Host: Robert Jacobs, Jewish War Veterans of the USA, Vietnam Veterans Committee
Moderator: Sheldon Goldberg, Ph.D., USAF (Ret.), National Museum of American Jewish Military History

Panelists:
1. Michael Corbett
USMC
In Nam 1965-1966
3rd Bn 4th Marine Regt HQ Co & 3rd platoon
Infantry machine gunner

2. Joseph Goldstein
USN
Oct 1966-May 1967; Sept 1967-May 1968
USS Coral Sea & USS Ranger in Gulf of Tonkin
F-4 Radar Intercept Officer; flew over North Vietnam on 106 fighter combat air patrol & bombing missions

3. Stan Goldstein
USAF
March 1968-December 1968 Korat AFB Thailand
Flew 100 missions over North Vietnam

4. Dick Kurtz
US Army
1966-1967 1st Infantry Division; Forward Observer in infantry rifle company, Artillery Officer in infantry battalion
1970-1971 Staff Officer 101st Airborne Division, S-3 Operations Officer for Duster Battalions on DMZ fire bases

5. Jacob (Jack) Romo
US Army Medical Officer
1966-1967- 25th Division Social Work Officer in Cu Chi; Mental Hygiene Clinic; 93rd Evac Hospital Psychiatric Augmentation Detachment

What were the experiences of the Vietnam War like for Jewish veterans? Did being Jewish matter or not? Our panel of veterans discuss their experiences, what it was like serving in an unpopular war and how their identity as American Jews impacted (or didn't) their time in the military.

Panelists:
1. Jerry Alperstein
USN
1967 USS Charles R. Ware DD865 (destroyer) Yankee Station part of Task Force 77 20-25 miles off the coast; Operation Sea Dragon operating one-to-five miles off the coast of North Vietnam
Communications

2. David Brog
USAF
1968 flew out of Korat AFB Thailand
Tech intelligence on Surface to Air Missiles (SAMs), flew Wild Weasel missions against SAMs & developed tactics and techniques against SAMs

3. Allen Falk
USMC
1969-1970 1st Marine Corp Division in I Corps
Staff Legal Officer

4. Sheldon Goldberg
USAF
1968-1969 Ubon Thailand
F-4D Weapons Systems Officer; flew 214 combat missions (211 over Laos & 3 over North Vietnam)

5. Robert (Bob) Jacobs
U.S. Army
1969-1970
1st Cavalry Division (Airmobile) HQ in Phuoc Vinh III Corps northwest of Saigon ; 3rd Brigade HQ in Quan Loi to help run Taskforce Shoemaker (spring 1970 Cambodia incursion)
Infantry on arrival in RVN; retrained as personnel clerk; became Head Clerk of HHC 1st Cav Div

Howard Mortman joins us to discuss When Rabbis Bless Congress: The Great American Story of Jewish Prayers on Capitol Hill and the military chaplains who have delivered the prayers.

Congress opens each session with a prayer offered by a chaplain or guest chaplain. Among the guest chaplains: Rabbis.

This book is about the rabbis. It’s an unprecedented examination of 160 years of Jewish prayers delivered in the literal and figurative center of American democracy. With exhaustive research written in approachable prose, it uniquely tells the story of over 400 rabbis giving over 600 prayers since the Civil War days—who they are and what they say.

Few written works examine the tradition of prayers in government. This new angle will appeal to students (and lovers) of American history, Congress, American Jewish history, and religion. It’s a welcome, important addition to our understanding of Congress and Jewish contribution to America.

Howard Mortman is communications director for C-SPAN, the public service providing television coverage of the U.S. Congress. A veteran of Washington, DC, media organizations, he has observed Congress from positions at MSNBC, National Journal’s Hotline, Broadcasting Board of Governors, and New Media Strategies. He graduated from the University of Maryland.

Co-sponsored by the JWB Jewish Chaplains Council of the JCCA.

Register here.