In 2014, Rabbi Jacob Schacter visited the Normandy American Cemetery and noticed a lack of Jewish grave markers among the thousands of American soldiers buried there. This observation led to the founding of Operation Benjamin, a nonprofit organization dedicated to correcting the headstones of Jewish American servicemen who were buried under crosses instead of Stars of David during World War I and World War II.
Shalom Lamm, co-founder and chief historian at Operation Benjamin, stated, "Our main task is justice and memory," emphasizing the importance of restoring the identities of these fallen soldiers. The organization collaborates with the American Battle Monuments Commission to investigate cases and change headstones.
The initiative began after Schacter and Lamm discovered that approximately 2.7% of American World War II casualties were Jewish, yet fewer than 150 Jewish markers were found at the Normandy cemetery. One notable case is that of Benjamin Garadetsky, a soldier whose dog tag incorrectly identified him as Protestant. This misidentification was common during the war, as many Jewish soldiers opted for non-Jewish identifiers to avoid persecution if captured.
Operation Benjamin conducts extensive historical and genealogical research to correct these errors, utilizing various records to establish evidence of Jewish identity. The organization has completed 40 headstone replacements and plans additional ceremonies, including one in France honoring Jewish American soldiers from World War I.
The upcoming ceremony will take place at the Meuse-Argonne American Cemetery, where families of the soldiers are expected to attend alongside representatives from the U.S., German, and Israeli governments. Lamm noted the significance of the event, stating, "What’s bringing people together now is Jewish soldiers."
The work of Operation Benjamin is particularly meaningful around Memorial Day, as it seeks to restore truth and honor to soldiers who can no longer speak for themselves.
