Call Number:

Ms. Coll. 1407

Repository:

University of Pennsylvania: Kislak Center for Special Collections, Rare Books and Manuscripts

Extent:

0.2 linear feet (one box)

Language:

English

Preferred Citation:

David Mendelssohn papers relating to World War II, 1941-1950s, 1975, Ms. Coll. 1407, Kislak Center for Special Collections, Rare Books and Manuscripts, University of Pennsylvania

Date:

1941-1950s, 1975 (inclusive)

Creator:

Mendelssohn, David

Form:

Photographs, Correspondence, and Administrative records

Abstract:

David Mendelssohn (1915-1999) was a Jewish-American soldier during World War II. This collection documents in a limited way his service during World War II, from his draft to his honorable discharge.

David Mendelssohn was a Jewish-American soldier in World War II. He was born on December 20, 1915, in Wyoming to Russian immigrant parents, Solomon H. and Jennie Gadie Mendelsohn. He was raised with siblings Harry, Reva, Dorothy, and twin brother Bernard (Ben) Mendelsohn. He moved to California, to live with his uncle Edward Jacob Gadie.

With the escalation of World War II, Mendelssohn registered for the draft on October 16, 1940. On December 1, 1942, he enlisted in San Francisco as a private in the United States Army, after initially seeking service with the Navy. He served with the 104th Infantry Division (the Timberwolf Division), Camp Adair, Oregon, originally as a company clerk, but eventually worked with communications and was responsible for climbing telephone poles to string wires. He served in Europe, landing at Normandy Beach shortly after D-Day and was probably involved in the Battle of the Bulge. He was honorably discharged on November 16, 1945.

His twin brother, Ben (1915-1998), was a teacher who served in the Pacific Theater during World War II. It appears that he registered for the draft on the same day as his brother; but he enlisted earlier than David, on July 16, 1941.

David Mendelssohn was married to Agnes Lichtenfield (1921-1999) in 1942. Following his military service, he worked as a plumber, serving as president of Mendelssohn Plumbing and Supply, in Cotati, California, from at least 1958 to 1963. During the early 1970s, he worked as a plumber for Forman Plumbing. He died on July 12, 1999.

This collection documents, in a very limited way, David Mendelssohn's service during World War II. The collection is arranged in two series: Series 1. World War II service, and Series 2. Family and personal material.

Series 1. World War II service includes administrative documents from draft to honorable discharge. There are letters from selective service, letters relating to a transfer to serve with his twin brother (it was the War Department's policy "to assign twins to the same organization, unit, or station, to the extent practicable and when no urgent military reason exist[ed] to the contrary, provided they so desire[d]" and information about discharge. Of potential interest are Mendelssohn's handwritten notes about training for bayonet combat, as well as a handwritten quiz he took on the causes of, symptoms of, methods of prevention of, and tactics for protecting oneself from malaria. The quiz, which addresses the disease generally, also addresses specific risks to soldiers serving in World War II, particularly in the Southern Pacific theater.

Series 2. Family and personal materials includes photographs of Agnes and David Mendelssohn on their wedding day, in 1942. Additionally, there is one photograph of Agnes after the couple was married. There is also a photocopy from an unknown publication showing David and Agnes Mendelssohn as part of a 50th anniversary committee. It is unknown to what organization the committee belonged.

This collection may be of value to researchers looking at twins serving together in World War II, as well as administrative material relating to the draft and discharge of service members.