Hall of Heroes:American Jewish Recipients of The Medal of Honor

LIEUTENANT COLONEL KENNETH E. RUBIN

Distinguished Service Cross

Kenneth Rubin received a Distinguished Service Cross as a helicopter pilot in Vietnam during the Tet Offensive. His citation reads:

"For extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations involving conflict with armed hostile force in the Republic of Vietnam: Captain Rubin distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions on 31 January 1968 as mission commander of a firefly-heavy fire team at Bien Hoa Air Force Base. As his team refueled in the early morning hours after their third mission, the base came under heavy rocket and mortar fire. Captain Rubin and his team immediately sought out the launching positions, directing devastating aerial rocket and machine gun fire into them. Returning to Bien Hoa after completing this and another engagement, they found the east end of the perimeter under intense automatic weapons attack. Captain Rubin exposed the enemy positions by flying low and attracting their fire, enabling his gunships to then rake the Viet Cong. His helicopter was hit; both the pilot and gunner were wounded. He secured another ship, and next aided a ground unit, which had sent an urgent request for gunship support. This accomplished, his team continued the search for the enemy. Locating a force of nearly 200 Viet Cong, Captain Rubin directed his team in strikes on them, while he lay down a sheet of fire to keep the enemy from escaping. As daylight came, more hostile positions were discovered and silenced. Spotting two wounded Air Force guards caught between enemy forces, Captain Rubin directed his ships in an attack on the Viet Cong positions which annihilated them and permitted him to land and rescue the trapped men. He then coordinated with ground security forces as they swept the area and wiped out the remaining resistance. Captain Rubin's extraordinary heroism and devotion to duty were in keeping with the highest traditions of the military unit and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and the United States Army."

LIEUTENANT SEYMOUR D. RUCHAMKIN

Navy Cross

A native of Brooklyn, Lieutenant Ruchamkin was awarded the Navy Cross for heroism abroad the USS Cushing during action off Savo Island in the Solomons. He went missing in action during the engagement and was eventually presumed dead.

SERGEANT BARNEY F. SALNER

Distinguished Service Cross

Sergeant Salner was responsible for rescuing an entire battalion in World War I. He had just escaped a field hospital, determined to return to his unit despite being wounded in the stomach during the Battle of the Marne. He found his unit preparing to go into the St. Mihiel salient and begged his commanding officer to let him stay. He was allowed to stay, but assigned light duties at battalion headquarters. Once the wound had closed up, he returned to combat with the Second Battalion.

The story of his heroism in the Argonne was told by Major Jesse W. Wooldrige: "the Second Battalion had been shot to ribbons by flank fire from the Vois de Cunel and Romagne Wood and, though I organized for flank defense, the resistance became too severe on the right and I was about to suffer the disgrace of failing in my mission without calling for support, when Barney Salner saw me struggling with the right-flank defense. On his own initiative, actuated by a soldier's devotion and loyalty, and in the absence of his officers, who had been killed, he left G Company out of its support position, commanded its maneuver and brought it into a bayonet charge that cleared our right, saved my battalion from disaster and enabled us to crack the Hindenberg line. Salner was shot to pieces."

Sergeant Salner recovered from his wounds and returned home from the war with a Distinguished Service Cross. He settled in the Boston area and became Commander of the Jewish War Veterans Haverhill Post 52. While Commander, he met the President of the Post's Ladies Auxiliary and married her.

MAJOR IRVING SCHECHTER

Navy Cross

Major Schechter's citation reads: "Over 400 enemy dead were counted in front of the defensive position and large quantities of automatic weapons and mortars were captured. By his heroic action, Major Schechter was responsible for eliminating a serious threat to the success of the entire operation and contributed greatly to making further organized resistance by the enemy virtually impossible."

SERGEANT MARTIN N. SCHRECK

Distinguished Service Cross

Sgt. Schreck, of the Bronx, was cited for extraordinary heroism in action on 9 November 1943, near Venafro, Italy. Sergeant Schreck (then Private First Class) was a member of a combat patrol whose mission was to seize and hold a hill position. On the way up Sgt. Schreck noticed enemy positions on the crest of the hill. Halting the patrol, he crawled forward alone over the rocky and barren terrain. When he was within twenty yards of the German position, he realized he was facing a machine gun emplacement, yet he boldly rushed forward and commanded the two enemy soldiers in their own language to surrender. As they were coming toward him, hidden machine guns opened fire on Sgt. Schreck: the two German soldiers leapt back into their dugout and began throwing grenades at him. Although stunned by a head wound, Sgt. Schreck crawled back to his patrol, obtained several hand grenades, made his way back to within ten yards of the enemy machine gun, and destroyed both gun and crew with a single grenade. At this time he was severely wounded, but he rejoined his patrol and engaged in a fire fight which lasted five hours, until the objective was taken and the enemy completely destroyed. The heroic determination and skill of Sgt. Schreck were largely responsible for the success of the mission and are worthy of the highest praise.

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