SAEGER, Edwin William 1916-2005
SAEGER, STOEHR, LUINSTRA, HOP, DIBETS
Posted By: Diane M Scott (email)
Date: 5/13/2013 at 14:17:07
Edwin William Saeger
March 9, 1916 – April 2, 2005
Biography: Edwin William Saeger was born on March 9, 1916 in Rock Rapids, Iowa. He was the son of William Saeger and Hulda Stoehr and attended a country school located seven miles south of Rock Rapids.
Service Time: Edwin entered the service and was stationed at Camp Roberts, Calif. It was from Camp Roberts that both officers and enlisted personnel were pulled to form the 807th Tank Destroyer Battalion at Camp Cooke, Calif., on March 1, 1942. Edwin was assigned to B Company and continued with the unit to Camp Gruber, Oklahoma, Camp Hood, Texas and throughout their training before shipping out for England. He served with the 807th until he was wounded for which he would later receive the Purple Heart. He also received a Bronze Star for his actions and left the service as a Staff Sergeant.
After the war, Edwin went back to farming and later married the former Alyda H. Hop on April 10, 1947. She was the daughter of Jacob Hop and Antonia Dibets of Holland. The new couple would reside in Rock Rapids, Iowa. The couple had three children, Billy born in 1948, Jacqueline born in 1952 and Holly born in 1958.
When Edwin wasn't working the family farm, he enjoyed reading and writing and authored a book of poetry entitled, Poems of a Tank Destroyer Veteran of World War II. The book includes poems on a variety of subjects including the Military, Nature, Religion, History, Humor and Family. One poem in particular, on page twenty of his book, clearly identifies Edwin's thoughts toward his unit. Poem - The GOYA Battalion
He also enjoyed golf and was a member of the Christian Reform Church and the American Legion. Edwin passed away on April 2, 2005 at the age of 89. He was buried in his home town of Rock Rapids.
This information was provided by Edwin’s son Bill
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------US Veterans Gravesites:
Name: Edwin W. Saeger
Service Info.: S SGT US ARMY WORLD WAR II
Birth Date: 16 Mar 1916
Death Date: 2 Apr 2005
Cemetery: Riverview Cemetery
Cemetery Address: Rock Rapids, IA 51246
Lyon Obituaries maintained by Cindy Booth Maher.
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