PRESIDENTS MESSAGE
FOCUS FOR 2001
First and foremost, I hope that everyone
enjoyed a Happy and Joyful Pesach in the
warm surroundings of family and friends.
This year we follow our course with
emphasis on the following objectives:
1.
Validate and correct our membership
records to have accurate contact data as
well as a valid history of members
service and AVI association (Aliya Bet,
Machal, recruiting and service, etc).
2.
Accelerate the collection of docu-
ments and photographs for the AVI
archives as well as the cataloguing of the
material. Find the financial support to
accomplish this in the shortest possible
time.
3.
Continue our activities in terms of
reunions, special events, speaking
engagements, newsletter publication and
good & welfare.
4 . Build up the AVI treasury to cover
our activities and projects in coming
years, with our ranks thinning as they
are.
Since the earliest years, AVI members
had hoped for a place of remembrance
where our legacy could be perpetuated
for future generations growing up in
America and Canada. The opportunity
may still come our way, if we remain
active and involved. Though our ranks
are thinning, we need to see each new
day as an opportunity to help comrades,
correct inaccuracies spread by unin-
formed and misguided observers, and to
perpetuate our legacy for future genera-
tions. I am asking that more of our
members and friends participate and get
REPORTS FROM
THE REGIONS
ISRAEL (WORLD) MACHAL
Smoky Simon announces Machals
Yom HaZicharon Service for Wednesday
25 April 2001. The service will be held
at the Machal Memorial at Shaar Hagai
beginning at 10:55 hours. The service
will honour the memory of the 119
comrades who fell during the War of
Independence. Unfortunately many
fellow-Machalniks in Israel and abroad
have passed away since the last Memorial
Service. Rabbi David Rosen will again
conduct the ceremonies. For further
information write to Smoky Simon, El
Al Building, 32 Ben Yehuda St., Tel
Aviv. The telephone is 972-3-621-2724
and FAX 972-3-620-2621.
NORTHEAST
The Boston group met with Sam
Klausner, then AVI President, and his
wife on December 17 at a brunch hosted
by Al and Lisa Glassman at their home.
Also attending were Murray and Ethel
Band, Arthur and Evie Bernstein, Avram
and Esther Kalisky, Arnold and Fran
Schutzberg. Discussion revolved about a
number of AVI issues and, especially, an
effort to encourage member to donate
their memorabilia to the AVI Archives
at the University of Florida.
The New York group has met to
discuss forthcoming AVI events in the
area. New York Board members are
invited to attend Yom HaAtzmaut
celebrations at the Consulate General of
Israel in New York.
The annual ceremony at West Point
honoring the memory of Col. David
Mickey Marcus is scheduled for May 13.
AMERICAN VETERANS OF ISRAEL
VOLUNTEERS IN ISRAELS WAR OF INDEPENDENCE
UNITED STATES & CANADIAN VOLUNTEERS
136 East 39th St., New York, N.Y. 10016
SPRING 2001
DAVID HANOVICE
REMEMBERS THE
NOGA/YUCATAN
These are memories of the delivery of the
Yucatan, renamed Noga K 26 in
service during the 1948/49 Israeli War of
Independence. In June 1948 I graduated
from the School of Technology of the
University of Houston as an Automotive
and Diesel Technician after serving in
the US Army during WW II overseas
from Feb.1943 to Jan. 1946.
As I was about to graduate from my
studies, I planned to travel to Israel to
participate in the Israeli war of indepen-
dence that began just prior to my
graduation. My application for a passport
to travel to the war stricken area in the
Middle East was denied by the State
Department, I was determined to go to
Israel anyhow. I obtained a US Coast
Guard seamans card to enable me to
work my way on a merchant steam ship
going to the Mediterranean if need be.
I communicated with the Israeli student
organization managed by Teddy Kollek
under the auspices of the Supply Mission
of the Jewish Agency in New York. My
application was referred to Nat Cohen,
an agent of the maritime section for
action at that time, and very soon after
that, I was directed to join the MV.
Yucatan, which was berthed at the
Todds Shipyard in New Orleans,
Louisiana. I reported on board on the 1st
of July 1948.
The Yucatan was under some repairs of
its Hamilton main engines, Buda
generators and other machinery in
preparation for the expected ocean
crossing. Naturally all this was supposed
to be hush-hush, and nobody knew
anything about our destination. The
M.V. Yucatan, an ex-US Navy PC. 1265,
a Submarine Chaser with service during
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