Morris Breakstone

Morris was a latecomer to the Force joining in Aug 1944. Here he is pictured before that time. After the disbandment of the "Force" he was put into the 474th.

This was Morris' favorite picture of himself which always sat in his living room. This picture was taken somewhere in Bavaria after the disbandment of the Force.

If you knew Morris or just took a look at the above picture you would know how important fitness was to him throughout his life.

At the age of 70 Morris performed 709 push-ups in 34 minutes – a feat cited in Ripley’s “Believe It or Not” and for which he received a standing ovation at the Michigan Senate.

This picture was taken of Morris just after completing his amazing push up feat.

A very special "Thanks" to Angela Breakstone,

widow of Morris Breakstone, 4-2

for the pictures and info about Morris

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The following is the obituary for Morris Breakstone

Morris Breakstone, 86, left this life on May 27, at Bixby Medical Center.   He was born on August 15, 1921 the first son of Harry Aaron and Elsie (Beck) and grew up in the Bronx, New York City.   For Morris, the Bronx seemed the center of the universe peopled by his heroes, including his father and uncles and the larger than life characters that were their friends.   His life obsessions of physical fitness, family and fighting injustice took root in those early and happy years.

During World War II, Morris was assigned to an infantry company and later volunteered for and saw combat with the First Special Service Force, an elite American and Canadian commando brigade that would become the model for the U.S. Special Forces, known as the Green Berets and which was depicted in the film the Devil’s Brigade featuring William Holden and Cliff Robertson.

 

After the war he enrolled under the G.I. Bill at the City College of New York, majoring in psychology and earning a Master’s degree.  He worked as an intern, an attendant, and psychologist in two mental hospitals.  Later he was promoted to Director of Psychology at the Coldwater State Home and Training School.   While at the Training School, Morris secretly investigated allegations that African American patients were being unfairly punished for reasons clearly racist.    He presented his findings to mental health and civil rights officials and was fired twice in retaliation.  After a ten year battle Morris was finally vindicated in court.   He helped open the Lenawee Vo-Tech Center and retired from the Lenawee Intermediate School District in 1983. 

As a clinical psychologist he had essays accepted for publication in Mental Health Michigan College Personnel Association Journal and Review of Existential Psychology and Psychiatry.

Morris used his life experiences to bring authenticity to novels he wrote – Company Punishment, a World War II novel, Seclusion, which took place in a mental hospital, and Views From the Leaning Rest Position, a collection of short stories and essays depicting many of the challenges Morris faced in life – love and sacrifice, racism, anti-Semitism and the struggles of a family during the Great Depression.

Fitness was always an important part of his life and at the age of 70 Morris performed 709 push-ups in 34 minutes – a feat cited in Ripley’s “Believe It or Not” and for which he received a standing ovation at the Michigan Senate.

He is survived by his wife, Angela (Fritz), whom he married on June 18, 1978; two children, Laura Russelle (Bobby) Breakstone-Crees and Harry Aaron Breakstone; two grandsons, Benjamin (Julie) Brinson and Joseph Mitchell-Breakstone; three great grandchildren, Benjamin Jr., Danielle, and Kaitlyn; his sister-in-law Marlene; nephews Alan and Christian and nieces Carole and Heather; his cousin Philo; Teenohk and Shneeya, his cats; and many dear friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Harry and Elsie and his brother Jack.   

He will be remembered in many ways – as the personal liberator of a young Dutch cousin, as someone who acknowledged the uniqueness of each and every person, a master of the English language, an inspirational human being and hero to many; someone  who always strived to be a mensch.

Funeral services for Morris will be held at 3:00 pm on Sunday, June 1 at the Anderson Funeral Home.  Friends may visit the family at the funeral home on Saturday, May 31 from 1 to 4 pm.   Internment with full military rites will be conducted at the Great Lakes National Cemetery at a later date.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Southern Poverty Law Center or the First Special Service Force.