Herschel William Forner
Lieutenant-Colonel
Assistant U.S. Military Attache - U.S. Embassy Tel Aviv
An End to Terror
A feeling of relative peace and ease was finally felt among the many residents of Brussels, Belgium who went about their business upon the cobbled streets of the free city. No longer was the beautiful capital plagued by the shadow of the Germans but instead was awash in the friendly smiles of America GI’s who were simply eager to return home after such a violent contest in July of 1945. For two Pennsylvanians it was a particularly joyous occasion as Lieutenant Herschel Forner reunited with his cousin PFC Liebowitz in the city (1). Herschel’s cousin had truly been through the thick of it, seeing some particularly brutal combat during the Battle of the Bulge with the 75th Infantry Division (1). Lieutenant Forner had the fortune of operating behind the frontline, though his service with the 414th Ordnance Evacuation Company during the Rhineland and Germany campaigns had not been without its trials (2). Regardless both had made it through unscathed and were happy to have put an end to the horrors of the Nazi regime and to once again be reunited in a merry moment.
The war had been a particularly personal one for Herschel who was Jewish and whose immediate family had escaped the terrors of the Nazi regime only by a chance decision made by his Austrian grandparents to immigrate to the United States. From the very beginning he had done his part, first as an air warden when not busy working at his fathers clothing store in York, Pennsylvania. By 22 he enrolled as an officer and began studying at Aberdeen Proving Grounds to become a specialist in logistics. The training positioned him for an important role among the 414th which he served with in Belgium during the conflict. |
In 1946, the 414th was posted to Southern Germany, allowing Herschel to attend the Nuremberg trials and watch as those most responsible for the evils of the regime were sentenced (3). Yet these horrid men had left their mark upon the continent, which he saw firsthand as he traveled with his wife throughout Central Europe. During their travels they visited Berchtesgaden which had been home to the majority of German elite and included the Eagle’s nest, the pinnacle of the ideologies imagery (4). They also looked upon the ruins of the town of Lidice in Czechoslovakia, which the Germans had attempted to erase off the map as a reprisal (4). Herschel recognized that their cruelty could not be forgotten and was determined to ensure Germany never repeated such a path as was the mission of the occupation troops. Such assurance came in the form of military muscle, which he helped facilitate as the adjacent manager to one of the largest military ordnance depots in Europe (4).
Rockets and Missles
Herschel’s service in conflict proved his leadership ability and in the years following the war he was posted to prominent positions in both the United States and in Europe. In Mannheim, Germany he held the important role as chief of procurement for the offshore procurement division (5). This was especially critical as the Cold War arms race began to take shape. In 1955, he joined what was the “frontline” of this new war of technology at Redstone Arsenal in Huntsville, Alabama where he was part of the U.S. Armies Rocket and Guided Missile Agency (6). The work performed here which he contributed to would help develop the finest missile technology in the world and eventually landed a man on the moon (7). Yet it was somewhat of an uncomfortable post given the scientists who worked in the program were predominantly Germans who were picked up under Operation Paperclip following the war (7).
The newly promoted Major’s focus in missile technology was only interrupted once in 1960 when he was pulled for duty in Seoul, South Korea as part of the Korean Military Advisory Group stationed there (2). For a year he spent time advising the South Korean military, which continued to train for the anticipated renewal of hositilites with North Korea. Following this posting he once again returned to his duties in missile development, this time in White Sands, New Mexico (8). It was here the army actually test fired its missiles, with Herschel placed in command of the 250 man recovery team responsible for finding the debris so that it could be studied (8). The task was challenging but his resources were near unlimited as he commanded an arsenal of jeeps, planes, helicopters, and construction equipment (8). His career was fruitful, and his family continued to expand, he and his wife having 3 children. |
The Six-Day War
At 45 years of age the veteran Lieutenant-Colonel was happily living with his family in Michigan where he worked as a representative for the Michigan Army Missile Plant Contract Office (9). At this point in his career it appeared any chance at global adventure had now passed, yet in 1965 he was surprised with the opportunity to be appointed as a military attaché to Israel (2). He and his wife were enthralled with the idea, which would give them the opportunity to live in the holy land from where their faith had emerged (2). Immediately they both began learning fluent Hebrew in preparation for the appointment. In 1966, after intensive studying of the political situation and geography of Israel, Herschel and his family departed for the U.S. embassy in Tel Aviv (9). The situation as they discovered was far from stable and quite reminiscent of war-scarred Europe. Israel and the Arab nations remained deadlocked in a cold war of their own as the UN attempted to hold together an unstable peace.
Yet for the American family, Tel Aviv was a pleasant place to be, the beautiful Mediterranean city encompassing history beyond recollection and beaches most dreamed of. Any sort of war seemed distant until June of 1967. Relations between Israel and Egypt finally began to crumble completely as blockades were imposed (11). The UN forces throughout the Sinai and the Gaza Strip quickly began to flee after being expelled by Egypt as Lieutenant-Colonel Forner and the U.S. Embassy staff watched somewhat helplessly. Any attempts by the embassy to help develop a diplomatic solution seemed to fail and by June 2nd it was clear war would break out. Herschel made the decision to evacuate his family to Rome, Italy, though he remained at his post in Tel Aviv and braced for the oncoming storm (10).
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A few days later on June 5th, Israel shocked the world by unleashing a surprise attack on Egyptian forces. The war quickly spread as Jordan and Syria joined the fray, once again igniting the regional powder keg. For the U.S. embassy staff, it was a tense moment, particularly when Israel sunk the U.S.S Liberty by accident, killing 34 U.S. Servicemen (12). Between this and trying to renormalize relations among the warring nations, it remained an incredibly busy period. By June 10th, Israel emerged as a clear victor and peace returned in some sense to the region. Among the spoils of war seized by Israel was the entirety of the Old City of Jerusalem. Herschel was among those foreigners present for the ceremonies in which the Israeli military firmly established its control and changed the course of history in the region for decades to come (13).
His family would return to Tel Aviv and remain there with him as he continued on at his post following the armistice. During his time there they were able to visit a great number of historic sites and meet key players from Israel and around the world (13). It was a position of great notoriety for an officer but one he was all he same glad to retire from and return to his home where true peace reigned. Despite his and the embassy staffs best efforts, the middle east remained a place deadlocked in religious and sectarian violence. |
Sources:
(1) Page 12. The Gazette and Daily (York, Pennsylvania), 25 Jul. 1945
(2)"Lt. Col Herschel Forner Is Named Asst. U.S. Army Attache for Israel." The Detroit Jewish News, 6 Nov. 1964.
(3)"Nurneberg Calling." York Daily Record (York, Pennsylvania), 30 Jan, 1946
(4) "Home From Germany." The York Dispatch (York, Pennsylvania), 20 Dec, 1947
(5) "Ord Procurement Holds 2-Day Meet" The Stars and Stripes, 31 Jan, 1955
(6) "York Man Promoted" The Gazette and Daily (York, Pennsylvania), 18 Oct, 1958
(7) The Jewish Virtual Library, AICE, World War II: Operation Paperclip https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/operation-paperclip
(8) The York Dispatch (York, Pennsylvania), 2 Aug, 1962
(9) "Gets Overseas Post" The York Dispatch (York, Pennsylvania), 2 Aug, 1962
(10) "Yorker's Family Is Separated by War's Threat Over Israel." The York Dispatch (York, Pennsylvania), 2 Jun, 1962
(11) Cohen, Avner, Wilson Center, The 1967 Six-Day War, https://www.wilsoncenter.org/publication/the-1967-six-day-war
(12)The Jewish Virtual Library, AICE, The USS Liberty Incident: Secret Report Shows Israelis Shocked By Attack On Liberty https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/operation-paperclip https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/secret-report-shows-israelis-shocked-by-attack-on-liberty-june-1967
(13) "Yorkers In Israel Entertain V.I.P.'S" The York Dispatch (York, Pennsylvania), 9 Mar, 1968
(1) Page 12. The Gazette and Daily (York, Pennsylvania), 25 Jul. 1945
(2)"Lt. Col Herschel Forner Is Named Asst. U.S. Army Attache for Israel." The Detroit Jewish News, 6 Nov. 1964.
(3)"Nurneberg Calling." York Daily Record (York, Pennsylvania), 30 Jan, 1946
(4) "Home From Germany." The York Dispatch (York, Pennsylvania), 20 Dec, 1947
(5) "Ord Procurement Holds 2-Day Meet" The Stars and Stripes, 31 Jan, 1955
(6) "York Man Promoted" The Gazette and Daily (York, Pennsylvania), 18 Oct, 1958
(7) The Jewish Virtual Library, AICE, World War II: Operation Paperclip https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/operation-paperclip
(8) The York Dispatch (York, Pennsylvania), 2 Aug, 1962
(9) "Gets Overseas Post" The York Dispatch (York, Pennsylvania), 2 Aug, 1962
(10) "Yorker's Family Is Separated by War's Threat Over Israel." The York Dispatch (York, Pennsylvania), 2 Jun, 1962
(11) Cohen, Avner, Wilson Center, The 1967 Six-Day War, https://www.wilsoncenter.org/publication/the-1967-six-day-war
(12)The Jewish Virtual Library, AICE, The USS Liberty Incident: Secret Report Shows Israelis Shocked By Attack On Liberty https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/operation-paperclip https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/secret-report-shows-israelis-shocked-by-attack-on-liberty-june-1967
(13) "Yorkers In Israel Entertain V.I.P.'S" The York Dispatch (York, Pennsylvania), 9 Mar, 1968