11/5/26

FROM THE NJHS ARCHIVES: PURPLE HEART & SILVER STAR

ITEM: Private Hymie Epstein’s Purple Heart and Silver Star

DATE: March 3, 1943

Having joined the army in 1941, Hymie Epstein was a soldier in the Pacific Theater during World War II and served with the Medical Detachment, 126th Infantry Regiment, 32nd Infantry Division. His service came to an end on December 1, 1943, when he was killed in action near Soputa in southeastern New Guinea. He was 22 years old.

For his sacrifice, he was awarded the Purple Heart on March 3, 1943. He also received the Silver Star for gallantry, the third-highest military decoration for valor in combat. According to unit records, he was buried near the battlefield by allied Australian soldiers, but his remains have never been recovered and he is therefore considered MIA. He is memorialized at the Tablets of the Missing at Manila American Cemetery in the Philippines.

This Veterans Day, we honor all who have served and continue to serve in our military. We especially remember those who served in World War II, whose courage and sacrifice were essential to the Allied victory over tyranny and an ideology of hate.

The Nebraska Jewish Historical Society works to preserve histories of the Jewish families who settled in Nebraska and Council Bluffs, Iowa. We promote the acquisition, cataloging, and use of collected materials which depict history by: providing educational community programs, exhibits and publications. If you have items with a historical connection to the Nebraska Jewish community that you’d be willing to donate, please contact us at (402) 330-2024.

This feature is part of an ongoing series showcasing artifacts from the collection of the Nebraska Jewish Historical Society. By spotlighting these objects we aim to strengthen our community identity, encourage education and reflection, and ensure that meaningful stories, both large and small, remain part of our collective memory.

The Nebraska Jewish Historical Society is an agency of the Jewish Federation of Omaha.