Howard J. Leavitt

Footsteps of David: Common Roots, Uncommon Valor Howard J. Leavitt

Little is known of Jewish participation in the history of the United States: even less of Jewish involvement in our armed forces. To read a history of our public schools, one would never know that Jews have been citizens, much less soldiers, of our country, from the inception of the Republic. While token mention is made of a Haym Solomon, or a Dr. Salk, scarce attention is paid to the important role of Jewish-Americans in the history of the United States. Footsteps of David acquaints the reader with dozens of stories of Jewish-American heroes, their role, service, and sacrifice in the military. Some of the participants are well known, most are obscure, unnoticed, and unpublicized. Other than their own circle of friends and family, few know of their heroic and unselfish service. Jewish service has been important, but unrecognized. While our ethnic/religious groups have all made their contribution to the aggrandizement, success, and defense of our country, the Jewish role has been ignored. Footsteps of David corrects that oversight. It fills that void. In Footsteps of David, one reads of dozens of Jewish GIs and heroes, participants in all of our conflicts and wars. They come to life. We read of their service, valor, honor, and sacrifice: the same as those of all our countrymen in defense of our country. They faced the same hardships, deprivations, and successes. But, at times, they had to do so in the face of antipathy and contempt, which made their task doubly difficult. That they emerged from the forge of enemy and friendly fire is further evidence of the difficult path that many trod. Thus, the undecorated as well as the decorated are true heroes of our nation. Cervantes said that his honor is dearer to him than his life. The pages of Footsteps of David exemplify the words of the great Spanish writer.