First Sergeant Sydney Gustave Gumpertz, A Soldier's Story
First Sergeant Sydney Gustave Gumpertz, A Soldier's Story
First Sergeant Sydney Gustave Gumpertz was born on October 24, 1879, in San Rafael, California. During his teenage years, he moved with his family to New York. After graduating from high school, Gumpertz settled in Manhattan, where he began a career as an advertising specialist working with New York newspapers.
On August 20, 1917, following the United States’ entry into World War I, Gumpertz enlisted in the U.S. Army. He was assigned to the 132nd Infantry Regiment and deployed to France as part of the American Expeditionary Forces. During his service overseas, he participated in several significant engagements, including the Battle of Hamel and the fighting at Chapilly Ridge.
On September 29, 1918, during the Meuse-Argonne campaign, Gumpertz distinguished himself in combat during the Argonne Defensive. Under intense enemy fire, he advanced alone toward a hostile machine-gun nest that was blocking his unit’s progress. Single-handedly, he subdued and captured the nine enemy soldiers manning the position, an act of extraordinary courage that earned him the Medal of Honor.
Less than two weeks later, on October 8, 1918, Gumpertz was wounded by a gunshot to the ankle. He was eventually released from active duty in May 1919, returning home with both the physical scars of war and a distinguished record of service.
After the war, Gumpertz reestablished his advertising career in New York. He remained deeply involved in veterans’ affairs, serving as commander of the S. Rankin Drew Post of the American Legion and later as editor of the Legion Annual. His commitment to remembrance and representation extended beyond organizational leadership.
Gumpertz was also an author and historian. He wrote Jewish Legion of Valor, a work documenting the contributions and sacrifices of Jewish service members in the United States military. Through his writing and public speaking, he directly confronted the antisemitism of his era, asserting the place of Jewish Americans within the nation’s military and civic life.
First Sergeant Sydney Gustave Gumpertz died on February 16, 1971. He is buried at Long Island National Cemetery in New York, where his legacy as a soldier, writer, and advocate is remembered.
_____________________________________________________________________________
About the Author
a.d. elliott is a wanderer, photographer, and storyteller traveling through life
She shares her journeys at Take the Back Roads, explores new reads at Rite of Fancy, and highlights U.S. military biographies at Everyday Patriot.
You can also browse her online photography gallery at shop.takethebackroads.com.
✨ #TakeTheBackRoads
Enjoyed this post? Support the adventure by visiting my sponsors, shopping the gallery, or buying me a cup of coffee!
