Almost two hundred people gathered at Arlington National Cemetery (ANC) on April 7, 2025, to commemorate the unveiling of two new headstones, which now reflect the proper religious symbol, more than a century after these soldiers' deaths.
After World War I, two Jewish American soldiers who served and sacrificed for their country were buried at the cemetery under headstones inscribed with Latin crosses rather than Stars of David. The ceremony, hosted by Operation Benjamin, unveiled the new, corrected headstones for U.S. Army Pvt. David Moser and Pfc. Adolph Hanf.
Operation Benjamin is a non-profit organization dedicated to preserving the memories of Jewish American service members who made the ultimate sacrifice during World War I and World War II. Their mission is to identify Jewish soldiers at American military cemeteries all over the world who were mistakenly buried under Latin Crosses and replace those headstones with a Star of David.
Moser enlisted in the Army in April 1917 and served in several months of battles in France. After the Nov. 11, 1918, armistice, his unit transferred to Germany, where he contracted influenza and died on March 1, 1919. Hanf immigrated to the United States from Poland in 1911 and enlisted in the Army in February 1918, shortly after becoming a naturalized U.S. citizen. He was killed in France at the Battle of Fismes on Aug. 4, 1918. Moser was buried at ANC in 1920 and Hanf in 1922, both under the incorrect religious symbol.
At the ceremony, Executive Director of the Office of Army National Military Cemeteries and Arlington National Cemetery Karen Durham-Aguilera said that the two soldiers “fought not for glory but for their fellow citizens, securing the liberties we cherish so deeply today.”
The ceremony included speeches and prayers. Attendees included Secretary of Veterans Affairs Douglas Collins, Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-Fla.), Rep. Laura Gillen (D-NY) and Rep. Richie Torres (D-NY). The guest of honor was 102-year-old Dr. Deborah Eiferman, Moser’s sole-surviving niece.
Chief Historian of Operation Benjamin Shalom Lammspoke about the sacrifices of Jewish American service members and their families. Moser’s father suffered a stroke after hearing of his son’s death, leaving him mute for the rest of his life. Eiferman lost not only her uncle during World War I, but also her husband during World War II. “Hers is the story of an American family sacrifice,” said Lamm, “of an American Jewish family’s sacrifice.”
Hanf’s story was just as tragic. While Lamm researched Hanf’s background to prove his Jewish heritage, he found that Hanf had no descendants. “There’s no one left to mourn, no one left to remember,” he said, before adding, “Today, we are all the family of Adolf Hanf.”
Eiferman then spoke, telling the crowd how grateful and privileged she felt to be at the ceremony. She explained that her entire family called her uncle “baby” David because he died at the age of 20. She also spoke to Hanf. “Adolf, you’re not alone,” she said. “I’m here for you.”
When Eiferman finished speaking, the two new headstones were unveiled. Both had been covered with canvas covers depicting the previous headstones. Once the covers were removed , U.S. Army Second Lt. Andrew Chandler of the 3d U.S. Infantry Regiment (The Old Guard) marched to each headstone, now inscribed with Stars of David and delivered a slow salute.
After Chandler saluted Hanf’s headstone, Jacob Freedman of Operation Benjamin announced, as he had at Moser’s headstone, “Private First Class Adolf Hanf, on behalf of the citizens of the United States of America, we thank you for your service and sacrifice. Adolf, on behalf of the Jewish people, we welcome you home.”