HANEY, Sgt. Neil Ritz: 1914-1944

HANEY, BARKER

Posted By: Volunteer: Sherri
Date: 11/3/2013 at 06:25:30

Selma Infantryman Makes Supreme Sacrifice
**Handwritten: 1944

Mr. and Mrs. Floyd Haney of Selma have received unofficial word of the death of their son, Sgt. Niel Haney in the Phillipines. A letter from Sgt. Haney's buddy, Morris Ridgeway of Tulsa, Okla., told of his death in a field hospital on Nov. 16. Sgt. Haney, in charge of a group of men, was believed to have been looking after his men, who had been ordered to their fox holes at the beginning of a barrage. He was mortally wounded when one of our own artillery shells fell short killing all of the men out of their fox holes.

The tragic accident occured November 14. Morris Ridgeway staid with Sgt. Haney, who although he had been wounded in the stomach had appeared to be free of pain and remained conscious until the time of his death two days later.

Sgt. Haney would have been 30 years old on Jan. 7. He is a graduate of the Selma high school. After his graduation he taught school a year and was associated with his father dairy farming at Selma. He was inducted into the army on January 28, 1942 and left immediately for Texas where he trained with the infantry at Camp Walters and was later sent to California. He arrived in Hawaii June 15, 1942 without ever having had a furlough or seeing his family. He later was sent to Australia and was in combat in New Guinea and among the first infantry troops to land in the Phillipines.

Mrs. Ridgeway wrote a letter from Tulsa to Sgt. Haney's girl friend, Miss Maxine Barker, a teacher at Stockport, telling her of the same news she received from her husband concerning Niel. Ridgway's letter direct to Mr. and Mrs. Haney arrived Monday. Haney's have one other child, a daughter, Mary Lou Haney, a senior in the Selma high school.
~~~Transcribed as published.~~~
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Sgt. Neil Haney Dies A Hero On Leyte Island; Parents, Sister and Fiancee Survive
**Handwritten: 1944

Sgt. Neil Haney, 29, son of Mr. and Mrs. Floyd Haney of Selma, was wounded on Leyete Island November 14, and passed away November 16. Word was received by his parents first by a letter written by Neil's buddy, four days before receiving a telegram from the War Department. Neil was inducted into the army January 29, 1942, with an infantry unit, was sent to Camp Walters, Texas for a few months training, them went overseas to Hawaii where he received more training, he was sent from Hawaii to Australia, then to Dutch New Guinea where he was in combat duty, and then to the Philippine Islands.

He was among the first to land there. Neil had been in service 34 months and overseas 29 months and has never had a furlough.

He was born January 7, 1914 in Van Buren county and graduated from the Selma high school in 1932. He attended school at Cedar Falls and taught one years. He had lived his entire life on the farm and was helping his father with the farm work before induction. Neil was a fine Christian boy, had accepted Christ as his Savior, and those long months of army life didn't change his character.

His buddy writes his parents, "Everybody liked Neil, he was such a good fellow, but there was no one over here thought as much of him as I did. he seemed more like a brother to me than my own, the entire company liked him, he asked me to stay right by his side, as I was there until he died."

Besides his parents, he leaves one sister, Mary Lou, his grandma, Mrs. Lora Haney and his girl friend, Miss Maxine Barker, and a host of friends and relatives. Just after Neil bid his "Mom" goodbye, he gave her a little note and this is what it said: "If anything should happen to me, I would like to have it written in my obituary that Maxine Barker and I have planned to get married, lovingly, Neil." He, as did his parents, had hopes for his return, that those plans might be fulfilled, but those hopes seem to have vanished and all there is left is memories. Neil's parents received a letter from the captain of the 19th Infantry saying: "Neil, with others of his platoon, was buried in a sheltered spot on a hilltop and services were read by his chaplain, Captain Lamar Clark, of this battalion. The full company, less those on duty, attended his funeral. Neil, I believe, was the most widely liked boy in his company and his loss is felt keenly by all of us. He led his platoon courageously, wisely and well throughout the campaign, directing them calmly and efficiently in the face of intense fire."
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MEMORIAL SERVICES
Memorial service for Sgt. Neil Ritz Haney will be held at the Eldon Christian church Sunday, May 6th at 2:30 p.m.

Source: Van Buren Co. Genealogical Society Obituary Book C, Page 309, Keosauqua Public Library, Keosauqua, IA

Van Buren Obituaries maintained by Rich Lowe.
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