Labeczewski, Augustine August 'Duke' L.

Birth Name Labeczewski, Augustine August 'Duke' L. [1a]
Birth Name Labeczewski, Augustine
Also Known As Labeczewski, 'Duke'
Call Name 'Duke'
Call Name Augustine
Call Name 'Duke'
Gender male

Events

Event Date Place Description Notes Sources
Birth 1928    

 
Military Service   United States Merchant Marines USMM  

Event Note

Augustine 'Duke' Labaczewski served in the United States Merchant Marine during the World War II, and remained a seaman until the
1990s.

 
Boat   התקווה T.V. McAlister USCGC Gresham Tradewinds haTikvah Tradewinds התקווה haTikvah sailed from Miami

Event Note

Frank Scanlon was hired to captain Tradewinds haTikvah from Miami to Europe.
Murray S. Greenfield cites: "The captain, a non-Jew hired to take the Tradewinds to Europe, was also in for a surprise: Hed had expected a fully professional crew, not the motley group awaiting him in Miami."

Event Note

'Manny' Weinstein was sent to Miami to join the crew of Tradewinds haTikvah התקווה, on which he served through her entire Aliyah Bet career.

Event Note

Sidney Yellin served as Captain aboard Tradewinds haTikvah התקווה.

Event Note

Murray S. Greenfield, a Merchant Marine veteran, served as Second Officer and fulfilled a number of shipboard duties including cooking, in a crew of 20 Jews and two Gentiles, aboard aboard Tradewinds haTikvah התקווה.

Event Note

August 'Duke' Labeczewski, a Polish Catholic with nine years of shipboard experience, fulfilled a variety of duties aboard Tradewinds התקווה haTikvah.
"Duke was a merchant marine cook during World War II. Short guy. He learned to cook in a Jewish bakery in Philadelphia. He knew all the Yiddish songs and Jewish holidays, and he knew all about Pessah. He was wonderful."
Efrem Sigel cites: "Duke, a non-Jew, was a close friend of Mike Pearlstein's; they'd lived in the same Philadelphia neighborhood. When Pearlstein
decided to volunteer for Aliya Bet, he invited Duke to join him. Soon the two of them were on the SS Tradewinds, bound for Europe and then for Israel."

Event Note

Bernard Lerner served as Second Mate aboard Tradewinds haTikvah התקווה.

Event Note

Hugh McDonald served as Crew aboard Tradewinds haTikvah התקווה.

Event Note

Saul Yellin served aboard Tradewinds התקווה haTikvah.
Saul Yellin described it as the most meaningful experience of his life, because, he cites: he "will never forget the thrill when one Jew was able to reach out to help another Jew as they boarded our ship... they kissed our hands and said that we were sent by the Messiah."

[1] [2] [3]
Military Service   פלמ"ח פלוגות מחץ Palmach, הגנה Augustine 'Duke' Labeczewski trained with the Palmach and saw action near Tiberias

 

Source References

  1. The Jews' Secret Fleet: The Untold Story of North American Volunteers Who Smashed the British Blockade
    1. Page: 176
  2. Umlegale: Yidn Shpaltn Yamen: di Geshikhte fun an Umlegale Rayze Keyn Erets-Yisroel “Illegal”: Jews Ply the Seas: The History of an Illegal Transport to Palestine)
  3. Hatikvah Song of Hope

Pedigree

    1. Labeczewski, Augustine August 'Duke' L.