; his family learned more details of his sacrifice.
• ✈️ Sheldon Fender and Paul Singer, who died in the same mission in August 1943, were initially buried with Fender under a Star of David and Singer under a cross; this is now being corrected for Singer.
• ❤️ Families expressed the deep emotional significance of having their relatives' Jewish faith properly recognized, fulfilling a long-overdue tribute.

Legacy and Memorial Day

• 🌟 The ceremony brought together families who met for the first time, underscoring that the effort honors all individuals who made sacrifices.
• 🙏 The event serves as a powerful reminder of comradeship in arms against a common enemy and the importance of remembering those who fought for freedom.
• 🇺🇸 This Memorial Day weekend, the focus is on honoring Ben Bernstein, Paul Singer, Sheldon Fender, and all American service members who made the ultimate sacrifice.