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

CORPORAL MATTHEW S. FOX

Distinguished Service Cross

Corporal Matthew Fox, Battery F, 104^th Field Artillery, was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross for conspicuous gallantry in action in the vicinity of Brabant-sur-Meuse, France, November 4, 1918. While the battery position was being subjected to severe gas and high-explosive shells Corporal Fox rescued the bodies of two comrades from a gun emplacement hit by an enemy shell, extinguishing the burning camouflage, and arousing the remainder of the gun crew while about two hundred fuses and rounds of shells were exploding at a nearby ammunitions dump.

LIEUTENANT THEODORE FRANKEL

Distinguished Service Cross

Lieutenant Theodore Frankel, 27, of Moodus, Conn., was wounded in action in the South Pacific. He received the Distinguished Service Cross, Silver Star with Oak-Leaf Cluster, and Purple Heart for extraordinary heroism in that theatre of operations.

When the enemy launched a strong counterattack against his section near Maffin Bay, Dutch New Guinea, Lieutenant Frankel braved heavy fire to bring help to three enlisted men. He succeeded in evacuating them to a place of safety.

"On numerous occasions during a two-day period," says the Distinguished Service Cross citation, "he fearlessly led patrols engaged in the destruction of strong enemy positions concealed in caves. He personally destroyed enemy positions by rocket launcher and flame thrower and, despite severe burns on his hands, successfully accomplished his mission."

Lieutenant Frankel also saw action on Luzon, where he was wounded in the leg while stalking a sniper. On that occasion, he refused to be evacuated and took part in a tank-hunting mission. He succeeded in firing two rounds of rocket launcher at an approaching tank and knocking it out. Changing position to fire on a second tank, however, he was seriously wounded.

MAJOR MELVIN GARTEN

Distinguished Service Cross

Major Garten of Brooklyn was a veteran of World War II who reenlisted for the Korean War where he earned a Distinguished Service Cross. He received the medal for action near Surang-Ni on October 30, 1952 while serving as captain of Company K, 312 Infantry Regiment.

His citation reads: "Observing that assault elements of Company F and G were pinned down by withering fire on a dominant hill feature, he voluntarily proceeded alone up the rugged slope and reaching the besieged troops found that the key personnel had been wounded and the unit was without command. Dominating the critical situation through sheer force of his heroic example, he rallied approximately eight men, assigned four light machine guns, distributed grenades and employing the principle of fire and maneuver stormed enemy trenches and bunkers with such tenacity that the foe was completely routed and the objective secured. Quickly readying defensive positions against enemy counterattack he directed and coordinated a holding action until reinforcements arrived. Major Garten's inspirational leadership, unflinching courage under fire and valorous actions reflect the highest credit upon himself and are in keeping with the cherished traditions of the military service."

PRIVATE ALBERT E. GELLMAN

Distinguished Service Cross

Private Gellman, of Albany, N.Y., received the Distinguished Service Cross and Bronze Star for extraordinary heroism in Anzio, Italy where, with one companion, he captured nearly a score of Germans.

LIEUTENANT HARRY GILBERT

Distinguished Service Cross

Lieutenant Gilbert, 26, of Chicago, was killed in action on Attu. Under furious enemy fire, he had led his platoon into Japanese-held territory. When his troops began to run out of ammunition, Gilbert himself made the dangerous trip back for more.

Three trips were necessary. On the third trip concealed Japanese soldiers attacked him. He was cited posthumously for "outstanding leadership" that "inspired his platoon" and caused its noncoms to emulate him.

LIEUTENANT JOSEPH GLIDER

Distinguished Service Cross

Lieutenant Glider of Philadelphia, PA, served in Europe and received the Distinguished Service Cross for extraordinary heroism, and the Purple Heart with Oak-Leaf Cluster for wounds received in action.

With another officer, Lieutenant Glider was sent out on a motorized reconnaissance mission to locate the enemy anti-tank gun and two machine guns that were delaying the advance of his unit. The officers had advanced only 300 yards when crossfire from the guns they were in search of killed the driver and severely wounded Glider and the other officer. There were three bullets wounds in Glider's chest but he braved the fire of the enemy's guns and, despite his own pain, removed the wounded officer and the body of the driver from the burning vehicle.

Then Glider went forward alone, in search of the position of the German guns. He found them and returned to a mortar observation post with the information. After that, Glider stayed on to direct mortar and machine-gun fire on the positions he had ascertained. As a result, the enemy gun crews were killed, their guns knocked out of action.

Glider was evacuated only after he fell unconscious, after his mission was completed.

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