Well-earned recognition for a Jewish-American hero

Sgt. William SheminFor the second time in his administration, President Barack Obama has made extraordinary efforts to recognize servicemen whose valor was somehow overlooked due to race, ethnicity or religion.  On June 2, the president awarded the Medal of Honor to two men:  Pvt. Henry Johnson, an African-American soldier, and Sgt. William Shemin, who was Jewish.  As we’ve just passed Memorial Day, it seems only fitting to congratulate both of these men on achieving the recognition that they so richly deserve.  A century late is better than never.

As this is a Jewish publication, I’d like to elaborate briefly on Sgt. Shemin. Born in Bayonne, New Jersey, in 1896, William Shemin played semi-professional baseball and served as a forest ranger before enlisting in the Army in October of 1917.  After basic training, Shemin was assigned as a rifleman in Company G, 47th Infantry Regiment, 4th Infantry Division, stationed in France. 

In August of 1918, Shemin was fighting on the banks of the Vesle River, near Bazoches.  On three different occasions, he left his fortified position, exposing himself to heavy machine gun fire, in order to rescue fellow soldiers who were wounded.  After all his superiors were either wounded or killed, he took command of his platoon until he also was wounded. Shemin only left the battle after receiving a bullet wound to his head and shrapnel wound to his back. 

Elsie Shemin-Roth, Shemin’s daughter, was instrumental in his receipt of the Medal of Honor.  In an online interview, she spoke of a conversation that she had with Jim Pritchard, who had served alongside her father and was one of the three men rescued that day.  Pritchard told Elsie that her father was deserving of the Medal of Honor, a far greater honor than the Distinguished Service Cross he received for his actions.  According to Pritchard, Shemin’s Jewish faith had kept him from receiving that award.

Although Shemin passed away in 1973, Elsie Shemin-Roth never forgot that conversation.  Although she apparently asked her father to pursue his Medal of Honor claim when he was still living, he was a modest man, not interested in accolades.   In 2001, she began to carve her way through bureaucracy, pursuing her father’s case tirelessly, until she received a call from the president last year. He expressed his congratulations to both her father for his heroic service and to Elsie for her tenacity.

Shemin left behind more than a legacy of heroism.  He instilled in his family a love for service.  His son Manny served in the Air Force during the Korean War, rising to the rank of Major.  Elsie’s son (William’s grandson) also served, becoming a Marine.  Another son, Joe, retired recently from the Navy.  The extended family gathered at the White House to receive Shemin’s Medal of Honor in his name.

The Shemin family reminds us that we can be proud of both our faith and our country.  Congratulations to them on achieving this important recognition for Sgt. William Sheman, Jewish-American patriot.

PETE ZUBOF is a native of Richmond, Virginia. He completed his undergraduate studies at the University of Maryland and has a master’s degree from the University of Rhode Island. He’s a pilot in the United States Navy and currently on the staff of the Naval War College. Pete is also the Jewish lay-leader for Naval Station Newport. Pete blogs regularly for 401j. He resides in Jamestown with his wife, Morgan, their son, Logan and dog Cider.