HFLA-SA Honoring Service Members of Blessed Memory
June 2, 2023
From Memorial through Independence Day, Americans transcend differences and celebrate the uniform services. Hebrew Free Loan Association-San Antonio (HFLA-SA)’s Books of Reminiscence proclaim our community’s unmatched devotion to patriotic service in stories of valor and sacrifice.
Among the San Antonians going off to WWII were the four sons of HFLA cofounder Abraham Kamrass. One of his sons, Lt. Samuel Kamrass served as a bombardier on a B-24, flying with the Jolly Rogers Liberators in the Pacific. Awarded the Air Medal for 25 combat missions, he returned to the US in winter, 1945, only to be lost in the crash of an army transport on April 20, two weeks before the end of the European War.
Samuel’s classmate at Thomas Jefferson High School, Bill Trodlier, went on to A&M and received an officer’s commission before shipping out to the Philippines. Bill was an inspiring infantry leader; an outstanding soldier whose fearlessness and conspicuous gallantry in action left no doubt in the minds of his men that he could be depended on under the most trying circumstances.
On March 29, 1945, Bill was leading his platoon in patrol on Luzon, the site of the highest net casualty battle of any U.S. forces fought in WWII. Bill and his patrol were fired upon by a large number of the enemy, and in an unselfish and heroic attempt to rescue one of his wounded men, Bill was shot and died instantly. He is interred at Congregation Agudas Achim Cemetery; Sam can be found at Congregation Rodfei Sholom Cemetery (pictured below). Two of the many San Antonio Community stories the Hebrew Free Loan Association looks forward to sharing, entering our Centennial Year this month.
