Post vice commander was stateless citizen and Holocaust survivor who pioneered the idea of presidential televised debates

Post vice commander was stateless citizen and Holocaust survivor who pioneered the idea of presidential televised debates

My name is Fred A. Kahn, vice commander of the American Legion U.S. Department of Labor post in Washington, D.C. The editorial of National Commander Brett P. Reistad, "Immigrants who earn U.S. citizenship," resonated with my own experience. I was inducted into the U.S. Army during the Korean War period on March 17, 1953, just over a year after emigrating to the U.S. on March 3, 1953. I served thereafter eight months as not a citizen. I was naturalized alongside 260 other servicemen at Fort Bragg, N.C, on Nov. 24, 1953 (see photo). Allegedly it was the largest naturalization ceremony of servicemen then. I was then a stateless citizen, Holocaust survivor and understandably honored to become an American citizen. After my discharge in March 1955, I contributed to my adopted country, pioneering the idea of presidential televised debates with the personal endorsement of Eleanor Roosevelt as well as Gov. Adlai E. Stevenson (you may see many articles on the Internet by searching 'Fred Kahn and presidential debate.') I have also been interviewed, and you may watch the videos of the ushmm.org on youtube/fredkahn.

Sincerely,
Fred A. Kahn,
now 86 years