Pod Save America Hosts Call on Democrats to Cut All Israel Military Aid, No Longer Accept AIPAC Funding
Jews, Israelis Targeted in Austria Amid Surge in Antisemitic Incidents; Local Jewish Community Calls for Action
‘All of Our Strength’: Over 1,000 Pro-Israel Activists Gather in DC for Solidarity Conference
‘Devastated’: Wesley LePatner, Killed in Manhattan Mass Shooting, Was a Jewish Communal, Philanthropic Leader
Sen. Angus King Vows to No Longer Vote for Israel Military Aid Until Gaza Conditions Improve
Europe Won’t Pressure Israel to ‘Commit Suicide’ Amid Gaza Backlash, Palestinian State Push, Says Israeli FM
Israel’s National Soccer Coach Attacked in Athens Before Soccer Fans Chant ‘F–K Israel, Free Palestine’ at Match
New York Judge Sentences Neo-Nazi to 5 Years for Livestreaming Bomb Threats Against Jewish Hospitals
US Pressures Lebanon to Issue Cabinet Decision to Disarm Hezbollah Before Talks Continue
UK Plans to Recognize Palestinian State in September Unless Israel Meets Conditions, Starmer Says
Lenny Kravitz’s Jewish Uncle and Namesake Among New Minority Medal of Honor Recipients
by Shiryn Ghermezian
Musician Lenny Kravitz. Photo: Twitter.
Musician Lenny Kravitz’s Jewish uncle and namesake is among 24 Army veterans who will belatedly receive Medals of Honor.
The awards, to be presented by President Barack Obama, are part of an effort to correct potential past acts of bias and prejudice.
A ceremony scheduled for March 18 will honor the veterans who are mostly of Hispanic or Jewish heritage and who have already received the Distinguished Service Cross, the nation’s second-highest military award. They were originally passed over for Medals of Honor, the highest commendation for combat valor, because of their racial or ethnic backgrounds, the Associated Press reported.
Among them is Pfc. Leonard M. Kravitz, who was born in New York City in 1931, and was killed during U.S. combat operations in Yangpyong, South Korea, on March 6-7, 1951. His nephew, the famed singer-songwriter who was named in his honor, shares both a first and last name with his deceased uncle.
Only three of the recipients are still living. Of the 24, eight fought in the Vietnam War, nine in the Korean War and seven in World War II.
The Army began to review potential Medal of Honor recipients after a directive from Congress in the 2002 National Defense Authorization Act. According to the law, the record of each Jewish American and Hispanic American veteran who received a Service Cross during or after World War II had to be looked over for a possible upgrade to a Medal of Honor.
The Army reviewed the cases of the 6,505 recipients of the Distinguished Service Cross from World War II and the Korean and Vietnam wars, The Pentagon said. Their findings showed 600 potentially eligible soldiers who may have been Jewish or Hispanic. The Army also worked with other organizations, including veterans groups, to find potential medal recipients.
