We are grateful to the @usabmc for approving the request we submitted on behalf of Harry Cordova - a 98-year old #WWII vet - to change the headstone of his brother - Cpl Sam Cordova - to a #StarOfDavid reflecting the faith under which he lived, fought, & died during #WWII. 1/8

After enlisting in 1940, Cpl Sam Cordova served with the U.S. Army in Battery B, 60th Coast Artillery Regiment at Ft. Mills at Corregidor in the Philippines. 2/8

Cpl Sam Cordova was killed on December 29, 1941 during a 2-hour sustained aerial Japanese bombardment of Corregidor. Cpl Cordova is now buried at the @usabmc Manila American Cemetery. 3/8

You can see and hear Harry Cordova in his words explain how important it is that his brother Sam be buried under a #StarOfDavid in Manila:
https://vimeo.com/464070550/1edae361bf
4/8

When he was 19 and living in LA with his family, Harry received the telegram with the news of his older brother’s death. He read it to his mother, who didn’t read much English, and that is how they learned that Sam had been killed. 5/8

Soon afterwards, Harry also enlisted, served as a radio operator with the Coast Guard, and also served in the Philippines. In a tale of incredible service and sacrifice, 6 of the 7 boys in the Cordova family ultimately served during #WWII 6/8

Cpl Sam Cordova is now one of 7 U.S. Jewish soldiers buried in Manila whose headstone has been changed (or will soon be changed) to a #StarOfDavid as a result of our meticulous research, our advocacy, and our partnership with @usabmc 7/8

You can learn more about our work in Manila and around the world at http://www.operationbenjamin.org  8/8.