Harry Nathan Boretz

Harry Nathan Boretz’s Personal Narrative was derived from information found in public records, military personnel files, and local/state historical association materials. Please note that the Robb Centre never fully closes the book on our servicemembers; as new information becomes available, narratives will be updated to appropriately represent the life story of each veteran.

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Military Honor(s):

Distinguished Service Cross

Citation: The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Harry Boretz, Corporal, U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in action at Arbre Guernon, Belgium, October 18, 1918. Although severely wounded and ordered to dressing station, Corporal Boretz returned to the front lines, rejoined his company and voluntarily joined a patrol which attacked and routed enemy machine-gun crews. The officer in command of the patrol having been killed, corporal Boretz assumed command thereof and directed the capture of an enemy machine-gun crew of four men.

Purple Heart

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Life & Service

  • Birth: 8 March 1891, Novogrudok , Russia
  • Place of Residence: Manhattan, NY, United States
  • Race/Ethnicity: Jewish American
  • Death: 23 September 1948 Los Angeles, CA, United States
  • Branch: Army
  • Military Rank: Corporal
  • Company: [H]
  • Infantry Regiment: 107th
  • Division: 27th
Personal Narrative
Early Life (Pre-War): Includes general parent information, sibling information, education Toggle Accordion

Harry Nathan Boretz was born to unknown parents (mother’s maiden name: Maslowat) in Novogrudok, Novogrudok District, Minsk Province, Russian Empire (currently Navahrudak, Belarus) on 8 March 1891 (alternative: 22 April 1889); he had at least one brother, Morris (1894-1960). Boretz emigrated to the U.S. aboard the vessel Cedric on or around 12 May 1907, settling in New York.

In the 1910s, Boretz lived in Brooklyn, New York, working as a painter; on 21 June 1916, he enlisted in the New York National Guard, serving as a Private in Company H, 12th Infantry Regiment. His address on file for the period is 333 E. 83rd St., New York.  

Service: Includes a summary of transfers, rank change(s), training, enlistment, and discharge locations Toggle Accordion

Boretz was made Private First Class on 12 October 1916, and mustered out on 10 March 1917. Boretz was mustered back in, and promoted to Corporal on 24 September. Cpl Boretz’s unit was federalized and made into Co. H, 107th Infantry Regiment, 27th Division; they left Newport News, Virginia aboard the U.S. Army Transport Ship Antigone on 10 May 1918.

Cpl Boretz received the Distinguished Service Cross for his actions near Arbre Guernon, Belgium on 18 October;

“The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross to Corporal Harry Boretz (ASN: 1211226), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with Company H, 107th Infantry Regiment, 27th Division, A.E.F., at Arbre Guernon, Belgium, 18 October 1918. Although severely wounded and ordered to dressing station, Corporal Boretz returned to the front lines, rejoined his company and voluntarily joined a patrol which attacked and routed enemy machine-gun crews. The officer in command of the patrol having been killed, corporal Boretz assumed command thereof and directed the capture of an enemy machine-gun crew of four men.”

“Engagements: Off-Ypres, Lys, Somme. Def. Sect.- Dickebush Lake & Scherpenberg.”

“In as much as this soldier has been awarded the DSC which is a higher award than the citation for gallantry in action, and is awarded for the same act of gallantry for which he was cited in G.O. #39, HQ 27th Div., dated 2-8-1919, the right to wear the silver star decoration by reason of the published citation ceases.”

Boretz was promoted to Sergeant on 30 October, then made Private on 13 December, finally made Corporal again on 5 January 1919. Cpl Boretz received the Purple Heart.

Cpl Boretz and Co. H left Brest, France on 28 February 1919 aboard the U.S. Army Transport Ship Leviathan, arriving in Hoboken, New Jersey on 6 March, heading to Camp Merritt. Cpl Boretz was Honorably Discharged on 2 April.

Later Life (Post-War): Includes post-war education, occupation, marriage(s) and/or children, location and date of death Toggle Accordion

Upon demobilization, Boretz married Annie Rubinofsky (1901-?) on 6 July 1919, with her, having three children, Lillian (1921-2006), Jonathan (1922-1999) and Chester (1927-). The family lived in Manhattan (East 121st St., 2-3 Ave) into the 1920s, where Boretz worked as a driver for a milk distributor, the 1930s, living at 411 W 129th St., where Boretz was the proprietor of a salt and hops store. In the 1940s, the family were located at 305 E 69th St., New York, where Boretz worked as a newspaper dealer. In 1942, Boretz worked at Consolidated Ship Yards at Terminal Island-San Pedro (potentially: Naval Air Base San Pedro), California. Boretz, at the time, may have been living with his brother, Morris.

Annie Rubinofsky Boretz may have been institutionalized in the Rockland State Mental Hospital (Rockland Psychiatric Center) in Orangeburg, New York from pre-1940 through the 1950s. Her death date and burial information is currently unknown.

Little else is known of Boretz’s adult life, he died in Los Angeles from an unknown cause on 25 September 1948- he is buried at Mount Carmel Cemetery, Commerce, California.