After the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, the United States formally entered World War II on the side of the Allies. The country played a significant role in shaping the course and outcome of the war through its participation in the Tehran, Yalta, and Potsdam conferences, as well as through its financial and military support to other Allied nations, political leadership, and provision of human resources.

Of the 16.4 million Americans who served in World War II, approximately 550,000 were Jewish. Among the soldiers who landed on the beaches of Normandy on June 6, 1944, more than 4,000 were Jewish Americans. These individuals were deployed to a region where, for years, Nazi Germany had persecuted, dehumanized, and murdered members of the Jewish faith. Facing the risks associated with their religious identity, some Jewish soldiers reportedly chose to change their religious designation on their military identification tags—or “dog tags”—before deployment, often adopting a Christian identifier in an attempt to avoid potential targeting if captured.

At the Normandy American Cemetery, where 9,387 American soldiers are buried, one can observe that while most graves are marked with Latin crosses, a number are adorned with the Star of David, the symbol traditionally associated with Judaism. In many cases, the families of Jewish soldiers chose to honour their loved ones’ faith by requesting this symbol for their headstones. These markers are a visible testament to the presence and sacrifices of Jewish service members during the war.

A notable tradition observed in the cemetery is the placing of stones, rather than flowers, on Jewish graves. This practice stems from a Jewish custom in which stones—unlike flowers, which wilt and blow away—serve as enduring symbols of remembrance and respect.

Jewish American soldiers who took part in the Normandy landings are sometimes overlooked, but recognizing their contributions is essential to preserving an accurate memory of the liberation of Europe.