Eric (Rosenzweig) Rose was born on February 18, 1914 in Vienna, Austria. Just as conditions for Jews in Vienna were worsening, Eric barely escaped what would have been a certain death. He was warned by a fellow countryman that he would be selected by the Nazis the following day. Ironically, Eric hid in a train car full of Nazi soldiers and prayed he would not be noticed.
Eric left Europe for South America and, in his early twenties, worked his way north through Ciudad Juarez, Chihuahua, Mexico, learning Spanish. Eventually, he was able to enter the United States, where he joined the U.S. Army in order to secure his chances of becoming an American citizen. He taught himself English as well.
While serving in the army, Eric was injured and sent to William Beaumont Hospital in El Paso, where he met Doris Baker, an army nurse originally from Oklahoma. Doris and Eric married and had five daughters: Linda, Judith, Karen, Deborah, and Darlene. The family resided in El Paso’s Kern Place area.
Eric’s brother and sister also managed to escape and survive. His brother joined the United States Navy. His sister went to England, where she worked as a domestic and married. Eric, along with his siblings, tried countless times to get their parents out of Austria but were unsuccessful. While the exact details are unknown, their parents were surely among the millions of victims of the Holocaust. For the rest of his life, that loss weighed heavily on Eric’s heart.
Eric died on November 13, 2003. Despite his experiences, Eric never wavered from his Jewish faith. He was a pillar of the Jewish community in El Paso and proudly served Congregation B’Nai Zion. To his family, he is a hero and role model, demonstrating that good can triumph over evil.