Emanuel Epstein

Biography

Emanuel Epstein was born on March 20, 1923 in Brooklyn, New York City to Celia Landau (1899–1990) and Benjamin Epstein (1895–1980). His father Benjamin was born in Galicia, Austria and emigrated to the United States in 1914. His mother was born in the US, with Russian born parents emigrated to the United States. Emanuel Epstein was the oldest of three childeren. Manny Epstein attended Ohio University and then went into the Army.

Military Service

Emanuel 'Manny' Epstein enlisted on April 1, 1943 in New York City, New York. He took basic training in Fort McClellan, Alabama and then went to the 63rd Infantry Division. He was later transferred with many other 63rd men to the 83rd Division at Camp Breckenridge, Kentucky before going to the European Theatre of Operation (ETO). Once in England he was moved from Company I to Company K, 331st Infantry Regiment. He landed on Omaha Beach about two weeks after D-Day. He was promted to Private First Class on July 26, 1944 while in Normandy, France at that moment. He fought in the hedgerows of Normandy but after a while Manny was assigned as an aide to Colonel Sheals the 3rd Battalion Commander. Later he joined the 331st Marauder Platoon which was eventually disbanded as the war was winding down after about 4 or 5 months. Manny Epstein was sent back to K/331st. Manny Epstein fought through France and into Germany where he continued to serve in the 83rd during the occupation after the war ended. During occupation duty, an accident occurred when his driver turned over their jeep and Manny wound up in a hospital with a broken shoulder and was later shipped to a hospital at Fort Devens, Massachusetts. For his service he was awarded, among other decorations, the Combat Infantryman's Badge, the European African Middle-Eastern Campaign Medal, the World War II Victory Medal and the Good Conduct Medal.

Post WWII

After recuperating and being discharged Manny Epstein went back to college at the New York University. A few years later he opened up a men's wear retail store and eventually retired and then dabbled in real estate. He spent most of his life in Brooklyn but spend the winters in Florida and some time in Colorado.
He joined the 83rd Association when it was first being formed and co-chaired with Harty Lockwood the convention in New York City. Many Epstein attended all the conventions except two. One being when his Dad passed away and the other when the 911 disaster occurred in New York and all the flights were cancelled. It was at his last Reunion in 2011 in West Point that a met and spoke these Brooklyn boy for the first time and I remember him as a true gentleman.
Emanuel 'Manny' Epstein passed away peacefully at his home in St. Pete Beach, Florida on January 7, 2019. He was 95 years of age.

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