CENTER FOR U.S. WAR
VETERANS' ORAL HISTORIES
World War II
Isidore Beckerman
World War II Oral History Interview
US Army, 80th Infantry Division
Date: July 14, 2004
Interviewer: Michelle Carrara
Summarizer: Leah McGonigle
Summary
Isidore Beckerman was born to immigrant parents in New York City. His parents owned a grocery store in Brooklyn, where he worked prior to the outbreak of war. Beckerman had family members in both Germany and Poland who were all lost to the Holocaust. News about the attack on Pearl Harbor came to him through a customer who entered the grocery store while he was working. Not long after, Beckerman was drafted; he entered the U.S. Army in 1942 at the age of 22. He had not considered enlisting due to his parents’ financial dependence on him, causing them to sell the store once he was drafted.
Beckerman was initially sent to Camp Upton, New York, for processing and then to Fort Jackson, South Carolina for basic training. According to him, training was difficult yet educational and was a good experience for him. At the time, he was part of the 77th Infantry regiment, which was transferred to Fort Hood, Texas. Before going to Fort Hood, Beckerman received a 10-day furlough, which he used to return home to Brooklyn to get married. His wife followed him to Texas, but soon discovered that she was pregnant and returned home.
Beckerman had been recommended for Officer Candidate School (OCS) by an officer and chose to enter the anti-aircraft branch, thinking it would be safer. He studied anti-aircraft at Camp Davis, North Carolina for 90 days, which was physically and mentally difficult. Beckerman’s specialty was a 90-millimeter cannon that he learned to operate. He was in the bottom of his OCS class because of how physically demanding it was, yet he completed the 90 days and came out as a Second Lieutenant.
Beckerman was transferred back to the infantry as the need for junior officers in Europe rose, and was shipped overseas as a replacement. He traveled aboard the Queen Mary, a luxury liner converted to a troop transport, which landed in Scotland. From Scotland, Beckerman and his fellow replacements took a train to England, where he was assigned to Company F of the 317th Infantry regiment. During the Battle of the Bulge, the 317th was assigned to break through the German lines and aid the 101st Airborne Division.
Beckerman was wounded during the ensuing fight, but, fortunately for him, it was a “million-dollar wound” as the shrapnel went through his leg without hitting bone. He was flown to Portsmouth, England, for treatment. Once released, Beckerman was given a few days’ leave in London before returning to the 317th as a first lieutenant, but the war in Europe had ended. Many men were being sent back to the United States on the “point system.” He was temporarily assigned to the United Nations Relief Authority for about six weeks. Following that assignment, Beckerman returned to his diminished regiment in Germany as a company executive officer.
Soldiers in Europe were fearful of being sent to the Pacific, where the war still raged, as well as an invasion of Japan was planned. This situation led Beckerman to comment that dropping the atomic bombs was a “necessity”. He was sent home on the U.S.S. Philadelphia, which landed in Manhattan. Beckerman was sent to Camp Kilmer, New Jersey, and was able to “sneak out” for a day to visit his wife and infant son in Brooklyn while he awaited discharge from active duty, which occurred in February 1946.
Beckerman decided to enlist in the inactive reserves following his service in World War II. When the Korean War broke out, he received a notice to report for a physical, and was told he had to waive the disability payment he was receiving for his wound! When Beckerman refused to give up his disability claim, he was discharged.
Beckerman went on to work for a company for 41 years, eventually becoming the executive vice president. At the time of his interview, he was commander of the Jewish War Veterans in Manalapan, New Jersey.
Isidore Beckerman died peacefully at CentraState Hospital at the age of 98 on September 21, 2017.
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