Abraham Krotoshinsky
Encyclopedia
Abraham Krotoshinsky was a United States Army
soldier who received the Distinguished Service Cross
during The Lost Battalion
.
, a son of Wolf Krotoshinsky, then part of the Russian Empire
. He came to New York
in 1912, in order to escape service in the Russian Army
. He initially worked as a barber
"I ran away from Russia and came to America to escape military service. I hated Russia, its people, its government, in particular its cruel and inhuman treatment of Jews. Such a Government I refused to serve. "
, where he enjoyed his time in the Army. Shortly after his arrival in France
, the 77th division was sent to relieve the 42nd Infantry Division in the Lorraine
, where the German Army
sent up a welcome balloon which said "Goodbye, Forty-Second! Hello, Seventy-Seventh!. Shortly thereafter, the 77th was moved to near Chateau Thierry, where it would part of the drive against Germany. Krotoshinsky passed a message, which lead him to help rescue the trapped company. During this trip, he played dead and his hand was stepped on by a German officer. After the action he was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross
by General Pershing
.
, but found that he did not have the capital to farm successfully. He described himself as a Zionist. After his return to the United States, he was in some difficulty, but was eventually given a job with the United States Postal Service
as the result of an executive order from President
Calvin Coolidge
in 1927, where he served at the 221 East Thirty-Fourth Street Post-office, until his death on 4 November 1953, aged 60. He was survived by three daughters, Mrs. Abigail Krotoshinsky (née Arkin), a foster daughter and a brother, Joseph. He currently has many descendants.
.
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
soldier who received the Distinguished Service Cross
Distinguished Service Cross (United States)
The Distinguished Service Cross is the second highest military decoration that can be awarded to a member of the United States Army, for extreme gallantry and risk of life in actual combat with an armed enemy force. Actions that merit the Distinguished Service Cross must be of such a high degree...
during The Lost Battalion
The Lost Battalion
The Lost Battalion is the 1919 film about units of the 77th Infantry Division penetrating deep into the Argonne Forest of France during World War I. The soldiers under the command of Major Charles Whittlesey are then trapped and surrounded by German soldiers...
.
Early life
He was born in Plotsk, PolandPlock
Płock is a city in central Poland, on the Vistula river. According to the data provided by GUS on 30 June 2009 there were 126,675 inhabitants. It is located in the Masovian Voivodeship , having previously been the capital of the Płock Voivodeship . It now is a capital of a Powiat at the extreme...
, a son of Wolf Krotoshinsky, then part of the Russian Empire
Russian Empire
The Russian Empire was a state that existed from 1721 until the Russian Revolution of 1917. It was the successor to the Tsardom of Russia and the predecessor of the Soviet Union...
. He came to New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
in 1912, in order to escape service in the Russian Army
Imperial Russian Army
The Imperial Russian Army was the land armed force of the Russian Empire, active from around 1721 to the Russian Revolution of 1917. In the early 1850s, the Russian army consisted of around 938,731 regular soldiers and 245,850 irregulars . Until the time of military reform of Dmitry Milyutin in...
. He initially worked as a barber
Barber
A barber is someone whose occupation is to cut any type of hair, and to shave or trim the beards of men. The place of work of a barber is generally called a barbershop....
"I ran away from Russia and came to America to escape military service. I hated Russia, its people, its government, in particular its cruel and inhuman treatment of Jews. Such a Government I refused to serve. "
War Service
Krotoshinsky undertook initial training at Camp UptonCamp Upton
Camp Upton was an installation of the United States Army located in Yaphank on Long Island in Suffolk County, New York. It was located near Camp Mills.-History:...
, where he enjoyed his time in the Army. Shortly after his arrival in France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, the 77th division was sent to relieve the 42nd Infantry Division in the Lorraine
Lorraine (région)
Lorraine is one of the 27 régions of France. The administrative region has two cities of equal importance, Metz and Nancy. Metz is considered to be the official capital since that is where the regional parliament is situated...
, where the German Army
German Army
The German Army is the land component of the armed forces of the Federal Republic of Germany. Following the disbanding of the Wehrmacht after World War II, it was re-established in 1955 as the Bundesheer, part of the newly formed West German Bundeswehr along with the Navy and the Air Force...
sent up a welcome balloon which said "Goodbye, Forty-Second! Hello, Seventy-Seventh!. Shortly thereafter, the 77th was moved to near Chateau Thierry, where it would part of the drive against Germany. Krotoshinsky passed a message, which lead him to help rescue the trapped company. During this trip, he played dead and his hand was stepped on by a German officer. After the action he was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross
Distinguished Service Cross (United States)
The Distinguished Service Cross is the second highest military decoration that can be awarded to a member of the United States Army, for extreme gallantry and risk of life in actual combat with an armed enemy force. Actions that merit the Distinguished Service Cross must be of such a high degree...
by General Pershing
John J. Pershing
John Joseph "Black Jack" Pershing, GCB , was a general officer in the United States Army who led the American Expeditionary Forces in World War I...
.
After the War
Krotoshinsky, with the help of Nathan Strauss, emigrated to PalestinePalestine
Palestine is a conventional name, among others, used to describe the geographic region between the Mediterranean Sea and the Jordan River, and various adjoining lands....
, but found that he did not have the capital to farm successfully. He described himself as a Zionist. After his return to the United States, he was in some difficulty, but was eventually given a job with the United States Postal Service
United States Postal Service
The United States Postal Service is an independent agency of the United States government responsible for providing postal service in the United States...
as the result of an executive order from President
President of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
Calvin Coolidge
Calvin Coolidge
John Calvin Coolidge, Jr. was the 30th President of the United States . A Republican lawyer from Vermont, Coolidge worked his way up the ladder of Massachusetts state politics, eventually becoming governor of that state...
in 1927, where he served at the 221 East Thirty-Fourth Street Post-office, until his death on 4 November 1953, aged 60. He was survived by three daughters, Mrs. Abigail Krotoshinsky (née Arkin), a foster daughter and a brother, Joseph. He currently has many descendants.
Popular culture
He was portrayed by Arthur Kremer in the 2001 production of The Lost BattalionThe Lost Battalion (2001 film)
The Lost Battalion is the 2001 remake of the 1919 film of the same name. The film was directed by Russell Mulcahy, written by James Carabatsos and starred former child actor Rick Schroder as Major Charles Whittlesey. It took place during World War I....
.