The Fort Hood Sentinel (Temple, Tex.), Vol. 54, No. 72, Ed. 1 Thursday, February 8, 1996 Page: 2 of 34
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A2
Feb. 8 1996 Fort Hood Sentinel
By Felicia K. Wingler
4th Inf Div Public Affairs
A soldier assigned to the 4th Infantry
Division used to live in a communist coun-
try where the government controlled al-
most every aspect of his family’s life in-
cluding their religion. This soldier has
found abetter life-on American soil.
Spc. Alexander Rotberg 30 was born
in Odessa a town in the Ukraine. He and
his family planned to leave Russia for 12
years but didn’t make it out of the coun-
try until 1990.
His father worked as an engineer and
his mother was a doctor who treated po-
litical prisoners. The family was consid-
ered to be upper middle class but there
was one problem: they were Jewish and
people looked down on the Rotberg said.
“The people tried to exclude us from
the country life” said Rotberg who is
assigned to Company B 204th Forward
Support Battalion.
Although it was not an official law in
the country it was hard for Jewish people
to get an education because only so many
minority students were allowed into col-
leges and universities he said.
The Rotbergs originally decided to try
to make it to Israel but changed their plans
and came to America where Alexander had
a chance to begin his education.
But this was after Rotberg had to serve
in the Russian army.
i. All males in Russia had to serve two
years in the army or three years in the navy
or they would be jailed. Rotberg chose the
army and he entered the service in 1985
and commanded a T-72 tank. At Fort
«Hood he is a tank turret repairman.
“In the Russian army the newest sol-
diers have no seniority and are often taken
advantage of. You get the worst details and
must-do work for other soldiers who have
power. Being a Jew the abuse was fre-
quent. You might dig a hole fill it up and
dig it again” Rotberg said. “iLwasjiQth-
a
Rotberg who entered the U.S. Army
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Spc. Alexander Rotberg in Soviet Army uniform.
almost three years ago after losing his job
working with computers said the Ameri-
can Army is totally different.
Besides the paid voluntary status of the
American Army the conditions and stan-
dards there are much different he said.
The American Army takes better care
of people. The leaders officers and non-
commissioned officers respect people and
the training is more professional he said.
“The United States takes training more
seriously. There are professionals who
have been in the Army for many years
training you” Rotberg said. “In the So-
viet army everyone spent two years and
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received low pay and the way of life was
extremely difficult. This is why Soviet
soldiers do their time and get out he said.
“Here you can make the army a career
a life’s choice and you have support” said
Rotberg who would like to make the Army
a career.
Those aren’t the only differences in the
two armies especially since the American
Army includes females Rotberg said.
“The American Army is equal oppor-
tunity for everyone and the chain of com-
mand really cares about soldiers” he said.
Rotberg said his idea of America and
Americans has also changed dramatically
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Spc. Alexander Rotberg 204th FSB 4th Inf Div takes cover during afield problem.
“The American Army is equal opportunity fo
everyone and the chain command really cares
about soldiers.
Spc. Alexander Rotberg
204th FSB 4th Inf Div
They are friendly” Rotberg said.
“We were brainwashed against Ameri-
cans. We were lead to believe they destroy
everything” Rotberg said. “We thought
they were a bunch of people with guns who
wanted to kill everyone in Russia but
America is full of other nationalities.”
All the different nationalities that make
up America are what make it such a great
country. It also helps the army maintain
peace in other places Rotberg said.
“The U.S. will jeopardize its own sol-
diers to try to maintain peace as in
Bosnia” he said.
Rotberg said he would not return to
Russia even though it has changed.
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changed overnight or in a year or two.”
Rotberg who likes to travel said he
uses his weekends to travel around Texas.
He wants to finish college and raise his 3-
year-old son Nathan.
Rotberg said he has enjoyed his time in
the American Army and has been benefi-
cial to his unit also. Rotberg has put his
Russian language to work as a translator
for visiting foreign officers.
“He was lauded on his outstanding per-
formance in interpreting for visiting for-
eign officers” said Capt. Thomas Detrick
204th FSB.
“When Spc Rotberg began to translate
for the foreign visitors it was obvious to
the other linguists and the visitors Rotberg
was a native speaker” said Lt. Col. Ken
Ashworth battalion commander. “All in
attendance were impressed and envious
about his background.”
The foundations he built from his life
in Russia are very beneficial to the foun-
dations he is currently building in America
according to Detrick.
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Bobick, Cpl. Julia. The Fort Hood Sentinel (Temple, Tex.), Vol. 54, No. 72, Ed. 1 Thursday, February 8, 1996, newspaper, February 8, 1996; Fort Hood, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth310102/m1/2/: accessed April 28, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Casey Memorial Library.