My father, Sgt. Robert (Rudy) Israel, was born October 5, 1914, in Brooklyn, New York. He was the second son of Harry and Tillie Israel. He had two younger brothers (who also served during WWII) and two younger sisters. Unfortunately, I was 5 months old when he died and never knew him or his family.

Rudy enlisted in the Army sometime in 1936. Rudy was in the 1st Division, 16th Infantry Regiment, Company G, and was KIA on 2/23/43 in the Kasserine Pass, North Africa. He was originally buried at Tebessa Cemetery. In 1949, my grandfather brought his body back for burial in New York.

I have been looking for his family for almost 30 years. It was through Jamie's suggestion that I send a "Looking for...." blurb to be published in the 16th Infantry Newsletter "Dagwood Dispatches," that I connected with a veteran, Mr. Bernie Van, who served with my father and was with him when he was shot. Mr. Van said that the last words he heard my father say were, "Bernie, I'm never going to get to see my baby girl."

Mr. Van told me that he had answered a similar "Looking for..." blurb from a Steve Goodman, back in April of 1997, who was looking for information about his uncle Robert Israel. Needless to say, it has been a whirlwind of emotions as I set out to finally have contact with my family. They all have told me (I have 2 uncles left and 17 cousins, whew!!) that Rudy would be looking down and smiling, giving the thumb's up sign, that I finally found his family. They are the ones who sent me this picture. It is the first time that I had ever seen my father's face.

Here's a bit of eerieness for you: When I sent away for my father's birth certificate, the date it was entered was the date of my birthday, October 21. I got chills when I saw it the first time.

He served his country with honor and I am very proud to be his daughter.