An excerpt from the American Jewish Year Book p. 425-430, 1940.

THEODORE ROSEN

A Biographical Appreciation

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By DAVID J. GALTER

Allow for the ingredients that usually go into the making of the so-called "average American," add a heaping measure of that indefinable substance producing bravery or courage, cover with a fine layer of natural affability, and you have Theodore Rosen, whom it was given to write an heroic page in the annals of the American edition of World War I, and whose untimely passing brought profound grief to the many who knew and loved him and to the greater numbers who had heard of and admired him.

For Ted Rosen — few ever called him by his full, solemn name — was a rare personality; rare for the manner in which he faced trial and death, and even more rare for the way he met life in the face of handicaps and obstacles normally recognized as unsurmountable.

In the struggle between the angel and the patriarch — so the biblical story goes — the latter, though emerging triumphant, had nothing more serious to reckon with than a dislocated hip and a consequent limp. In his personal encounter with Mars, Ted, too, emerged victorious, but the affray proved much more costly to him. When it was over and he was picked up completely exhausted, with barely a spark of life left, the official reports show that he had sustained the following injuries: loss of right arm, thumb on left hand, left wrist broken, one bullet through cheek which took out seven teeth, four wounds in his head, fourteen wounds on body, hearing and sight partially affected.

An average person could not survive. But Ted Rosen had qualities that raised him above the average. That explains his extraordinary record of service to his country and fully justifies the high admiration and the deep affection in which he was held by his fellow men.
Judge Theodore Rosen was born on a farm near Carmel, N. J., September 20, 1895. His parents, like thousands of others, had fled Russia to escape persecution in the early eighteen eighties. They were simple folk with a deep attachment to the soil and a profound reverence for the new land that offered them "life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness."

When he came to this country, Ted's father settled first in Dallas and later in Fort Worth, Texas. He engaged in business and did rather well. But the call of the land was strong, indeed stronger than the lure of wealth. So after several years of success as a merchant, he sold his business, came east, bought a farm and became a contented farmer, doing reasonably 'well and enjoying the esteem of his neighbors.

Though equally fond of both parents, Ted was greatly influenced by his mother. A matriarchal sort of person was she, with a fine sense of humor and a keen understanding of human nature. At the risk of running ahead of our story, we interrupt this biographical narrative to record an incident illustrative of the type of person his mother was — the type of person that influenced Ted's life.

Those who remember the autumn of 1918 will recall that the cables were reporting the names of American soldiers dead and wounded on the European battlefields. During that fateful November, they also reported the heroic exploits of one, Ted Rosen of the 315th Infantry. Those early dispatches declared he had been lost somewhere on enemy territory, doubtless consumed by the fire of machine guns. Among those reported dead several days later was the son of a neighbor of the Rosens. Undaunted by her own misfortune, Mrs. Rosen went to console her neighbor. The two mothers met. Few words were spoken. Mrs. Rosen read what was in the mind of the other mother. Tall, matriarchal woman that she was, she put her hand on the shoulder of the little woman she came to console and said: "Be grateful, for your son will at least receive an honorable burial."

Ted received the conventional education. Following his graduation from the Millville (N. J.) High School, he matriculated at Rutgers University, from which he was graduated with honors in 1916, having received the degree of B.Sc. That same year, he became manager of the Hopewell Fruit Farms, Hopewell, N. J., a position he held until the United States entered the World War. He enlisted in the United States Army in April, 1917, was commissioned a Second Lieutenant at the First Officers Training School at Fort Niagara, and assigned to the 315th Infantry, 79th Division. In January, 1918, he was promoted to First Lieutenant of Infantry. He was recommended for a captaincy, but by reason of being reported in action he never received the captain's commission.

The part he played in the World War is best described in the following records of the War Department. The first is a citation "for gallantry in action and meritorious service" issued as part of the general Orders, from the Headquarters of the 79th Division of the American Expeditionary Forces in France. It is a comparatively brief account of Lieut. Rosen's heroic exploit on November 4, 1918, just one week before the Armistice.

Headquarters, 79th Division, A. E. F. France, May 8, 1919. General Orders
EXTRACT
No. 29
Par. 4. For gallantry in action and meritorious services, the following citations are published for the information of the command.1st Lt. Theodore Rosen, 315th Infantry, for gallantry and heroism in action west of Etraye on November 4, 1918. Lt. Rosen, who was then Regimental Gas Officer, learned that Regimental Headquarters was in some doubt as to the exact position of the front line, which then ran through a dense woods. He immediately volunteered for the hazardous mission of reconnoitering the front line in person. He set out at once, personally covered the greater part of the front line and sent back valuable information to the Commanding Officer of the front line Battalion. While reconnoitering the last section of the front line he ran into a hidden machine gun nest and fell to the ground severely wounded. Although scarcely able to crawl, he nevertheless worked his way back some little distance and gave timely warning to the men following him that enabled them to avoid the nest which had disabled him. While on his way back to give this warning he received further severe wounds from the bursting of a German rifle grenade.

By command of Major General Kuhn:
OFFICIAL: R. VAN HOEVENBERC, P. T. HAYNE, JR. Major, Infantry, Colonel, Gen'l Staff, Adjutant. Chief of Staff.

The next exhibit is a communication from Col. A. C. Knowles, commanding officer of Rosen's regiment, recommending the gallant officer for a Distinguished Service Cross. Col. Knowles had personal knowledge of the details of Rosen's conduct and was in position to describe it in fuller detail than did the foregoing citation.

June 5, 1919.
From: Commanding Officer, 315th Infantry.
To: Adjutant General of the Army.
Subject: Recommendation for Distinguished Service Cross.
1. I desire to recommend First Lieutenant Theodore Rosen, 315th Infantry, for Distinguished Service Cross in reward for his especially meritorious service in the Meuse Argonne Offensive.
2. On November 4, 1918, Lt. Rosen, then acting Regimental Gas Officer, volunteered to accompany Lt. Col. Burt in a forward reconnaissance. Upon arrival at the front Lt. Col. Burt discovered that he had forgotten an important map, sketches and orders, and Lt. Rosen therefore immediately volunteered to return for them. He reached the P. C. [Post Command] at a moment that important attack orders had been outlined and requested that he might be permitted to return with them as he knew the position of Lt. Col. Burt. I lay stress on Lt. Rosen's anxiety and persistance to act as messenger, as I was disinclined to let him go in the first place, being short of officers. He made these trips covering a distance of three miles in all, under a most terrific shell fire. Reaching Lt. Col. Burt, they were soon stopped by hostile machine gun fire, but he volunteered to work forward alone with one runner to complete the reconnaissance. He proceeded cautiously, followed by the runner at fifty yards, when he was suddenly fired upon by machine guns and struck in the right forearm. Taking refuge in a shell hole, he discovered that he was within short distance of a hostile machine gun nest. Hearing talking and loading of guns and knowing that he could not withdraw except under cover of darkness, he determined to resist capture and hold his position. In resisting capture he used his automatic and almost immediately was bombarded by hand grenades. He tried to throw out grenades falling in his shell hole before they exploded, without success, and as a result he sustained the following injuries: loss of right arm, thumb on left hand, left wrist broken, one bullet through cheek which took out seven teeth, four wounds in his head, fourteen wounds on body, hearing and sight partially affected. Was later taken prisoner, while unconscious and two days later awoke to find himself in a German Hospital in Belgium. Lt. Rosen had displayed all the qualities of a fearless, competent and loyal officer. His loss to the regiment was pronounced. At present, even though he is terribly and irretrievably wounded, he is cheerful, hopeful and proving himself to be a real soldier.
A. C. KNOWLES, Colonel, 315th Infantry, Commanding.

Following is the text of the order conferring the Distinguished Service Cross on Lieut. Rosen.
GENERAL ORDERS WAR DEPARTMENT
No. 19 Washington, March 27, 1920.
Theodore Rosen, first lieutenant, 315th Infantry, 79th Division.
For extraordinary heroism in action in the Grande Montagne sector, north of Verdun, November 4, 1918. While on reconnaissance with two other officers Lt. Rosen drew fire from a machine gun nest in order to allow two other officers to escape. A few minutes later he and two runners were sent into the Bois D'Etraye in order to locate the left flank. Lt. Rosen again came under close range fire of the enemy. The runner, who was some yards in the rear, escaped, but Lt. Rosen, who had been terribly wounded by a hand grenade, unable to move or resist by further fighting, was taken prisoner.
Address: Care of the Adjutant General of the Army, Washington, D. C.
Residence at appointment: 3215 Clifford Street, Philadelphia, Pa.

In 1919, while still in the hospital, he matriculated at the University of Pennsylvania Law School, from which he received his LL.B. degree in 1922. He was president of his class. He passed the Bar examinations and was admitted to practice one year prior to his graduation. In 1922, he was appointed Civilian Aide to Secretary of War John W. Weeks, serving in that capacity until 1926. While a patient in the Walter Reed Hospital, Washington, D. C, he met Miss Esther Van Leer Katz of Baltimore, Maryland. Miss Katz, whose only brother had been killed in action in France, was devoting her services to the wounded. They were married on March 9, 1924.

In 1926 he was appointed an Assistant District Attorney (Philadelphia County), resigning when he became a judge. In announcing his appointment (August 20, 1931), to the Municipal Court, Governor Gifford Pinchot said: "As an Assistant District Attorney in Philadelphia, a position he held since 1926, Judge Rosen has established a record of fearlessness, impartiality and extraordinary ability. In the trial of cases, he has appeared not only in the role of public prosecutor, but in that of a public defender. He has an excellent record, and I consider myself fortunate in being able to obtain his services. The City of Philadelphia is also most fortunate." The following September, the voters of Philadelphia ratified the appointment and elected him to a ten-year term. In the fall of 1937, he was a candidate for election to a position in the Court of Common Pleas. It was a spirited campaign, and his triumph was overwhelming. He took office in January, 1938, and filled that position with dignity and understanding until his death, August 26, 1940.

For three successive terms, he was elected President of the 79th Division Association; served three terms as President of the 315th Infantry Association; was a member of the Society of 40 and 8, Military Order of the World War, Army and Navy Legion of Valor of the United States, Military Order of the Purple Heart, Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States, Disabled American Veterans of the World War, Companion of the Military Order of Foreign Wars of the United States and the Disabled Emergency Officers of the World War.

His duties as a member of the judiciary and the demands of patriotic organizations did not interfere with his deep interest in his community — Jewish and secular.At no time a partisan in the internal affairs of his people, he always felt that much more might be accomplished if there were greater application to those issues that were the immediate concern of all Jews regardless of their specific ideologies. Thus, in 1931, he was chosen by the leadership of the Jewish community to be chairman of the Combined Jewish Campaign — forerunner of the present Allied Jewish Appeal. All forces in the Jewish community responded to his call and gave him wholehearted cooperation. He was a director and vice-president of the National Farm School, a director of the Pennsylvania School of Social Work, a director of the Big Brothers Association, a director of the Legal Aid Society, a director of the Crime Prevention Association, a director and vice-president of the Mt. Sinai hospital, Trustee of Rutgers University Council, vice-president of Rutgers Alumni Association, a member of numerous fraternal, college and other organizations On May 22, 1941, the Pennsylvania State Senate, in session at Harrisburg, adopted a resolution requesting the Department of Military Affairs to erect a memorial in Philadelphia in honor of Ted Rosen. This will perpetuate the memory of one who, in a very real sense, gave his all to his country and his fellowmen.