Sarajevo, San Antonio & Spock
June 2001
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Another subject depicted on a June issue was the subject of a recent newspaper article. It reminded me of an additional source of information about the next topic in this column. The stamp is U.S. #1043 issued on June 14, 1956. It depicts the Alamo in San Antonio, Texas. The Alamo was also pictured on U.S. #776 issued in March 1936 for the 100th anniversary of Texas independence, and on a March 6, 1996, pictorial cancellation for the 160th anniversary of the fall of the Alamo.
The newspaper article referred to the fact that some historians are revising their account of the fall of the Alamo and that the number of defenders may be larger than previously thought. At the same time, some names on the original list of defenders may have to be deleted.
But what is the Jewish connection to the Alamo? There are several, according to Natalie Ornish's 1989 book, Pioneer Jewish Texans.
First of all, the Alamo was captured from the Mexicans in December 1835 by a company of volunteers from New Orleans, which included several Jews. One, Dr. Albert Moses Levy, wrote to his sister less than two weeks after its capture. His letter claimed he had rallied the volunteers to attack the Alamo and told despite "incessant firing for five days, 225 disorganized and undisciplined men armed with muskets and bayonets in a well fortified fort...fought like devils and forced the surrender of the Alamo. "
Levy, proud of his role as "both soldier and surgeon," was awarded a deed for 640 acres of land for his contribution to the struggle for Texas independence. At least three other Jews were among those who captured the Alamo.
Several Jews were among the volunteers living at the Alamo when the Mexicans returned. The siege of the Alamo lasted 13 days. Among the unsuccessful defenders who died at the Battle of the alamo was Avram Wolf and his two young sons who were brutally murdered according to an eyewitness account. Another Jew, Louis Rose, who was called Moses because he was older than most of the young volunteers, fought there 10 days, escaping during an armistice only three days before the Alamo finally fell.
Incidentally, other Jewish military heroes and veterans have been commemorated recently on several special cancels honoring the centennial of the Jewish War Veterans. But more on that in a later column. In the meantime, I want to note one other Judaica stamp and some of my recent reading related to it.
Vulcan or Jew?
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© 2001, J-Stamps/Murray Frost. All Rights Reserved.
froststamps@yahoo.com
