Illustration by Ed Supovitz

Florida Atlantic University Libraries

Jewish Generals and Admirals in America's Military

A Judaica Collection Exhibit

Major General Julius Ochs Adler:
U.S. Army General, Publisher
and Journalist
by Seymour “Sy” Brody

Major General Julius Ochs Adler was a decorated hero of World War I and of World War II. He was the publisher of the “Chatanooga Times” and then, general manager of “The New York Times,” 1935-1955.

Adler was born on December 3, 1892, in Chattanooga, Tennessee. He was born into the family that started the New York Times. He was enthralled with America’s military and became an officer in World War I.

He was a hero in World War I and he commanded a battalion of infantry who fought the Germans many times on the Western Front in France. In one of these engagements, Adler was gassed.

In World war I, Adler was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross, the Purple Heart, the Silver Star and the French Croix de Guerre. The citation for the Distinguished Cross depicted his heroism in action at St. Juvin, France, on October 14, 1918.

“Accompanied by another officer, Major Adler was supervising the work of clearing the enemy from St. Juvin when they suddenly came upon a party of the enemy numbering 150. Firing on the enemy with his pistol, Major Adler ran toward the party, calling upon them to surrender. His bravery and good marksmanship resulted in the capture of 50 Germans and the remainder fled.”

In World war II, General Adler commanded the 77th Infantry Division, which was responsible for the defense of Hawaii from 1941 to 1944. In 1948, he was appointed a major general in the Army Reserve.

In 1945, Adler and 17 other newspaper executives were invited by General Eisenhower to visit the liberated concentration camps. Based on this visit, Adler wrote a series of articles for the New York Times describing his feelings and experience.

He died on October 2, 1955, and was buried in Arlington National Cemetery.

For additional information, contact
Special Collections and Archives
S.E. Wimberly Library

Return to Table of Contents
Return to FAU Libraries Judaica Collections Home Page

FAU Home Page
FAU Libraries Home Page