Date of birth:

November 5th, 1917 (Brooklyn, New York - USA)

Date of death:

June 20th, 1998 (Fresno, Fresno, California - United States)

Service number:

MCSN: 0-7748

Nationality:

American

03.1942: 2nd Lieutenant
1944: captain
1947: major
1950: lieutenant-colonel
1967: colonel

Capt. Sidney J. Altman of the United States Marine Corps was the second officer on that noted American Hebrew cover. Altman was the commanding officer of Company E, 21st Regiment, Third Marine Division, "the fighting Third." His regiment had been in numerous fierce battles on different islands. It also returned to Guadalcanal in September to recuperate, so there may have been several Rosh Hashana services on the island, one conducted by Altman and one by Fenichel. From Marine records, we do know that he was awarded a silver star for exemplary action performed on November 14, 1943, on the island of Bougainville in the Solomon Islands. Altman received a second silver star in 1944 for actions on Guam and two purple hearts.
Altman was born in Brooklyn in 1917 and lived in Woodside, New York, when he volunteered to enter the Marines. Why would a Jewish boy enlist in the Marines? Altman grew up in the 1930s in a New York where Jews could rise in stature as athletes. In high school, he became an outstanding quarterback and received a scholarship to study at NYU and play football. When he graduated in 1940, he worked as a coaching assistant in the New York City area. After Pearl Harbor, he volunteered for the Marines because of his deep patriotism. After his initial training, he was sent to the Marine base in Quantico, Virginia, to be an assistant football coach. In 1942 he was assigned to a fighting unit and went to the Pacific.
At the National Museum of American Jewish Military History in Washington, there is a picture of Altman conducting the Rosh Hashana service. He is thanking his men for their efforts so that they might all be inscribed in the Book of Life for the year to come.
Altman made the Marines his career and rose to the rank of full colonel. In the Korean War, he led the counterattack against the Chinese at the famous battle of the Hook in 1952. He retired after the Vietnam War and lived in the California area until his death in 1998. On the Web site of the museum, Altman has been designated an American Jewish military hero.

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Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Captain

Unit:

Company E, 2nd Battalion, 21st Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division "Fighting Third", U.S. Marine Corps

Awarded on:

November 1943

"For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity as Commanding Officer of Company E, Second Battalion, Twenty-First Marines, THIRD Marine Division, in action against enemy Japanese forces on Guam, Marianas Islands, on 21 and 22 July 1944. Displaying sound judgment and tactical control when his right assault platoon was pinned down by overwhelming enemy fire, Captain Altman continued to move on the objective with his left flank platoon and, despite intense hostile fire, personally directed the fire of his mortars and machine guns to disperse the Japanese and seize the vital objective. In the face of further enemy fire a short while later, he advanced alone beyond the friendly defense line and returned a wounded man to safety. Staunchly fighting off repeated counterattacks during the night, he placed his command post on the front line to exercise better control and to direct more effective mortar and artillery fire, and steadfastly held his position throughout the night despite heavy casualties. Threatened by a Japanese break through his defense at daybreak, he promptly ordered the placing of an artillery barrage perilously close to his sector and, although painfully wounded by hostile hand grenades, succeeded in repelling the enemy attack before being evacuated from the area. By his professional skill, inspiring leadership and devotion to duty, Captain Altman contributed to the success of his company's mission and upheld the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service."

Period:

Korean War (1950-1953)

Rank:

Lieutenant Colonel

Unit:

1st Marine Division (Rein.)

Awarded on:

December 1952

Period:

Vietnam War (1955-1975)

Rank:

Colonel

Unit:

Chief of Staff, HQ, 1st Marine Division "Fighting Third"

Awarded on:

May 1967

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Captain

Awarded on:

1944

for actions on Guam

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Captain

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

• Photo: cherrypoint.marines.mil
  - Sidney Joseph Altman 1917 - 1998 Dossier BillionGraves
  - Col Sidney J Altman (1917-1998) - Find A Grave
  
• - Clark, G.B., The Six Marine Divisions in the Pacific – Every Campaign of World War II, McFarland & Company, Jefferson, North Carolina, USA, 2006
  - Sidney Altman - Recipient -
  - Marines In World War II - Bougainville And The Northern Solomons
  - U.S. Marines in the Korean War - Charles Richard Smith
  - Stalemate: U.S. Marines From Bunker Hill To The Hook
  - New Yorkers who died in World War Two | NY Military Museum and Veterans Research Center
  - Days of awe in the Pacific - The Jerusalem Post