Jean Wiedermann was born on January 24, 1919, in San Antonio, Texas. His dad wasfrom Romania and his mother was of Russian ancestry.Jean graduated from the Wharton School-University of Pennsylvania and got his master’sdegree from the University of Chicago. In 1942, Jean entered WWII becoming a MedicalSupply Officer in the 13 th Army Air Corp.After Continue Reading »
Bernard Whitman, by Larry HoltzmanBernie Whitman was born in Poland on March 5, 1920. He immigrated to America with his parents when he was 6 months old. As a teenager, he worked for his uncle in a successful New York City hat manufacturing company. They made knockoffs of elegant women’s hats that they spied watching Continue Reading »
The only Jewish soldier to be killed in action was Lewis A. Stein (9/17/1924-1/8/1945), the son of Morris and Mae Rose Stein. He was born in Brownsville and served as a Sunday school teacher at Temple Beth-El. He graduated from Brownsville High School and entered Texas A & M.When World War II began, Lewis Stein Continue Reading »
Sidney Sommer was born May 23, 1925, in Brownsville to Oscar and Laura Sommer. On July 13, 1943, Sidney joined the Navy during WWII. He and his two brothers were in the war as well as two brothers-in-law. After training, Sidney became a pharmacist mate in the Navy. He was discharged on April 6, 1946. Continue Reading »
Marcel “Buddy” Sommer was born November 28, 1921, above the Sommer’s Furniture Store at 1208 E. Adams St. in downtown Brownsville. He was one of seven children (four girls and three boys) of Oscar and Laura Sommer. The family was very involved with Temple Beth-El.Buddy graduated from Brownsville High School and joined the U.S. Army Continue Reading »
David Sommer was born in Brownsville on November 30, 1923, to Oscar and Laura Sommer.He entered WWII in the Army Air Corp. David was chosen to train in electronics and thebeginning of computer science. David Sommer was in the 9 th Army Air Corp and assigned towork in England with the team using the world’s Continue Reading »
Allan Sherman was born in Chicago on September 16, 1928, to Bernard Sherman and EleanorGoldblatt. He passed away on January 3, 1981, at the age of 52.He enlisted in the US Army during the Korean War on April 18, 1952. He was honorably dischargedin 1954. His rank was Corporal.A native of Chicago, he had been Continue Reading »
Frank Philips (Pernikoff) was born December 13, 1913, in New York City. He lived inBrownsville for five years. He was assistant principal for the Brownsville Migrant School.Frank died August 8, 1972. He was survived by his wife, Birdie Herman Phillips, his daughter,Ann Roslyn Boudreaux of Anchorage, Alaska, a son, Fred Phillips of Hollywood, Florida, hissister, Continue Reading »
Eddie Paris was born September 30, 1916. He met his wife, Bernice, in 1944. They weremarried the same year. Bernice was called “Rusty” because of her bright red hair.Eddie was attached to the Army Air Corps and served in Hawaii, Iceland and England. Hewaseventually stationed at the Harlingen Air Base as a crew chief on Continue Reading »
George Palfy, Holocaust Survivor, Veteran, US ArmyGeorge Palfy, a longtime Brownsville resident died on October 17, 2011, at the age of 80. His mother, Ann, had taken care of him for many years because of a bad motorcycle accident that hesuffered.George was born March 6, 1931, in Bratislava, Czechoslovakia, and enjoyed a happy childhood until Continue Reading »