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Corporal Ruth Rosalie Goldstein Horenstein

  • Unit: Aviation Women's Reserve Squadron 7 (AWRS-7)
  • Date of Birth: January 9, 1919
  • Entered the Military: January 12, 1944
  • Date of Death: December 30, 2015
  • Hometown: North Bellmore, New York
  • Place of Death: Scottsdale, Arizona
  • Cemetery: Section 61, Site 129. National Memorial Cemetery of Arizona, Phoenix, Arizona
Contributed by Tyson Smith and Anna Wilson
Mentored by Dr. Rebekah West Keur
Herberger Young Scholars Academy
2025/2026

Early Life

Ruth Rosalie (Goldstein) Horenstein was born in Canada on January 9, 1919, to Benjamin and Ida Feinburg Goldstein. Benjamin was originally from Russia. Ida’s family was from Poland, but she was born in New Jersey.

In 1925, after moving to New Jersey, the couple had another child named Donald. In 1930, the family lived in Jersey City, New Jersey, with Ida’s brother, Max. By 1940, the family lived in Queens, New York. Ruth still lived at home and was in her second year of college.

A snippet of the 1930 Census.
The 1930 Census shows the Goldstein family living in Jersey City, New Jersey. Father, Benjamin, works as a dry goods proprietor. National Archives and Records Administration.
A snippet of the 1940 Census.
The 1940 Census shows the Goldstein family living in Queens, New York. Father, Benjamin, and mother, Ida, are listed as storekeepers. National Archives and Records Administration.

Homefront

In North Bellmore, New York, the homefront experience was defined by civic duty and by transforming daily life to support the military. Local organizations, such as the Bellmore Volunteer Exempt Fireman’s Benevolent Association, shifted their focus toward war relief work. This included participating in scrap metal drives to provide materials for military equipment and organizing Red Cross sewing circles to create medical supplies.

North Bellmore is located at the epicenter of the “Cradle of Aviation,” a region of Long Island that served as a vital engine of the American war effort. The area was dominated by industrial titans like the Grumman Aircraft Engineering Corporation in Bethpage and Republic Aviation in Farmingdale. These massive facilities operated 24/7, producing legendary aircraft such as the F6F Hellcat and the P-47 Thunderbolt. Nearby companies like Sperry Gyroscope and Columbia Aircraft manufactured the high-tech radar systems and amphibious planes essential for naval victory. 

The community’s daily life was defined by the constant hum of test flights and the strict security of blackout drills intended to protect these high-value targets from enemy detection. 

As young men were drafted into service, the community relied on women to sustain the local economy and support the military’s massive logistical needs.

The Bellmore Volunteer Exempt Fireman’s Benevolent Association, September 7, 1940. Bellmore Memorial Library (2015.001.104).
U.S. Army base, Bellmore Logistics Facility, was used by the U.S. Army to repair heavy equipment and vehicles. Built during World War II, the facility was shuttered by the federal government in 1994. Patch, November 18, 2011.

Military Experience

Goldstein enlisted in the United States Marine Corps on January 12, 1944, embarking on a specialized career within the Marine Corps Women’s Reserve during World War II. Her service was defined by a rapid progression through the ranks, starting as a private at Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) Cherry Point, North Carolina, where she was assigned to Aircraft Engineering Squadron 45 (AES-45). By July 1944, she had transferred to the West Coast to join Aviation Women’s Reserve Squadron 7 (AWRS-7) at Marine Corps Air Station El Toro, California, earning a promotion to private first class. Her dedication and technical proficiency led to a second promotion to corporal by January 1945, a rank she held with distinction until her honorable discharge on October 20, 1945.

As a Recognition Training Instructor, Goldstein’s primary role was to instruct fighter pilots on the ground to ensure they were combat-ready before deployment. Her daily duties were highly technical and physically demanding, often taking place in darkened projection rooms where she led Silhouette Identification Drills. Using the “WEFT” system (Wings, Engine, Fuselage, and Tail), she drilled pilots on the unique features of aircraft such as the Japanese Zero or German Messerschmitt. To simulate the frenetic pace of a dogfight, she operated projectors that flashed images for just 1/25th of a second, demanding split-second accuracy from her trainees.

Goldstein also managed “synthetic” training, which used ground-based simulators such as the Link Trainer and specialized gunnery projectors. These devices allowed pilots to practice maneuvers and combat tactics in a controlled environment, saving vital flight time and resources while significantly reducing the risk to trainees. She also taught pilots how to identify aircraft from various challenging angles, such as from below or head-on. Although Goldstein served stateside, her training efforts were fundamentally linked to the major campaigns of the Pacific Theater. She was an essential part of the training pipeline for the 2nd and 3rd Marine Aircraft Wings, preparing pilots for pivotal battles, including the Solomon Islands Campaign (Guadalcanal and Bougainville) and the Okinawa Campaign.

On January 31, 1944, Goldstein was stationed at Camp Lejune, in New River, North Carolina. National Archives and Records Administration.

Veteran Experience

Following her honorable discharge in October 1945, Ruth transitioned back to civilian life. While stationed in California, she met her future husband, Paul Horenstein, an Army Air Corps Veteran. They married on May 28, 1945, in Queens, New York City. Their marriage lasted over 60 years until his passing in 2006.

The couple returned to North Bellmore, where they lived for over 30 years and raised their two daughters, Joanne and Elaine. In 1985, they retired to Scottsdale, Arizona. Ruth’s identity as a veteran was defined by her continued service to her community. She was an exceptionally active volunteer, dedicating her time to the Scottsdale Police Department, Brandeis University, Scottsdale Healthcare Hospital, and Volunteers Plus, a local service organization.

This is the marriage license record of Ruth Rosalie Goldstein and Paul Horenstein. They were married on May 28, 1945. State of New York.
This 1950s census record shows the Horensteins living in Queens. National Archives and Records Administration.
This obituary of Horenstein’s husband, Paul, recounts their life together and the community they served. Arizona Republic, March 10, 2006.

Commemoration

Ruth Rosalie Horenstein passed away peacefully on December 30, 2015, at the age of 96. She was buried with full military honors at the National Memorial Cemetery of Arizona. She is remembered as a woman who loved books, theater, and interior design—a “Silent Hero” who protected her country in war and bettered her community in peace.

Ruth Horenstein’s obituary was published in The Arizona Republic on January 7, 2016.
The final resting place of Corporal Ruth Rosalie Horenstein at the National Memorial Cemetery of Arizona in Phoenix. Her headstone proudly displays her rank and service in the U.S. Marine Corps during World War II. Find a Grave.

Bibliography

Primary Sources

Bellmore Volunteer Exempt Fireman’s Benevolent Association. Photograph. September 7, 1940. Bellmore Historical Photographs (2015.001.104). https://nyheritage.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/p16373coll123/id/64/re%E2%80%A6.

Donald David Gondstein. U.S., World War II Draft Cards Young Men, 1940-1947. Digital Images. https://ancestry.com. 

“Horenstein, Ruth Rosalie.” The Arizona Republic [Phoenix, Arizona], January 7, 2016. Newspapers.com (145955783).

New Jersey. Hudson County. 1930 U.S. Census. Digital Images. https://ancestry.com. 

New York. Queens County. 1940 U.S. Census. Digital images. https://ancestry.com. 

New York. Queens County. 1950 U.S. Census. Digital images. https://ancestry.com. 

“Paul Horenstein.” The Arizona Republic [Phoenix, Arizona], Mar. 10, 2006. Newspapers.com (125742282).

“Paul Horenstein.” World War II Draft Cards Young Men, 1940-1947. Digital Images. https://ancestry.com. 

“Roshwalb-Goldstein.” Press and Sun-Bulletin Evening Press [Binghamton, New York], Sept. 20, 1980. Newspapers.com (256309647).

Ruth Goldstein. New York, New York, U.S., Marriage License Indexes, 1907-2018. Digital Images. https://ancestry.com. 

Ruth Goldstein. U.S., Marine Corps Muster Rolls, 1798-1958. Digital Images. https://ancestry.com. 

Ruth Goldstein. U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs BIRLS Death File, 1850-2022. Digital Images. https://ancestry.com. 

Ruth Horenstein. U.S., Index to Public Records, 1994-2019. Digital Images. https://ancestry.com.  

Secondary Sources

“1950s Maps of North Bellmore, Hempstead.” Past Maps. Accessed November 1, 2025. https://pastmaps.com/explore/us/new-york/nassau-county/hempstead/north-bellmore/1950s.

“Bellmore Historical Association.” Gotham Center For New York City History. Updated January 10, 2024. Accessed April 30, 2026. https://www.gothamcenter.org/long-island-archives1/bellmorehistorical-association.

Deprince, Staff Sergeant Shakima. “Greater Corps Legacy: 100 years of women in the Marine Corps.” United States Marine Corps. Updated October 2, 2018. Accessed April 30, 2026. https://www.marines.mil/News/News-Display/Article/1651258/greater-corps-legacy-100-years-of-women-in-the-marine-corps/. 

De Sousa, Danielle, “UPDATE: Former Army Base Still Causing Controversy After 17 Years,” Patch. November 18, 2011. Accessed November 1, 2025. https://patch.com/new-york/bellmore/former-army-base-remains-vacant.

“Donald David Goldstein.” Find a Grave. Accessed May 5, 2026. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/277090301/donald-david-goldstein.

Guise, Kim. “Rosie the Riveter and Benny the Bungler: WWII Propaganda at Work.” The National WWII Museum. Updated May 16, 2020. Accessed November 1, 2025. https://www.nationalww2museum.org/war/articles/wwii-propaganda. 

“History.” Bellmore Volunteer Exempt Fireman’s Benevolent Association Inc. Accessed April 30, 2026. https://www.bellmoreexempts.org/history.php.

Horne, Madison. “These World War II Propaganda Posters Rallied the Home Front.” HISTORY. Updated July 17, 2025. Accessed April 30, 2026. https://www.history.com/articles/world-war-ii-propaganda-posters-photos-united-states-home-front. 

Hinnerschitz, Stephanie. “Victory Gardens: Food for the Fight.” The National WWII Museum. Updated November 26, 2026. 2024. Accessed April 30, 2026. https://www.nationalww2museum.org/war/articles/victory-gardens-world-war-ii. 

“Integrated War Work.” Women & the American Story, The New-York Historical Society. Accessed November 7, 2025. https://wams.nyhistory.org/primary-source/integrated-war-work/. 

“Nazi Saboteurs and George Dasch.” Federal Bureau of Investigation. Accessed October 27, 2025. https://www.fbi.gov/history/famous-cases/nazi-saboteurs-and-george-dasch.

“Paul Horenstein.” Find a Grave. Accessed April 30, 2026. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/18636524/paul-horenstein. 

“Ruth Rosalie Horenstein.” Find a Grave. Accessed April 30, 2026. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/156813624/ruth-rosalie-horenstein.

“Ruth Rosalie Horenstein.” Veterans Legacy Memorial, National Cemetery Administration. Accessed April 30, 2026. https://www.vlm.cem.va.gov/RUTHROSALIEHORENSTEIN/D61DEA9. 

“Security of War Information – Loose Lips Sink Ships (1942-1945).” ANA Educational Foundation. Accessed November 7, 2025. https://aef.com/classroom-resources/social-responsibility/ad-council-campaigns-made-difference/security-war-information-loose-lips-sink-ships/. 

“The US Home Front During World War II.” HISTORY. Updated May 28, 2025. Accessed April 30, 2026. https://www.history.com/articles/us-home-front-during-world-war-ii. 

This profile was funded by a grant from the United States Department of Veterans Affairs. The opinions, findings, and conclusions stated herein are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of the United States Department of Veterans Affairs.