By Marvin S. Balick
The purpose of this paper is threefold: to refresh the memories of those who lived through World War II by recalling the accomplishments of our “Dear Mollye;” to remind everyone of the importance of the Y Recorder as a communications paper; and to show the faces and share the feelings of some of our heroes, with special emphasis on those who gave their lives in World War II. It is my desire that we will always remember the men and women who served, fought and died for our freedom.
Since the end of the war in 1945, a span of fifty-seven years, our Jewish community has seen two generations of young people grow to become parents, grandparents and community leaders. When your community asks for help, think about those who gave their lives so that we all are able to live and enjoy life. Think about what this one person, Mollye Sklut, did to benefit the community in which we live!
Page 1
The focus of this paper is Mollye Sklut, best known as Dear Mollye for the morale-building letters written to Jewish men from our area serving in the many theaters of operation in World War II.
Mollye Sklut was born in Wilmington and graduated from Wilmington High School in 1925. At that time, she lived at 205 Washington Street and later moved to 14th and Washington Streets. Her father, Abraham Sklut, ran a kosher butcher shop on Second Street. She had three brothers (George, Dave and Jack) and two sisters (Bessie and Jean). Mollye never married. She began working at the YMHA (the precursor to the present Jewish Community Center) in 1934 and had a thirty seven-year career there, serving as office manager for four executive directors: Isadore Sollod, Harry Bluestone, Simon Kornblum and Meyer Bass.
With a population of approximately 5,500 Jews in Delaware in 1940, 528 Delaware Jewish men and women served in the military during World War II. More than 800 Delawareans were killed in action (KIA), twenty-six of whom were Jewish. The names of those men are listed below along with five others who died in the Korean and Vietnam conflicts.
| Norman Aernson+ | Harry Fineman* | Herbert Rubenstein* |
| Nathan Balick* | Zane Glazer+ | Norman Schoenberg* |
| Arthur Blatman* | Bernard Goodlevege | Max Schwitzgold |
| Nathan Blume* | Gordon Goldstein | Benjamin M. Simon* |
| Rupert Burstan+ | Kenneth Goldstein* | Jacob Israel Silver* |
| Morton Carlis* | Bernard Greenberg+ | Charles Spiegel* |
| Herman Cohen* | Maurice Jacobs* | Sidney Steelman* |
| Charles Edelberg* | Robert Lisansky* | Arthur Weiler+ |
| Martin Eisenman* | Seymour Miller* | Marvin Weiner* |
| Harry First* | Simon Rosen* | Henry Winston* |
| Morton Wolson* |
*photo included (see pages 16-22)
+not killed in World War II
The Jewish War Veterans Memorial Wall, located at the Jewish Community Center, displays a bronze plaque with the names of twenty-six soldiers killed in action during World War II.
From 1941-1945, Mollye Sklut, then in her thirties, received over 500 letters from the Jewish men and women in the Armed Services. She received 10 letters in 1941; 81 in 1942; 167 in 1943, 168 in 1944 and 79 in 1945. The hundreds of letters written from her boys from all over the world expressed their admiration, love and appreciation for her consistent news of the homefront. There is little doubt that she answered just about every single one, personally writing over 50 letters a week to “her boys.” Her letters were either hand written or typed and sent by V-mail. Once, early on, Mollye used a mimeographed common letter. She received notes back that the boys didn’t care for this kind of contact. The letters received by Mollye were printed in the “Y Recorder”, which was published twice monthly from 1942-1945. The title line on page one of the Recorder is reproduced below along with the DEAR MOLLYE headline.
The archives of the Jewish Historical Society of Delaware, located at the Historical Society of Delaware, are the repository for the many letters written to Mollye. These letters conveyed current local community news and were replete with information about where individuals were stationed, what they were doing, who was promoted and who was wounded or killed in action. Mollye wrote back of community events, general and specific family activities.
The following are a few of the V-mail examples of letters that Mollye wrote to “her boys.” The first was written to Lt. Irwin B Cohen and dated November 21, 1944. The second letter was written to Lt. George Samuels on March 23, 1945. They are reproduced exactly as written.
The following are excerpts from letters written to Mollye. From reading them, one can see the importance of the Y Recorder. Again, all letters are reproduced exactly as written.
Mollye was recognized and honored by many people and organizations in Delaware.
In December, 1951, the Jewish War Veterans of Delaware presented Mollye with a plaque inscribed as follows:
“Presented to Mollye Sklut by the Harry Fineman Post 525 Wilmington, Delaware.
To Our Dear Mollye—for the love you gave and long hours you spent on our service men and women, where they went, a cheery word, a considerate thought followed us all where e’er we fought.”
The July 5, 1971 Jewish Voice noted that George Weiner presented an award to Mollye when she retired after thirty seven years with the Jewish Community Center. The tribute read as follows:
“Mollye Sklut came to the YM-YWHA when it opened in 1934 and remained a devoted and faithful and loyal member of the staff. Over the years she developed a deep attachment to the Center and a sincere concern for the well being of its members. “Dear Mollye” was one of the few bright spots in the dark memories of the World War II years. Her unselfish devotion to the cause of service to those in the armed forces earned her the affection of the entire community. Her letters of local news, good cheer, well wishes and prayers went out to Wilmingtonians all over the world. In her correspondence with them she kept the agency alive, awaiting their return to active membership. It is with profound gratitude that the Board of Directors of the Jewish Community Center pays tribute to Mollye Sklut upon her retirement and records this timely sentiment:
“Give her of the fruit of her hands and let her own works praise her in the gates.”
Bill Frank wrote of her in the Jewish Voice of November 18, 1977, in his column Frankly Speaking. “I know and you know there have been great men and women in our Jewish community. Men and women who have sacrificed time, energy and money for the overall good. But as I sit here and write, I am asking myself ‘How many Mollyes have there been, who with the limited resources but with so much energy, served so many Jews on a one-to-one basis?’ And you know, Mollye, you didn’t have to write all those letters. You didn’t have to be a pen pal to 600 or more soldiers. That was not in your job specifications as Girl Friday in the old “Y.” Mollye Sklut, you are a woman of valor; heaven bless you.”
A recognition/appreciation dance was held in her honor after the war. The following is a publicity sketch by Saul Galperin, a WWII veteran. (sketch)
Mollye Sklut is 94 years old, in poor health and now resides in the Kutz Home.
WHAT WILL BE YOUR CONTRIBUTION TO THE FUTURE OF OUR DELAWARE COMMUNITY AT LARGE AND TO OUR JEWISH COMMUNITY IN PARTICULAR?
Recognition is given to the following for their assistance in the writing of this article.
Dr. Ralph Tomases (former POW); Dr. Howard Shapiro and the late Dr. Martin Yalisove for producing “A Story of Patriotism”, 1976, revised 1993; Jewish Historical Society of Delaware for the use of the letters written to Mollye Sklut from Europe, the Pacific area, England, France, Italy, North Africa, the South Seas and all over the United States; the always helpful Frances “Mutzie” Blatman Bellak; the Historical Society of Delaware; Barbara S. Keil; Dr. Bill Duncan; the Jewish War Veterans of Delaware; Barbara Balick, my partner for 46 years; Dr. Richard Sklut and Diane Sklut for the donation of their aunt’s many awards; Saul Galperin and Nancy Sherr.
Published by the Jewish Historical Society of Delaware, January 2003 (logo)