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BERGER’S BERG: The Jewish-American soldier was always there

By Alex Berger

Nov. 11 is Veterans Day. Throughout our history, the patriotic voice of Jewish-Americans has been loud and clear. Do you know that they have fought to protect the liberty and freedom of our nation in all major American wars since before the War of Independence and always in numbers greater than the percentage of the total American population?

During the American Revolution, there were about 4,000 Jews living in what was soon to become the United States;. About 400 of them, representing 10 percent of the total population fought the British while serving in the Colonial army.

Among the most prominent of these Jewish soldiers was Lt. Col. Solomon Busch, who served the Revolutionary cause under the command of George Washington. He fought well and was wounded at the Battle of Brandywine.

The civilian Jewish colonialists also helped the war effort. Crucial to the success of Washington