Werner Abraham was born on June 16, 1916 in Berlin, Federal Republic of Germany.
On January 5, 1926, nine-year old Werner along with his family, father, Ferdinand, mother, Pauline, and his younger sister, Hildegard, emigrated from Germany to the United States aboard the S.S. Deutschland. After a ten-day journey, the ship arrived in New York on January 15, 1926.
In the 1930 U.S. Federal Census record, 13-year old Werner is listed as residing at 22 Creston Avenue in the Bronx, New York with his parents and younger sister. His naturalization status is listed as “alien.”
In the 1940 U.S. Federal Census record, 23-year old Werner is listed as residing at 149 Daffodil Avenue in Hempstead, New York in Nassau County with his parents and sister. It is noted that he completed three years of high school and is employed as a “scale clerk” in the wire industry. His citizenship status is listed as “naturalized.”
On October 15, 1943, Werner Abraham enlisted in the United States Army. In a newspaper article dated Saturday, October 16, 1943 from The Nassau Daily Review Star, Mr. Abraham is listed as one of 22 Army selectees from local board 724 in Franklin Square who were given a send-off party the previous day by the Patriotic Americans of Elmont. The article states that “a large crowd was on hand to witness the departure of the contingent. The men were given gifts of writing paper, envelopes and pencils.” Werner Abraham was released from his military service on December 31, 1945.
Werner Abraham died on March 26, 2001 in a Veteran’s Administration Hospital. He was interred two years later on Hart Island on July 3, 2003.
Contributor comment: If Mr. Abraham did, in fact, die in a Veteran’s Administration Hospital as is documented on the Hart Island database, clearly he was eligible for veteran's benefits after having served his country, proof of which is supported via his military records that are available to the public. It is inconceivable to me that a veteran could die in a VA hospital, but not be honored with a proper, dignified military funeral service and burial in a Veteran’s cemetery which he should have been entitled as a result of his sacrifice and service to his country. Instead, Mr. Abraham wound up in a mass grave on Hart Island, which is disgraceful.
Sources: New York Passenger Lists, 1820-1957; 1930 United States Federal Census; 1940 United States Federal Census; Department of Veterans Affairs BIRLS Death File, 1850-2010; U.S. Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007; Social Security Death Index, 1935-2014; www.fultonhistory.com