David Daniel Marcus (1902 - 1948), commonly known as Mickey Marcus, was an American United States Army colonel who assisted Israel during the 1948 War of Independence and who became Israel's first Brigadier General. 1902 (MCMII) was a common year starting on Wednesday (see link for calendar). ... 1948 (MCMXLVIII) was a leap year starting on Thursday (the link is to a full 1948 calendar). ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... Colonel is a military rank of a commissioned officer, with the corresponding ranks existing in nearly every country in the world. ... (Redirected from 1948 War of Independence) The 1948 Arab-Israeli War, called the War of Independence by Israelis and al Nakba the catastrophe by Arabs, was the first in a series of wars in the Arab-Israeli conflict. ... A Brigadier General, or one-star general, is the lowest rank of general officer in the United States and some other countries, ranking just above Colonel and just below Major General. ...

Col. Mickey Marcus in Israel

Marcus is the best known Israeli Machal (the Hebrew acronym for Mitnadvim miCHutz laAretz/"volunteers from outside Israel") soldier, glorified in a 1966 Hollywood movie with Kirk Douglas as Marcus in Cast a Giant Shadow. This is a PUBLIC photo of Col Mickey Marcus This image has been released into the public domain by the copyright holder, its copyright has expired, or it is ineligible for copyright. ... Machal, is a Hebrew acronym which means volunteers from outside Israel (Mitnadvim miCHutz Laaretz). ... A soldier is a person who serves in an armed force for pay. ... President Jimmy Carter greets Kirk and Mrs Douglas in the Oval Office, March 16, 1978. ... Cast a Giant Shadow is a 1966 film, produced and directed by Melville Shavelson and distributed by MGM. Is is a story based on the life of Micky Marcus Cast a Giant Shadow is based on Ted Berkmans biography of Colonel Mickey Marcus Marcus (played by Kirk Douglas) served...

Early life

Marcus's parents came from Eastern Europe. Born in Brooklyn, USA, Marcus was extremely bright and athletic, and was accepted at West Point in 1920 and graduated with the class of 1924. In the military he went on to become a lawyer by training, and spent most of the 1930s as a United States Attorney in New York, prosecuting gangsters such as Lucky Luciano. New York City Mayor LaGuardia named Marcus Commissioner of Corrections for New York City in 1940. The definition of continental subregions in use by the United Nations. ... A map of New York City, highlighting Brooklyn. ... The United States Military Academy, also known as West Point, or simply USMA (or Army, for NCAA purposes), is a United States Army fort and military academy. ... 1920 (MCMXX) was a leap year starting on Thursday (link will take you to calendar) // Events January January 3 - Babe Ruth is traded by the Boston Red Sox to the New York Yankees for $125,000, the largest sum ever paid for a player at that time. ... 1924 (MCMXXIV) was a leap year starting on Tuesday (link will take you to calendar). ... This article or section is missing references or citation of sources. ... United States Attorneys represent the U.S. federal government in United States district court. ... Lucky Luciano in his Rome villa, 1949 Charles Lucky Luciano (November 24, 1897 – January 26, 1962) was a legendary Italian-American mobster. ... Flag Seal Nickname: Big Apple Location Location in the state of New York Government Counties (Boroughs) Bronx (The Bronx) New York (Manhattan) Queens (Queens) Kings (Brooklyn) Richmond (Staten Island) Mayor Michael Bloomberg (R) Geographical characteristics Area     City 1,214. ... 1940 (MCMXL) was a leap year starting on Monday (the link is to a full 1940 calendar). ...

World War II years

After the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, he served as executive officer to the military governor of Hawaii. In 1942, he was named commandant of the United States Army's new U.S. Army Rangers school, which developed innovative tactics in unconventional warfare. He later participated in the Battle of Normandy in 1944. Combatants United States of America Imperial Japan Commanders Husband Kimmel (USN), Walter Short (USA) Chuichi Nagumo (IJN) Strength 8 battleships, 8 cruisers, 29 destroyers, 9 submarines, ~50 other ships, ~390 planes 6 aircraft carriers, 2 battleships, 3 cruisers, 9 destroyers, 8 tankers, 23 fleet submarines, 5 midget submarines, 441 planes... Official language(s) English, Hawaiian Capital Honolulu Largest city Honolulu Area  Ranked 43rd  - Total 10,941 sq mi (28,337 km²)  - Width n/a miles (n/a km)  - Length 1,522 miles (2,450 km)  - % water 41. ... This article is about the year. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... Official force name 75th Ranger Regiment Rangers Other names Airborne Rangers Army Rangers U.S. Army Rangers Branch U.S. Army Chain of Command USASOC Description Special Operations Force, rapidly deployable light infantry force. ... Unconventional warfare (UW) is the opposite of conventional warfare. ... Combatants Allied Powers Nazi Germany Commanders Dwight D. Eisenhower (Supreme Allied Commander) Bernard Montgomery (land) Bertram Ramsay (sea) Trafford Leigh-Mallory (air) Gerd von Rundstedt (OB WEST) Erwin Rommel (Heeresgruppe B) Strength 326,000 (by June 11) Unknown, probably some 1,000,000 in France by early June, but split... 1944 (MCMXLIV) was a leap year starting on Saturday (the link is to a full 1944 calendar). ...

Marcus helped draw up the surrender terms for Italy and Germany and became part of the occupation government in Berlin after 1945. During that time, Marcus was placed in charge of planning how to sustain the starving millions in areas liberated by the Allies, and clearing out the Nazi concentration camps. This article is about the capital of Germany. ... 1945 (MCMXLV) was a common year starting on Monday (the link is to a full 1945 calendar). ... National Socialism redirects here. ... It has been suggested that Internment be merged into this article or section. ...

He was subsequently named chief of the War Crimes Division, planning legal and security procedures for the Nuremberg trials. The Süddeutsche Zeitung announces The Verdict in Nuremberg. ...

Israeli military career

In 1947 David ben Gurion asked Marcus to recruit "an American officer" to serve as key strategic military advisor to the nascent Jewish army, the Haganah, "The Defense". As he could not recruit anyone suitable, Marcus decided to "volunteer" himself and in 1948, the United States War Department granted leave to Colonel Marcus, who was a reservist, provided Marcus disguised his name and rank to avoid problems with the British Mandate of Palestine.^{[citation needed]} 1947 (MCMXLVII) was a common year starting on Wednesday (the link is to a full 1947 calendar). ... ... A strategy is a long term plan of action designed to achieve a particular goal. ... Haganah Logo (1940s) The Haganah (Hebrew: The Defense, ×”×”×’× ×”) was a Jewish paramilitary organization in what was then the British Mandate of Palestine from 1920 to 1948. ... 1948 (MCMXLVIII) was a leap year starting on Thursday (the link is to a full 1948 calendar). ... The United States Department of War was the military department of the United States governments executive branch from 1789 until 1949, when it became part of the United States Department of Defense. ... Map of the territory under the British Mandate of Palestine. ...

Under the name "Michael Stone", he arrived in Israel in January 1948, facing the Arab armies surrounding the soon-to-be declared State of Israel. 1948 (MCMXLVIII) was a leap year starting on Thursday (the link is to a full 1948 calendar). ... The Arabs (Arabic: عرب ) are an ethnic group found throughout the Middle East and North Africa. ... The Declaration of the Establishment of the State of Israel, May 14, 1948 David Ben Gurion (First Prime Minister of Israel) publicly pronouncing the Declaration of the State of Israel, May 14, 1948. ...

There he designed a command and control structure for Israel, adapting his war experiences at Ranger school to its special needs. He identified Israel's weakest points in the Negev south, and Jerusalem. Ruins in the Negev desert The Negev (Hebrew נֶגֶב;, Tiberian Hebrew Néḡeḇ; Arabic النقب an-Naqab) is the desert region of southern Israel. ... Jerusalem (Hebrew: Yerushalayim; Arabic: al-Quds; Greek Ιεροσόλυμα; Latin: Modern Times-Hierosolyma, Under the Roman Empire: Aelia Capitolina) is an ancient Middle Eastern city on the watershed between the Mediterranean Sea and the Dead Sea at an elevation of 650-840 metres (about 2000-2500 feet). ...

Marcus was appointed as Commander of the Jerusalem front, and given the rank of Aluf, brigadier general. [1] As no ranks were granted to Israeli high comand at that time, he became the first general in the Israeli army. (In the present-day IDF table of ranks, "Aluf" is equivalent to major general --- a "Tat-Aluf" is a brigadier general.) Jerusalem (Hebrew: Yerushalayim; Arabic: al-Quds; Greek Ιεροσόλυμα; Latin: Modern Times-Hierosolyma, Under the Roman Empire: Aelia Capitolina) is an ancient Middle Eastern city on the watershed between the Mediterranean Sea and the Dead Sea at an elevation of 650-840 metres (about 2000-2500 feet). ... A Brigadier General, or one-star general, is the lowest rank of general officer in the United States and some other countries, ranking just above Colonel and just below Major General. ... The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) (Hebrew: צבא ההגנה לישראל Tsva Ha-Haganah Le-Yisrael ([Army] Force [for] the Defense of Israel), often abbreviated צהל Tsahal, alternative English spelling Tzahal, is the name of Israels armed forces (army, air force and navy). ... Insignia of a United States Air Force Major General German Generalmajor Insignia Major General is a military rank used in many countries. ...

He commanded several operations of the breakthrough to Jerusalem when the Jewish section of the city was about to fall. To lift the siege, Marcus ordered the construction a make-shift winding road through the difficult mountains to Jerusalem—known as the "Burma Road" (named after its namesake built by 200,000 Chinese laborers during the Second Sino-Japanese War and served the Allies to transport goods from Burma to China during World War II) bringing in additional men and equipment to break the Arab siege just days before the United Nations previously negotiated cease fire took effect on June 9th, 1948. The Burma Road is a road linking Burma (also called Myanmar) with China. ... United Nations - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia /**/ @import /skins-1. ... June 9 is the 160th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (161st in leap years), with 205 days remaining. ... 1948 (MCMXLVIII) was a leap year starting on Thursday (the link is to a full 1948 calendar). ...

Death

As a mostly assimilated English-speaking American Jew, Marcus knew very little Hebrew, but mainly New Yorker Yiddish. A few hours before the cessation of hostilities, Marcus, unable to sleep, went for a late night walk outside the security perimeter which he had established. On his return to the monastery, he had white bedsheet wrapped around him, appearing to be in Arab dress. [2] Marcus was confronted by a nervous young Israeli soldier who spoke no English who demanded that Marcus reveal the "sisma" or password to approach. In the confusion, the sentry shot Marcus and killed him. It was the only shot the Israeli guard ever shot. The bullet went right through Marcus's heart. The man who shot Marcus, lives in Tel Aviv and never recovered from the trauma of killing his commander.^{[citation needed]} Marcus, who braved so many battles in World War II and in Israel's Independence War, was killed by an Israeli soldier following Marcus's strict West Point security protocol. Marcus wore no rank that night due to the Israeli forces' lack of decorating ribbon. As Marcus's body was removed from Abu Gosh, a ribbon was found and placed on his casket. The English language is a West Germanic language that originates in England. ... Hebrew (עִבְרִית, ‘Ivrit) is a Semitic language of the Afro-Asiatic language family spoken by more than seven million people in Israel and Jewish communities around the world. ... Yiddish (ייִדיש, Jiddisch) is a Germanic language spoken by about four million Jews throughout the world. ... Alternate meanings: West Point (disambiguation). ...

Ben-Gurion, in writing to Marcus's wife Emma in Brooklyn, New York stated that: "Marcus was the best man we had." [3] A map of New York City, highlighting Brooklyn. ...

Following his death, Marcus was returned to the USA for burial. His is the only grave in West Point Cemetery at the United States Military Academy for an American killed fighting beneath the flag of another country. His gravestone at West Point reads: "Colonel David Marcus - A Soldier for All Humanity." West Point Cemetery is an historic cemetery on the grounds of the United States Military Academy in West Point, New York. ... The United States Military Academy, also known as West Point, or simply USMA (or Army, for NCAA purposes), is a United States Army fort and military academy. ...

See also

• Machal
• 1948 Arab-Israeli War
• History of Israel

Machal, is a Hebrew acronym which means volunteers from outside Israel (Mitnadvim miCHutz Laaretz). ... The 1948 Arab-Israeli War is referred to as the War of Independence (Hebrew: מלחמת העצמאות) or as the War of Liberation (Hebrew: מלחמת השחרור) by Israelis. ... This History of Israel discusses the history of the modern State of Israel, from its independence proclamation in 1948 to the present. ...

External links

• West Point Rites Honor Hero Commissioner/Col. 'Mickey' Marcus (1999)
• A Hero In Both America And Israel
• Cast a Giant Shadow features an all-star cast, including John Wayne, Yul Brynner, and Kirk Douglas as General Marcus (1966)
• The Road to Jerusalem: Retracing the costly 1947-48 battles to keep open the road to Jerusalem
• Risking Life and Citizenship in Fight for Israel