A new episode of The Fog of War and Humanity podcast brings listeners a deeply personal account of military service, antisemitism, and Holocaust remembrance through the life story of Gary Glick, commander of Jewish War Veterans Post 652 in Merrick.
Hosted by Richard Acritelli and produced by the Holocaust Memorial & Tolerance Center of Nassau County, the multi-part conversation traces Glick’s journey from growing up in 1950s East New York to serving in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam era. Glick, born in 1949, described a childhood shaped by New York’s diversity, where ethnic and religious differences mattered little to kids on the block.
Facing a low draft number after graduating Far Rockaway High School, Glick enlisted in 1969 to control his own path. After training in Georgia and Virginia, he was stationed in Texas and later Germany, experiences that exposed him to overt antisemitism both at home and abroad. He recalled moments of ignorance and hostility, but also unexpected kindness that helped keep him grounded.
While stationed in Germany, Glick visited the Dachau concentration camp memorial, an experience he said never leaves him. Seeing the ovens and walking the grounds left a permanent mark, reinforcing his connection to Holocaust survivors and the responsibility of bearing witness.
Glick later served as a chaplain’s assistant overseas, working alongside clergy of different faiths and gaining a deeper respect for religious practice and mutual understanding. Returning home in 1972, he used the GI Bill to build a career in the trades, a path that led to a stable family life he once thought unlikely.
Decades later, Glick joined the Jewish War Veterans, where he found camaraderie and purpose in preserving overlooked stories, including those of veterans who were also Holocaust survivors. Now in his seventies, he remains committed to education, remembrance, and advocacy.
As Acritelli noted, Glick’s story is not just history, but lived experience—one that underscores why these memories must continue to be shared before they are lost. Listen to his riveting interview at www.hmtcli.org.