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.

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