22 | JUNE 29 • 2023
OUR COMMUNITY
L. Stimson and Chief of Staff General
George Marshall, who on behalf of the
president extended their condolences and
gratitude to the Lash family.
Another display of Uncle Abe memora-
bilia includes a Christmas greeting from
Lt. Gen. George S. Patton, vintage war-
time-themed post cards from the era, as
well as a priceless collection of beautifully
handwritten letters written by his uncle
from the warfront.
One letter featured in the framed
keepsake was written by Abe to his broth-
er Irving. It’s dated Aug. 16, 1944. It’s
heart-wrenching to read knowing that
this was a young man, barely out of his
teens, who was doomed to die less than
then five months later during the Battle
of the Bulge. It read in part …
Dear Brother Irving,
I was very happy upon receiving your
letter of the 7th. How are you? How is
Rose? [Irving’s wife] and how are my two
nephews? [Harvey and Steve Lash] I hope
you are all in the very best of health … I
have moved again, this time it’s not rain,
but sand! Boy! Sand everywhere, we eat it,
sleep in it, and even wash in it. Cold show-
ers is a past luxury. Now we use our steel
helmets as bathtubs. Gad! This is the life?
Abe goes on to say he is in good health
and is taking care of himself and adds:
“Say, I’ll consider those classes on garden-
ing seriously,
” a hobby sadly that he envi-
sioned upon his return from war but that
would never be fulfilled.
Well, that’s about all there is. Take care
of yourself and your family.
Love and kisses,
Abe
ABE IN THE ARCHIVES
I came to learn even more about “Uncle
Abe” with a dive into the William
Davidson Digital Archive of Jewish
Detroit History. Unfortunately, the only
information I found were details of his
passing.
In the May 30, 1946, issue of the
Detroit Jewish Chronicle, there is a
page dedicated to war dead by the then
Yetz-Cohen Post of the JWV. It told of
how Herman “Abe” Lash was working
at the Walsh Sheet Metal Works when
he enlisted and entered the service on
Sept. 6, 1943, at the age of 18. He was a
graduate of Northern High School and
attended Wayne University. His hobbies
included photography, music and fish-
ing. His plans for the future included
being either an engineer or metallurgist.
As if trying to come to terms with
Abe’s passing was difficult enough, the
family would have to wait over three
years before he was brought home to the
United States to his
final resting place.
Abe was orig-
inally buried in
Europe, but as
reported in an
obituary in the
Aug. 27, 1948, edi-
tion of the Detroit
Jewish Chronicle,
reinterment ser-
vices were held at
the Ira Kaufman
Chapel under the
auspices of the
Rosenwald Post
of the Veterans of
Foreign Wars.
He is buried in the Veteran’s Section at
Machpelah Cemetery in close proximi-
ty to his parents Louis and Anne Lash.
Harvey, Steve, Myles and Sarita clearly
recall the lifelong devastation that their
grandparents bore over the loss of their
son.
I am grateful for having had a chance
to learn of the legacy of “Uncle Abe.”
May his memory continue to be for a
blessing.
The Purple Heart Abe Lash received posthumously for his service.
The JWV and Ladies Auxiliary honored veterans at Machpelah
Cemetery.
continued from page 21