The Few, The Proud, The Chosen

Commentary Magazine ^ | 9/1/10 | Sam Jacobson

[Nachum]

The first week at United States Marine Corps Officer Candidate School, our instructor platoon commander pulled me aside and asked whether I needed kosher meals. “Good evening, Sir. This candidate does not want the Platoon Commander to go out of his way for this candidate, Sir,” I stammered, standing at stiff attention, still tentative with my candidate-speak. “I don’t care what you want, Candidate. I’m just trying to find out if kosher meals are what you need.”

I wasn’t going to tell the captain that I grew up with a cut-and-paste Upper West Side–style Judaism, with friends who described themselves as “4-F peacenik yids.” Nor did I tell him that I kept kosher at my dad’s—on 96th and Columbus—but not at my mom’s—on 96th and Broadway. That I never ate swine, sometimes ate shellfish, occasionally filtered my tap water to rid it of treyf crustaceans, and am still an on-again-off-again vegetarian. I wasn’t about to tell the captain about my mishigas with Judaism. On the question of kosher meals, I believe I settled for a motivated (loud) and noncommittal, “Aye, Sir, good evening, Sir,” about-faced, and double-timed back to formation.

A few weeks later, I did take advantage of the generous mood of religious accommodation and feared I was becoming the perfidious Sheldon Grossbart from Philip Roth’s “Defender of the Faith,” who feigns orthodox observance to win special favor at Army boot camp in 1945. Once a week, our drill instructors marched us into a series of rooms for “Prayer and Praise.” More than 200 funneled into the largest room, reserved for a generic Christian liturgy.

[Nachum]

I know at least one Jewish Marine.

[JOHN ADAMS]

Our next door neighbor is one - enlisted out of college, I believe is at knife and fork school now. He was home a couple of months ago and was very warmly welcomed when he came to shul on Saturday morning. We Jews are learning what time it is, what needs to be done, and whom we can do it with.

[Jewbacca]

I’ve known a few, as well.

[yefragetuwrabrumuy]

There are few more potent forces in the military than properly motivated chaplains. One was once described to me as being either immovable object or unstoppable force. An accurate description.

It is not an easy job, as they have to face up to some terrible human tragedy and deep depression. They also have to be able, at a moments notice, to take charge, as an alternative chain of command, if the regular chain has failed.

While I have seen both good and bad examples of military clergy, I have never seen what could be called a “ferocious rabbi”. And this is someone that is needed for military personnel.

This is not to say that Rabbi Chaplains are bad. They are often very good. But it is a question of whether or not they are good enough, and in the right way.

[equalitybeforethelaw]

Well written. Makes me pine for my Platoon Commander days. Too bad for the LT that when it becomes known that he can write well he will be sitting in S-1 handling all the Battalions correspondence. Believe me, once he is taught to write “militarese” his writing talents will be done.

[HiTech RedNeck]

You’d probably need a Chabadnik or equivalent, and those aren’t usually interested in being anything but a very evangelistic civilian.

[JoeGar]

I was shirtless in the field one day, and a fellow lieutenant saw my dog tags up close for the first time. Religious Preference: Jewish. “I didn’t know you were Jewish, Jacobson. It’s good that it says it here. That way when you’re captured, al-Qaeda will know to arrange for kosher meals.”

Great lines! I wish I could write like that.

[Jewbacca]

I bet you could get one on loan from the IDF. Get one of the special forces Rabbis; they carry rifles and took their oath at Masada.

I flew a US F-16, for example. I was “on loan” from the IAF.

I am sure other officer corps do it.

[Nepeta]

Gotta love Marines.

[allmendream]

Well a couple U.S. soldiers, when surrounded, did get captured by Al Queda in Iraq.... they were tortured to death.

Haven't heard much about our soldiers surrendering after that. Kind of a good way of making sure your enemy fights on to the bitter end and the last man! Jewish dog tags or no!

[allmendream]

prior to that, hearts and minds meant “put two in the heart and one in the mind.”

OMG! Consider that stolen without attribution!!!

[EDINVA]

My son told me everyone at his basic (Army) training was “Jewish” because those services were the only place they could get anything sweet to eat, i.e., cinnamon stix. He did, however, take up serious study of Judaism at that time and is still seen occasionally at Friday evening services at a nearby synogogue.

[Sergio]

Great read.