SAM DREBEN -- "The Fighting Jew"
HOW PERSHING AND FOCH ESCORTED SAM DREBEN TO GENERALS' BANQUET
BY NORMAN WALKER.
[EXCLUSIVE DISPATCH]
EL PASO (Tex.) Mar. 28.— Since Sam Dreben's death in Hollywood, his friends here have been holding impromptu memorial meetings to talk about Sam and his exploits. Nothing sad, for Sam was never without a broad grin on his map when he lived here. He was always the center of a laughing circle of friends who listened and laughed at Sam's comic descriptions of his adventures in Mexico, South America and France. The Thursday before he died Sam wrote Maj. R. F. Burges, his old company commander, telling him of his failing health and of the fact that he, the best dough-boy in Co. A, had to walk with a cane.
Photo courtesy of www.jewish-history.com
One of these Sam Dreben meetings was in progress in the lobby of the biggest local bank here when Mason Pollard, who served overseas as a wet nurse to a flock of artillery horses, added a new story to the collection which Burt Orndorff is making for the little "fighting Jew."
CONVENTION YARN
According to Pollard, who is now a staid lawyer, he and Sam attended the American Legion convention together. Sam led the Texas delegation in the big parade which passed in review before Gen. Persing, Marshal Foch, Sir Douglas Haig, Admiral Beatty, Vice-President Coolidge, Gen. Diaz of Italy and other celebrities of the World War who were attending the convention.
Sam was slated for fifth vice-commander, or some other equally important office in the national organization, but was traded on the convention floor by some of his political friends.
He proceeded to drink a little too much Kansas corn whisky to drown his disappointment, Pollard said.
After a day of informal receptions, reunions with his old and new buddies, Sam showed up at the headquarters hotel about 7 o'clock, hungry as a growing boy, as he had had nothing to eat all day. He wore his old overseas uniform and cap and all of his medals just as he had marched in the parade.
Sam started into the main dining-room of the hotel when two Marine sergeants rudely shoved him back from the entrance of the dining-room.
ROOM RESERVED
"How do you get that way, buddies," Sam said without losing his temper. "Here is where I have been eating when I eat heavy. What's the big idea?"
"This dining room is reserved for the generals' banquet tonight and you can't come in," barked the biggest of the two marines.
Just then two policemen cleared a lane through the hotel lobby, the band played, "Hail to the Chief," and Gen. Pershing and Marshal Foch came toward the place where Sam was standing. Seeing his old scout and friend, Gen. Pershing stepped over to Dreben and said:
"How are you, Sam Dreben, and what are you doing here?"
Sam snapped into his best military salute and informed his old C.O. he was attending the convention as a delegate from El Paso.
KISSED BY FOCH
Turning to Marshal Foch, Gen. Pershing said: "Marshal Foch, I want you to meet one of my finest and bravest soldiers."
Seeing his military medal, which is awarded by France only for great heroism, the little marshal of France grabbed the little Jew soldier, embraced him and kissed him on both cheeks.
"Sam, what are you doing tonight," Gen. Pershing asked.
"Not a thing, sir."
"Then come on and have dinner with us."
Sam saluted again, stepped back a pace and started to follow the two famous fighting men when each grabbed him by the arm and he walked into the dining-room between two of the world's greatest heroes.
As he passed, the two Marines forgot to salute, they were so dumbfounded at seeing sam with the two generals. As the little Russian immigrant Jew passed them he put his hand up to his mouth, Hebrew fashion, and said behind his hand:
"Now I guess I'll get something to eat — you big, leatherneck bums."