U.S. Rep. Blaine Luetkemeyer (MO-9) today announced that the House has given final approval to legislation he first sponsored more than a year ago to ensure that Jewish World War I veterans have the ability to receive the recognition they deserve for extraordinary acts of military service. The legislation, which was prompted by a case involving the father of one of Luetkemeyer’s constituents, was passed as part of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2012. The bill awaits final Senate approval and the president’s signature.

Luetkemeyer’s original legislation, known as the William Shemin Jewish World War I Veterans Act,is named after Sgt. William Shemin, a Jewish American who earned the Distinguished Service Cross 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 Distinguished Service Cross was approved by native Missourian and General of the Armies John J. Pershing.  

“A wrong has been made right and only in America can something like this happen. I only wish my father was here today to witness this,” Shemin-Roth said. “I will be forever thankful to Congressman Luetkemeyer and his staff members for their assistance in making this happen.”

The bill allows for the review of military service records of Jewish American soldiers and sailors who previously were awarded the Distinguished Service Cross or Navy Cross for service during World War I to determine if their service should have been recognized with the Medal of Honor, America’s highest military decoration.

“It is critically important that we provide brave Jewish Americans like Sergeant Shemin the opportunity to receive the recognition they may not have been afforded because of potential discrimination at the time,” Luetkemeyer said. “Our nation owes a debt of gratitude to the many brave men and women who served this country with honor, as they are the reason our nation stands as a shining example for other freedom-loving nations around the world. I look forward to seeing this legislation become law.”

Congress has previously required reviews of veterans who may have been overlooked.  In 2001, Congress passed the Leonard Kravitz Jewish War Veterans Act, which gave Jewish soldiers the opportunity to receive the Medal of Honor for their service in World War II. And the 1997 Defense Authorization Act waived restrictions and limitations so that Asian American, American Pacific Islanders and African American veterans’ files could be reviewed to determine if they should be awarded the Medal of Honor. 

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