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Robert Jack Washer,
the second of three sons, was born and raised in the boisterous
Jewish family of Herbert and Ethel (Moss) Washer on the south side
of Chicago. A third alternate congressional appointment should not
have been enough for him to enter West Point in the summer of 1950.
But the other appointees either changed their plans or didn’t pass
the entrance requirements, a turn of events that would mark his
destiny.
Bob’s stature (5'9-3/4") earned him a position in
company D-2. ‘Wash’ was active on the Pointer and
Howitzer staffs and
broke the routine of academics with the German Club, Jewish Chapel
Choir and some 400 hours of punishment tours on Central Area.
His ability to weave incredible stories inspired both
fascination and controversy. Some of his legendary exploits will
remain shrouded in mystery as they could not be clearly corroborated
by his classmates some 60 years later. Nevertheless, his children
have vivid memories of these stories: president of the illegal poker
club, kidnapping Navy’s goat, mapping the steam tunnels and
validating 94 prunes in one sitting.
After the Armor Officer Basic Course, Bob nearly
drowned after landing in the Chattahoochee River on his final
parachute jump at Fort Benning. He proposed to Shirley Edelman from
his hospital bed, and she remained at his side for 55 years, raising
four sons who have given them 14 adoring grandchildren.
He became an expert marksman in all the major weapons
systems while serving as platoon leader, XO, S-2 and S-3 for the 3rd
Reconnaisance Squadron in Büdingen, Germany. One of his fonder
memories was training Elvis Presley, who was assigned to this unit.
After completing a master’s in nuclear physics from
Tulane University, he worked in R&D on nuclear devices at Lawrence
Radiation Laboratories. His evaluators considered him an officer of
exceptional integrity and courage and a brilliant and innovative
scientist, on par with the finest minds of his day. He voluntarily
disarmed a hot nuclear device of his design and construction that
failed to detonate during testing in the subterranean caverns of the
facility.
Major Washer received the Joint Service Commendation
Medal for monitoring the Warsaw pact nuclear missile silos from the
Airborne Command Post in Mildenhall, England. Two tours in Vietnam
and exposure to Agent Orange led to 100 percent disability after
retirement, but he continued his lifelong love for racquetball and
golf, including documented holes in one.
Lieutenant Colonel Washer reached the peak of his
career as battalion commander, brigade XO and division G-3 for the
4th Infantry Division at Fort Carson, CO (1970-73). After the Yom
Kippur War, Bob the fiery Zionist flew the Israeli flag on the
highest antenna of his Jeep “Hanukkah.” Loved by the press, his
commanders and Soldiers for his brash opinions, movie star looks and
charisma, he was pronounced “The Moshe Dayan of the Mojave Desert.”
His first son, Steven, continues this legacy today as an actor,
playwright and film producer.
Bob then served as Professor of Military Science at
Campbell University, NC and Director of Tactics at C&GSC, Fort
Leavenworth, KS (1975-78). His second son, Dean, continues this
heritage of academics as an educator. Bob pioneered the Army’s use
of computerized war games for weapons systems R&D until his
retirement from active duty as a full colonel in 1983 at White Sands
Missile Range, earning him a second Legion of Merit.
He turned down recommendations to attend “charm school” and
promotion to general officer.
After 19 duty posts in 24 years, the Washers settled
in El Paso, where Bob and Shirley were active at Temple Mount Sinai.
While recovering from a major heart attack, Bob experienced a
visitation from a luminous figure described by the family as “The
Ancient of Days” and began attending the Messianic synagogue of his
third son, the renowned Messianic artist Michael Washer. ‘The War
Horse’ endured seven years of suffering from the debilitating
effects of Agent Orange with dignity and a sterling memory (except
for the names of his sons and grandchildren). When all his
ammunition was spent, he still had one magic bullet left, his
infectious sense of humor.
Colonel Robert Jack Washer passed away on
Thanksgiving 2010 leaving an imperishable legacy of leadership,
inspiration and devotion to family. As he concluded in a 1971
Memorial Day speech, “Today it is well to remember that dedication
to the simple challenges of Duty, Honor,
and Country can
inspire men to deeds beyond their normal strength and courage. This
is the spirit which protects the impossible dream of our
forefathers.”
His youngest son Lawrence (aka Chaim Warshawsky),
USMA ’84 and primary author of this article, is a former captain in
the Corps of Engineers of both the U.S. Army and the IDF Reserves.
Bob’s wife Shirley resides with Michael and his family in El Paso,
TX. |
