OPERATION BENJAMIN: RESCUING NAMES, RESTORING IDENTITY.

France Expedition - July 3, 2026

St. Quentin Cemetery

In memory of Isidor Katzenstein, a"h

Prepared by Jesse Hefter for our maternal great-uncle

Operation Benjamin Photo Album

Katzenstein Family

The Katzenstein Family (Isidor circled) - Image courtesy of Ruth Hefter

Field Hospital

Cugny Field Hospital - Image courtesy of Stefan Schweitzer Archive

Graveyard

Cugny Graveyard (Example) - Image courtesy of Stefan Schweitzer Archive

Graveside service photo 1

St. Quentin Cemetery Entrance - Image courtesy of Jesse Hefter

Graveside service photo 2

Layout of markers at the cemetery (approx. 2,000 in total/8,200 buried soldiers) - Image courtesy of Jesse Hefter

Dignitaries

Paris chaplain (Far Left), Alexis Grandin, Mayor of St. Quentin speaking words of introduction (Left), Dirk Backen, Secretary General of the Volksbund (German War Graves Commission) (Center) - Image courtesy of Jesse Hefter

Unveiling

Unveiling of the new tombstone (Copyright - Uwe Zucchi)

Hefter at Matzevah

Jesse, Wendy, and David at Isidor's new Tombstone (Sgt. Major Maik Föllmer) (Copyright - Uwe Zucchi)

Matzevah

Tombstone Closeup - (Copyright - Uwe Zucchi)

Military honors

"Der Letzte Gruß" Captain Jens Schrader saluting Isidor Katzenstein with a "Final Salute" at the end of the ceremony. (Copyright - Uwe Zucchi)

Mass Grave Kaddish

Jesse sings the Kaddish for a Jewish soldier (and all the soldiers) in a mass grave. (Copyright - Uwe Zucchi)