Pvt. Gene Haight (1915-1944)

HAIGHT

Posted By: Anne Hermann (email)
Date: 4/22/2010 at 07:06:05

Jackson Sentinel
June 23, 1944

Two Maquoketans Killed in Action in Italian Campaign Near Rome; One Reported Wounded
Pvt. Gene Haight and Cpl. Theodore Chase are Casualties

Two Maquoketans were killed in action near Rome and one has been reported wounded. It was learned here this week. Dead were Pvt. Gene Haight, 28, a member of a medical unit, and Cpl. Theodore Chase, 25. Wounded was Pvt Robert Chandler, son of Mr. and Mrs. Fred Chandler, of Maquoketa. The latter has been awarded the purple heart.

PVT. GENE HAIGHT

Pvt. Gene Stevers Haight was a son of Mrs. Mollie Haight, of Maquoketa. Word of his death came from Lt. Henry L. Mitchell, his commanding officer, who said in part:

“I am writing you in regards to the death of your son Gene. He and I were the best of friends and his death was a shock that I shall never forget. There wasn’t a better man in the outfit. We were like brothers and had great plans for after the war. Gene was liked by everyone and whenever he was needed he was right there on the spot, a man that you could always depend upon.

“One day I noticed that he was getting nervous from fatigue and ordered him back to an aid station for a few days rest. But when he heard that some of our boys had been wounded he volunteered to go on the battlefield and attend them. I did not know of his death until the following day, due to the fact that I, myself, was wounded and had gone back to the aid station.

“He was brave and had a lot of courage. He was killed saving another man’s life. I know how you must feel about his death. I do know though, that you are very proud of him and you have all the right in the world to be proud of him. Every man in the outfit is proud of him and his death will be remembered by all.”

ENLISTED FOR DUTY

Pvt. Haight was born August 29, 1915, in Maquoketa and attended schools here and graduated from St. John’s Military academy at Delafield, Wis. Following graduation there, he entered Coe college, Cedar Rapids.

Four years ago, while in the employ of Fischer law firm, Cedar Rapids, Gene enlisted in the National Guard with a group of young business and professional men. He was stationed at Camp Claiborne, La., and Camp Dix., before going overseas where he has served for two years in Ireland, Africa and Italy with the 34th division.

His father, George S. Haight, preceded him in death, in 1924. He is survived by his mother and one brother, George Haight, of Laurel, Md.

His last letter to his mother was written May 21 when he requested a copy of George Santayana’s latest book, “Persons and Places,” hoping to have the author, who is residing in Rome, autograph it for him. He was an inveterate reader and lover of nature, and music.

CPL. CHASE

Cpl. Chase, son of Mr. and Mrs. Myron Chase, of Clinton, former Maquoketans, was killed near Rome on May 30, one day prior to the death of Pvt. Haight. Cpl. Chase was serving with Gen. Mark Clark’s Fifth Army, having enlisted two years prior to Pearl Harbor. News of his death was received here by his grandmother, Mrs. Howard Steffey.

Cpl. Chase, a veteran of five years service, was born in Maquoketa on June 23, 1919, and attended Maquoketa and Clinton schools. He is survived by his parents and grandmother, his grandfathers, John Brundage, of Wisconsin, and Peter Chase, of Clinton, and his great-grandmother, Mrs. V. Sanger, of Maquoketa.

No particulars were available concerning the death of Cpl. Chase other than the fact that he was in the thick of fighting in the Rome area.

Molly Haight Grave
 

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