05/25/2026
This Memorial Day, we honor the courage and sacrifice of those who served—and remember the stories that must never be forgotten. 🇺🇸 💪
On our Grayzel Digital Platform, we highlight the experience of Harry Zaslow, a Jewish American soldier who served in World War II. Zaslow enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1943 at just 19 years old and served with the 283rd Field Artillery Battalion. Over nine months of combat in France, Belgium, Holland, and Germany, his unit fired more than 45,000 rounds into enemy territory.
In late April 1945, Zaslow’s unit entered Dachau Concentration Camp. There, he witnessed unimaginable horrors—boxcars filled with Jewish corpses and the still-operating crematoria. In that moment, amid shock and grief, a fellow soldier reminded him of the stark reality facing Jews in Europe. "You see those dead bodies, Zaslow, Zaslow? They're all Jews, and if you're not careful, you're gonna land up in there too."
Zaslow’s story reflects the complexity of serving as a Jewish soldier. He faced antisemitism within the ranks, yet remained steadfast in his identity. He tells a humorous story about how he escaped a punishment during basic training by dressing up in his dress uniform to attend Yom Kippur services. "And Zaslow's getting into his uniform, and the Sergeant--into his dress uniform—and the Sergeant asked me, "Where are you going, Zaslow?" I said, "Well, I'm, we have a Jewish holiday. It's the evening of Yom Kippur. And even though the battery is being punished, I feel that it's more important that I go to services." And I picked myself up, and I started to walk out and I said, "Sergeant, I'm sorry. Whatever you want to do with me, after I come back, you can take action against me." No punishment followed.
On this Memorial Day, we remember Harry Zaslow and all those who served with courage, resilience, and conviction.
🎧 Listen to his full oral history interview on the Grayzel Digital Platform: https://grayzel.gratz.edu/hoha/oral-history-interview-harry-zaslow
