2006-06
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 5/31/2006
Collection includes: Two letters to Rabbi Leon H. Elmaleh, Phila. on letterheads of the “Penna War History Commission” dated Sept. 20 and 22, 1920 in response to his earlier inquiry for official forms to be completed by Jewish servicemen, as well as the Commission’s response upon receiving those forms and their return to Rabbi Elmaleh. Second letter confirms: “[We] are sending you… the 27 War Service Records which you sent to this commission. These records have been copied and filed with our archives.” Accompanying letters are the actual 27 forms, each completed by the respective serviceman (and woman) each 8 ½ x 11; bold headlines “PENNA WAR HISTORY COMMISSION…WAR SERVICE RECORD OF SOLDIERS, SAILORS AND MARINES.” (penned notation in corner of each: “Kindly return to Leon H. Elmaleh.”) Among those forms is one by a lady “Hortense Levy” who served with the “Signal Corps / Women’s Telephone Unit” 1918 accompanied by her note attesting to her service in France. Rabbi Elmaleh himself completed a form: “War Service Record of War Welfare Workers” indicating he served as a chaplain at the League Island Navy Yard as member of the Jewish Welfare Board. The service record completed and signed by Simon L. B. Cohen of Machine Gun Batt’n, 1’st U.S. Division Infantry is accompanied by lengthy letter from him in which he describes his war record, having seen much action and personally received the Croix de Guerre from General Foch; was recommended for the D.S.C. by General Pershing…and the “WAR SERVICE RECORD” completed by JACQUES M. SWAAB SERVED AS CAPTAIN WITH 22’ND U.S. AERO SQDN AND IS OFFICIALLY RANKED AMONG THE TEN LEADING U.S. AIR ACES OF THAT WWI. Accompanied by typed letter with his service record and another typed note with citation for “D.S.C.” as well as penned letter by him on his personal letterhead from N.Y. Sept. 1, 1920 to Rabbi Elmaleh in which he mentions “enclosing copy of a citation just received from the War Dept. for the D.S.C. to be used in connection with my “War Record” sent to you.” ACCOMPANIED BY IMPORTANT SUBSTANTIATING PHOTOSTATS FROM: “Air Facts and Feats; A Record of Aerospace Achievement” (pub. by Doubleday N.Y. 1970) with Capt. Swaab’s name included under the heading “Ten Most Successful American Pilots of the First World War”; also stats from “OVER THE FRONT; COMPLETE RECORD OF THE FIGHTER ACES AND UNITS OF THE U.S. AND FRENCH AIR SERVICES 1914-18” (pub. London, 1992) with lengthy bio sketch of Swaab of the 22’nd Aero Sqdn. description of an exciting air victory in which he displayed special heroism for which he received D.S.C. along with list of German planes he shot down; also photostats from the “Jewish Legion of Valor” (pub. N.Y. 1934) with full page photo portrait of Swaab and fine bio sketch. All documents light normal aging; Exc. A unique collection.
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