Jewish and black WWI veterans receive nation's highest service medal almost 100 years after they risked their lives to save comrades
Army Pvt. Henry Johnson.. Nearly a century after Sgt. William Shemin pulled wounded comrades to safety on a World War I battlefield, his heroism has finally earned him the nation's highest service medal. The White House announced Thursday that President Barack Obama will award the Medal of Honor to two World War I soldiers - Shemin and Army Pvt. Henry Johnson. Shemin died in 1973, so his daughter, Elsie Shemin-Roth, in her mid-80s and from suburban St. Louis, will accept the medal in a ceremony at the White House on June 2. Shemin-Roth did not respond to calls seeking comment Thursday. She said in an earlier interview that she worked for years to gather documents in support of her bid for the medal for her father, an honor she felt was previously denied because he was Jewish. "Discrimination should never play a role when our country pays tribute to extraordinary acts of courage and selfless sacrifice," Sen. Claire McCaskill of Missouri said in a statement. "I couldn't be prouder th
In a tragic oversight, both Sgt William Shemin and Sgt Henry Johnson died undecorated men. Now, almost 100 years later, the White House will posthumously award them the Medal of Honor.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3082767/Honored-Jewish-black-WWI-veterans-receive-nation-s-highest-service-medal-100-years-risked-lives-save-comrades.html
I HOPE THINGS HAVE GOTTEN BETTER FOR JEWISH AMERICAN TROOPS SINCE I WAS IN THE SERVICE
Army Pvt. Henry Johnson.. Nearly a century after Sgt. William Shemin pulled wounded comrades to safety on a World War I battlefield, his heroism has finally earned him the nation's highest service medal. The White House announced Thursday that President Barack Obama will award the Medal of Honor to two World War I soldiers - Shemin and Army Pvt. Henry Johnson. Shemin died in 1973, so his daughter, Elsie Shemin-Roth, in her mid-80s and from suburban St. Louis, will accept the medal in a ceremony at the White House on June 2. Shemin-Roth did not respond to calls seeking comment Thursday. She said in an earlier interview that she worked for years to gather documents in support of her bid for the medal for her father, an honor she felt was previously denied because he was Jewish. "Discrimination should never play a role when our country pays tribute to extraordinary acts of courage and selfless sacrifice," Sen. Claire McCaskill of Missouri said in a statement. "I couldn't be prouder th
In a tragic oversight, both Sgt William Shemin and Sgt Henry Johnson died undecorated men. Now, almost 100 years later, the White House will posthumously award them the Medal of Honor.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3082767/Honored-Jewish-black-WWI-veterans-receive-nation-s-highest-service-medal-100-years-risked-lives-save-comrades.html
I HOPE THINGS HAVE GOTTEN BETTER FOR JEWISH AMERICAN TROOPS SINCE I WAS IN THE SERVICE