Meyers, who now works in sales in Silicon Valley, holds dual U.S.-Israeli citizenship.

“The United States with its strength and size, perhaps, isn’t quite needing your abilities and your efforts,” he said, explaining his choice to spend six years in the Israeli navy.

His Israeli-born comrades sometimes expressed puzzlement over his decision to leave the comforts of American life for the dangers of military service, he said.

“They sometimes scratched their heads when they see people coming from other countries,” said Meyers, who served in the Israeli navy in the late 1980s and early ’90s. But he added that he was warmly embraced.