OneMansCourage

After talking to a number of Hoboken Veterans,
based on both your letter to me and the
stories some Hoboken Veterans told me about
your dad, I have decided that in this case we
will award the WWII Distinguished Military
Service Medal posthumously to you on behalf of
your father.

Apparently, your father has become somewhat of
a legend in his adopted City of Hoboken, so
much so that they dedicated a bench to him in
front of Hoboken's City Hall. I would be
honored to present you with the medal at our
next awards ceremony early next year.

The County of Hudson would like to thank the
World War II Veterans in attendance this
evening for their participation in this
ceremony. We want to recognize each of you as
members of the Greatest Generation for the
part which each of you played in insuring
that our Country and its Flag would be
preserved as a bastion of democracy in our
world.

Each of you served honorably in defending our
nation from the threat of the Axis forces of
Germany, Italy, and Japan. For the hardship
you endured from 1941-1945, your children and
the continuing generations have been able to
live for most of the last sixty-two years in
relative peace and comfort. For this, all the
residents of Hudson County are grateful.

In appreciation for your efforts, Hudson
County Executive Thomas DeGise, together with
the Hudson County Board of Chosen
Freeholders, and its Chairman Thomas F.
Liggio, instituted this medal program as a
token of appreciation from the Citizens of
Hudson County.

From the Office of the Mayor

Proclamation

Whereas, The Hudson County World War II
Distinguished Military Service Medal Ceremony
is being held this day of February 8, 2007 to
honor those Hudson County veterans who are
members of The Greatest Generation; and

Whereas, this is the third presentation of
Medals to World War II Veterans since its
inception in December, 2005 to a Hudson
County resident who, while serving in active
federal military service in the time of war,
was cited for especially meritorious service;
and

Whereas, Donald Schuman, because of his
extraordinary courage and patriotism, is a
recipient of The Hudson County World War II
Distinguished Military Service Medal for
going above and beyond the call of duty in
service to his country, as well as
demonstrating a commitment to the people of
his country through selfless acts of courage
and bravery, beyond measure and without
regard for personal safety;

Therefore, be it resolved that I, David
Roberts, Mayor of the City of Hoboken, do
hereby issue this proclamation on behalf of
the City of Hoboken and its citizens to
Donald Schuman in recognition of his
receiving The Hudson County World War II
Distinguished Military Service Medal, whereby
earning the distinction for his outstanding
military service record and loyalty to our
country and the principles of democracy.

David Roberts, Mayor (Signed)
James J. Farina (Signed)
Hoboken City Clerk

There is no doubt that war changes people, and I pray Pop's
story helps educate the public concerning the variations of
impact that war has on an individual, both physically and
mentally, and also helps to demonstrate the importance of
family and one's personal history.

Finding your roots is easy, and there are several great
genealogy websites on the Internet that can help you begin your
research. To name a few:

www.cyndislist.com

www.familysearch.org

www.looking4kin.com

www.rootsweb.com

www.nara.gov

www.ellisislandrecords.org

www.ancestry.com--a paid for site that also offers a
wealth of free information for researchers.

Millions of European immigrants came through Ellis Island
Immigrant Station between 1892 and 1954. In 1990, the facility
was restored and is now a museum, open to the public. A
research room is available for those wanting to explore their
family's passenger records. There are over 3.5 million actual
manifest pages available, including access to over 800 pictures
and histories of the vessels.

Another huge breakthrough for researchers is the Nazi Archives
in Arolsen, Germany. Since 1955, the International Committee of
the Red Cross (ICRC) has managed the International Tracing
Service (ITS) and its archives.

The archives house over fifty million file cards relating to
more than 17.5 million civilians persecuted by the Nazis. The
archives hold records of Germans and non-Germans held in Nazi
concentration camps, and those non-Germans who had to flee
their homes because of WWII. These records include those names
of the persons mentioned in the famous Schindler's List.

In 2005 alone, the ITS received 150,828 requests for
documentation from former casualties or their families who were
victimized by the Nazis during WWII.

A press release dated May 17, 2007 in Geneva, Switzerland,
stated, "The ITS in Bad Arolsen, Germany, agreed to measures
aimed at opening the ITS Archives for the purpose of historical
research and providing member States with copies of their
archives."

The eleven member States are Belgium, France, Germany, Greece,
Israel, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Poland, United Kingdom,
and the United States.

The ICRC stated, "We welcome this decision as an important step
toward making further use of the highly valuable information
gathered over the years at the ITS on the persecution of
millions of people by the Nazi regime. As this information
becomes available to researchers, it will help preserve the
memory of events that caused untold human suffering."

The National Archives and Records Administration in College
Park, Maryland, have an online finding aid to Holocaust-Era
Assets. These records are part of the Office of the Judge
Advocate General, War Crimes Branch, RG 153. Their website is
www.archives.gov/research/holocaust

The Jewish Genealogical Society of New York City donated
microfilm relating to Civilian Concentration Camp Prisoners to
The National Archives, Northeast Region. These records include
questionnaires, death registers, transport lists, and discharge
lists. I was told the only records they don't have are for
Auschwitz Concentration Camp. The website is

www.archives.gov/northeast

Addtional websites reference to the Holocaust:

www.jewishgen.org

www.ushmm.org (U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum)

www.footnote.com (The Holocaust Collection)

As for Pop's claim, it was dropped by the VA and can no longer
be pursued because Donald W. Schuman, the Veteran, has died.