An American Jewish fighter pilot, Lt. Morton Sher, was laid to rest in Greenville, South Carolina, on December 14, 2023, 82 years after his plane was shot down during World War II. The burial coincided with what would have been Sher’s 105th birthday, marking a poignant moment for his family and the community.
Sher, who served as part of the renowned Flying Tigers group, was tasked with protecting China from Japanese forces following the attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941. On August 9, 1943, while piloting a P-40 Warhawk, he was shot down by Japanese bombers, leading to a long and arduous journey to identify his remains. According to the United States Department of Defense, Sher’s mother, Celia Sher, received his Purple Heart in the same year.
In the years following the crash, Sher’s squadron erected a memorial stone at the site in Xin Bai Village, China. A postwar military review in 1947 concluded that his remains were likely destroyed and should be considered unrecoverable. Despite two unsuccessful attempts in 2012 and 2019 to locate his remains, hope was reignited when the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency excavated the crash site in 2024. DNA analysis confirmed the identification in June 2025.
Sher was born on December 14, 1920, in Baltimore, Maryland, and later moved with his family to Greenville. There, he became an active member of the Conservative synagogue Congregation Beth Israel and participated in the aviation club during high school. He was also a founding member of the B’nai B’rith Youth Organization’s Aleph Zadik Aleph chapter in Greenville, as noted by the funeral home that organized his burial.
His nephew, Steve “Morton” Traub, expressed admiration for his uncle, stating, “This guy did a lot for his country. He was my hero.” Though Traub never met Sher, he grew up hearing stories and reading letters from his uncle. Raised by Sher’s father, David Sher, Traub remarked on the deep connection he feels to Morton: “I wish I had known him, but if he had, I wouldn’t have been named after him. I feel like I knew Mason because I knew Papa.”
The burial of Lt. Morton Sher not only honors his service and sacrifice but also provides closure to a family who has waited generations for this moment. His legacy endures, symbolizing the bravery of those who fought in the skies over China during one of history’s most tumultuous periods. As the community comes together to remember him, Sher’s story serves as a reminder of the sacrifices made by countless individuals in service to their countries.
