U.S. Rep. Blaine Luetkemeyer (MO-9) successfully attached to the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2012 an amendment giving qualified World War I Jewish military members the opportunity to receive the Medal of Honor, the nation’s highest military honor.

“As our nation prepares to honor our nation’s brave servicemen and women on Memorial Day, I am happy to see the House pass this amendment that allows for a review of military service records of Jewish American veterans who selflessly served in defense of our nation during World War I,” Luetkemeyer said. “This amendment honors the patriotism and service of American soldiers who fought for our nation’s freedom and security.”

The amendment would authorize the Secretary of the Army and Secretary of the Navy to review the records of Jewish American military members that served between April 6, 1917, and November 11, 1918, and who were previously awarded the Distinguished Service Cross, the Navy Cross or other military decoration for service during World War I.

Luetkemeyer’s amendment and legislation, the William Shemin Jewish World War I Veterans Act, is named after Sgt. William Shemin, a Jewish American who earned the Distinguished Service Cross (DSC) in 1918 for saving three of his fellow soldiers’ lives during an intense three-day battle in France, while also leading his platoon in combat after more senior soldiers were wounded or killed. Shemin passed away in 1973 but his daughter, Elsie Shemin-Roth, a resident of Labadie, MO, has passionately worked on behalf of her father’s military legacy. Mrs. Shemin-Roth proudly noted that her father’s DSC was approved by native Missourian and General of the Armies John J. Pershing.          

The precedent for such consideration has already been set. In 2001, Congress passed the Leonard Kravitz Jewish War Veterans Act which presented Jewish soldiers the opportunity to receive the Medal of Honor for their service in World War II.

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