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    Ordinary Heroes: History of a Family in War and Peace
    Ordinary Heroes: History of a Family in War and Peace
    Ordinary Heroes: History of a Family in War and Peace
    Ebook75 pages59 minutes

    Ordinary Heroes: History of a Family in War and Peace

    By Ruth S. Hertzberg

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    This brief book tell about the lives of two participants in World War II, Abraham and Isidore Hertzberg and their lives after they returned from this conflagration. There fore it is both a bona fide account of combat plus a family history. There are some unbelievable incidents in this account. If it were not for the navigational knowledge of Abraham Hertzberg, he might not have even made it to his base in England. Isidore Hertzberg might have fought in the Battle of the Bulge, if the Germans had been stronger. The lives of these brothers after the war is unremarkable, except that Abraham became a very successful Civil engineer and Architect, and Isadore, while working as a carpenter sired a fine family who have far exceeded his own academic achievements. This book surveys the lives of both ordinary and extraordinary people and is a reflection of life in the United States in the second half of the 20th century.
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherAuthorHouse
    Release dateJul 9, 2012
    ISBN9781477220870
    Ordinary Heroes: History of a Family in War and Peace
    Author

    Ruth S. Hertzberg

    I am qualified to write this book, "Ordinary Heroes" because I knew the two getlemen, Abraham and Isidore Hertzberg. They were my brother-in-laws. I lived through the time period being discussed (World War II) and thereafter. I am a trained historian with a doctor of Arts degree in History from Carnegie Mellon University. I have already written a book entitled "Its Trying To Teach" published by Outskirts Press. I have wanted to write this book for a long time. Then I received a long treatise from Abraham Hertzberg in December 2011 which contained much information that I did not know. Unfortunately, he died while I waxs involved in writing. (He was over 90) but had enjoyed good health on his 90th birthday. Thus it has become impossible to verify some of the events in this book. Recently, I have received some help from the oldest son of Isidore Hertzberg, Frederic Hertzberg. My own bioghraphy includes having been a teacher and a Professor of History in both public schools, private schools and colleges and Unicersities. I was part of the founding faculty of the American University in Bulgaria, the first "western" Institution in a former communist country. I am married (it is 60 years now) to Martin Hertzberg and we had five children, one of whom had a rare disease. It was my second son who died of a disease few people have even heard of : Dystonia musculorum deformans. This event was definitely the most challenging of our many years together. Of the children who are still alive, two are medical doctors, one is a lawyer, presently a judge, and our fourth son is the head of the US Office of a computer firm. We have seven grandchildren and three great grandchildren. We derive much pleasure from seeing them and celebrating with them. We, my husband and I, live in Copper Mountain Colorado. We moved here to enjoy skiing and other recreational opportunities. However recent surgeries may make that more difficult for me, Ruth Hertzberg. I have been a swimmer and a tri-athlete. I may try to run again in a race this June (2012). But now I would like to celebrate the lives of Abraham and Isidore Hertzberg

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      Book preview

      Ordinary Heroes - Ruth S. Hertzberg

      Ordinary Heroes

      History of a Family in War and Peace

      Ruth S. Hertzberg

      US%26UKLogoB%26Wnew.ai

      AuthorHouse™

      1663 Liberty Drive

      Bloomington, IN 47403

      www.authorhouse.com

      Phone: 1-800-839-8640

      © 2012 by Ruth S. Hertzberg. All rights reserved.

      No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any means without the written permission of the author.

      Published by AuthorHouse 07/03/2012

      ISBN: 978-1-4772-2086-3 (sc)

      ISBN: 978-1-4772-2087-0 (e)

      Library of Congress Control Number: 2012910666

      Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Thinkstock are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

      Certain stock imagery © Thinkstock.

      Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

      Contents

      Foreword Ordinary Heroes: A Family In War And Peace

      Introduction Ordinary Heroes: Haunting Family History In War And Peace

      I In The Beginning

      II Childhood And Adolescence

      III World War II—The First Years

      IV World War Ii—The Action For Abie

      V Izzy In World War II

      VI Back In The Us

      VII The Rest Of Their Lives

      VIII Ordinary Endings

      Foreword

      ORDINARY HEROES:

      A Family in War and Peace

      I always wanted to write an account of the experiences of my husband’s brother, Abraham Hertzberg, whom I thought was an unsung hero of World War II because he had been a navigator with the Army Air Force and flown 25 missions over Germany (Later I would learn it was thirty and that Abie Hertzberg was the only survivor in his class of navigators.)

      Thinking about heroes, I had decided that Abie’s younger brother Isidore (forever afterward to be known as Izzy) was also an ordinary hero. I would receive a fairly long treatise from Abraham Hertzberg (afterward to be known as Abie), that gave the whole history of the Hertzberg family from the earliest times Abie had ever heard of, up until a few months (maybe six) before his death. He said it was the whole truth and also called it The Making of an American. He sent it to me, Ruth S. Hertzberg, his sister-in-laws. It was sent to me in the hope . . . maybe even the expectation that I would get his recollections published.

      I never spoke to Izzy about any of his experiences, nor did he ever mention his wartime experiences. I have had to rely on my husband’s recollections, plus those of his oldest son Frederic, and Izzy’s wife Bessy. Neither of these two brothers has a middle name, nor does my husband, Marty. My husband says the family was too poor to afford middle names.

      Abie died in January of 2012, while I was engaged in writing up his memoirs, so I could not check the veracity of several of the episodes but I have noted places where I had my doubts as to the accuracy of what was written to me.

      I received Abie’s treatise shortly before his death. It contained a detailed account of his experiences as a navigator, an officer in the US Army 8th Air Force, plus a map. Then I knew I had enough material to write a meaningful account of this most marvelous family into which I had married. I am not sure it was the whole truth. Memory becomes blurred with the passage of time and one remembers some events in great detail and others hardly at all. I have included several occasions in the course of my life that I remember encounters with my brothers-in law which give insight into their character. If anyone fills the category of an ordinary hero it is these two gentlemen who led exemplary lives. It is with great pleasure and some trepidation that I write this account of Ordinary Heroes.

      So let the story begin and may the reader be edified by the account of two exceptional men.

      Introduction

      ORDINARY HEROES:

      Haunting Family History in

      War and Peace

      Who in the world are Abie and Izzie Hertzberg? If they are heroes why have you never heard of them? Briefly, for the sake of heroism, I will state that Lieutenant Abraham Hertzberg, US Army Air Force, flew thirty (30) missions over Germany during World War II, serving as a lead navigator of a B-17 squadron. Lieutenant Abraham Hertzberg is the gentleman on the left in the picture on the cover. Isidore Hertzberg, three years younger, was a Sergeant in the Army Air Force. He almost fought in the Battle of the Bulge, an opportunity he was glad to miss. He is the gentleman on the right (shorter) in the picture on the cover. Both brothers, having survived the

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