Ed Koch: Standing Up

Summary

The Moth Podcast Episode Summary: "Ed Koch: Standing Up"

Episode Information:

• Title: Ed Koch: Standing Up
• Release Date: March 5, 2012
• Host: Dan Kennedy
• Storyteller: Edward Koch

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Introduction to the Story

In the episode titled "Ed Koch: Standing Up," former New York City Mayor Edward Koch shares a poignant and personal narrative from his youth during World War II. Recorded live at The Moth, the story delves into themes of courage, prejudice, and the struggle for dignity within the confines of military training.

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Drafted into Service

Edward Koch begins his story at [02:50], recounting his experience being drafted at the age of 19. Despite not being particularly athletic, Koch was determined to overcome his physical limitations. "I practiced. I'd go back at night at 5 o'clock and practice so I could get over the obstacle course," he explains ([03:15]). His dedication was fueled by the competitive environment of his platoon, which was divided into two distinct groups.

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Diverse Platoon Dynamics

Koch describes the composition of his platoon: 25% Jewish soldiers and 75% of men from Hell's Kitchen and Clinton. This division created a "totally different, divisive environment for us" ([04:00]). While the non-Jewish members excelled physically, the Jewish soldiers shone in intellectual tasks such as map reading and seminars. "The Jewish kids would either raise their hands and ask questions or get up and provide the answers," Koch notes ([04:30]), which caused tension among the physically dominant majority.

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Confronting Antisemitism

A turning point in Koch's story occurs when a platoon member named Jack LaRue begins to openly challenge the Jewish soldiers. LaRue would mockingly ask, "Who's the next Yid?" every time a Jewish soldier participated in seminars ([05:45]). This behavior deeply affected Koch, stirring questions about how to address the growing animosity. "It seared my soul. I thought to myself, what can I do?" he reflects ([06:10]).

Determined to take action despite not being strong enough to physically confront LaRue initially, Koch intensified his training. "I said, I'm going to train myself. And I did," he asserts ([06:45]). By the fifteenth week of basic training, Koch felt prepared to stand up against the bullying behavior.

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The Climactic Confrontation

During a seminar in the final weeks of training, LaRue once again disparages the Jewish soldiers. After the lecture, Koch approaches LaRue, grabs him by the neck, and confronts him: "When we get back to the battalion, we're going to have this out," he declares ([07:30]). This confrontation escalates into a fight, with Koch ultimately being overpowered by LaRue. Despite losing physically, Koch emphasizes the moral victory: "The moral of the story is...there was never, in the course of those two weeks, any Semitic slur," he concludes ([08:00]).

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Reflections and Moral Insight

Edward Koch reflects on the significance of his actions, highlighting the importance of standing up against prejudice even when the odds are against you. "I felt I had done something," he states ([08:10]), underscoring the personal courage it took to confront antisemitism within his own ranks.

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Conclusion

In "Ed Koch: Standing Up," listeners are offered a compelling glimpse into the challenges faced by young soldiers during World War II and the enduring impact of standing up for one's principles. Koch's narrative serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of confronting injustice, regardless of personal cost.

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This summary captures the essence of Ed Koch's story as presented in The Moth podcast episode "Standing Up," highlighting key moments, dialogues, and the moral lessons conveyed.

Transcript

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[Dan Kennedy]

Welcome to the Moth Podcast. I'm Dan Kennedy. This podcast is brought to you by Audible.com, the Internet's leading provider of audiobooks with more than 100,000 downloadable titles across across all types of literature. For the Moth listeners, Audible is offering a free audiobook of your choice. When you try audible free for 30 days, maybe you'd like to consider listening to a long way gone. Memoirs of a Boy Soldier by Ishmael Bia, one of our storytellers. Ishmael describes his transformation from a 12 year old innocent child to cold hearted soldier as he's swept up in Sierra Leone's civil war. That's a long way gone. Memoirs of a Boy Soldier by Ishmael Bia and it's available on Audible. To try Audible free today and get a free audiobook of your choice, go to audible.com themoth that's audible.com okay, so this week we've got a great story for you from Ed Koch was recorded live at the Moth last year and the theme of the night was New York Stories.

[Edward Koch]

When I first thought about this, I thought I would tell a funny story. I know two, but they don't make 10 minutes. So I'm going to tell a serious story and it's Not a New York story, except that it involved a New York boy, me. When I was 19, I was drafted. It was World War II, and I was sent to Spartanburg, South Carolina. And I was not a particularly physical kid. In fact, I had a tough time getting over the obstacle course. But I practiced. I'd go back at night at 5 o'clock and practice so I could get over the obstacle course. And the members of the platoon and company that I was a part of were from New York city. And about 25% of them were Jewish kids. They weren't very physical. And 75% were kids from Hell's Kitchen and Clinton. I mean, it was a totally different, divisive environment for us. And when we had the day planned, they planned it for us. Of course, there would be seminars in addition to the physical aspects of it. And with respect to the obstacle course, the 75% of us were much better than the 25% that I referred to. But when they came to map reading and a whole host of subjects that the army wanted you to be proficient in, it was the Jewish kids who would either raise their hands and ask questions or get up and provide the answers. And the others were very unhappy. And there came a point, and basic training is 17 weeks in those days. There came a point when every time a Jewish kid would get up and raise his hand, one of the others, his name, peculiarly, I mean, it sounds so crazy because it's so Hollywood. His name was actually Jack LaRue. And when a Jewish kid would raise his hand, LaRue would say, who's the next kid that's going to raise his hand? And that went on and it. It seared my soul. I thought to myself, what can I do? I mean, I'm not very strong. This kid beat the shit out of me. But I said, I'm going to train myself. And I did. I tried to put myself into shape. And when the 15th week came, there were two left. And we're out in the field and there's a seminar. And the same thing happened. Jewish kid raised his hand and Jack said, who's the next Yid? And when the lecture was over, I went over to him and I grabbed him by the neck and I said, when we get back to the battalion, we're going to have this out. And he didn't know what it was all about because I could get over the obstacle course. He said, what's wrong? What's wrong? And I couldn't tell him what was wrong. I said, you know, you know. And then I could hear yelling around me and somebody yelling, what's happening? And somebody else yelled, come on over, they're going to kill the Jews. And we went back to the battalion and it was really very gentlemanly. They had gloves and we had three rounds and he knocked me down in each of the rounds and I got up in each of the rounds and there's no question but that he won the fight. But the moral of the story is there were two further weeks of basic training and the seminars were part of it, and there was never, in the course of those two weeks, any Semitic slur. And I felt I had done something. Thank you.

[Dan Kennedy]

Edward Koch served three terms as mayor of New York from 1978 to 1989. He's the author of numerous books, including his most recent entitled the Koch My Fight Against Antisemitism. He's currently a partner in the law firm of Brian Cave llp, hosts a Friday evening call in radio program on Bloomberg AM 1130 WBBR and he lectures around the country. This podcast is brought to you by Audible.com, the Internet's leading provider of audiobooks with with more than 100,000 downloadable titles across all types of literature and featuring audio versions of many New York Times bestsellers. To try audible free for 30 days and get a free audiobook of your choice, go to audible.com themoth Our podcast host, Dan Kennedy is the author of the book Rock An Office Power Ballad. Learn [e-mail] thanks to all of you for listening and we hope you have a story worthy week. Podcast audio production by Paul Ruest at the Argo Studios in New York Podcast hosting by PRX Public Radio Exchange Helping make Public Radio more [e-mail].