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We are here today to honor all those who have served this country to keep us free, and especially those who have fallen in battle. Most of you assembled here today know about David Hochstein, the young violinist for whom The Hochstein School is named, but I thought I would use our time today to highlight some information about his military service.
In 1917, David was at the beginning of a successful international career as a performer, and at that time went to the Rochester Draft Board and applied for an exemption on grounds that he was his mother’s main source of support (his father had died of a heart attack earlier in 1917); the Board granted his request. Upon receiving news of his exemption, David became ashamed of himself; he went back to the Draft Board, told them he had made arrangements for his mother’s support, and he enlisted in the Army.
On October 1, 1917, Hochstein was assigned to the 306th Infantry Division at Camp Upton on Long Island. In a few short months, David seemed to accept his new military life with a great sense of peace. During an afternoon spent with his friend Willa Cather, he remarked, “For me there’s something in that life [at Camp Upton] just as it is; something I’ve always wanted.” He didn’t elaborate on what that “something” was (Kraut 48, 54). While at Camp Upton, David had the opportunity to work with the 40-piece military band, and even scored his “Minuet in Olden Style” for the band. In an interview with a reporter, he also spoke enthusiastically of organizing a 21-piece orchestra: “I hope and believe my orchestra is not only going to take its place as one of the most enjoyable features of our army life, but also that it will make propaganda of the right sort for the best music in the broad, catholic sense of the word!”
On April 15, 1918, Hochstein received orders to proceed to France. Later, on July 24, he requested a transfer to a combat unit, and was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant on October 10. Five days later, as he was leading soldiers across the field of battle in the Argonne Forest, David Hochstein was tragically struck down by exploding artillery shells. He lost his life just three-and-a-half weeks before the General Armistice was signed to end the war.
It wasn’t until 2015 when David was awarded posthumously the Purple Heart, around the same time he was inducted into the Rochester Music Hall of Fame. We want to thank David today for the ultimate sacrifice. It is telling that his short life has had such an effect on literally thousands of students in the past 105 years through his ongoing legacy at The School. We will be forever grateful.
