DEVON HAHN, 23, MISSING IN WAR
War Department Lists Resident as a Casualty
Technician Devon W. (“Gus”) Hahn, 23, a graduate of Morningside college and widely known here for his musical abilities, Monday was reported by the War Department as “missing in action.”
In a telegram to the young man’s parents, Mr. and Mrs. H. W. Hahn, 1230 S. Cecelia street, the War Department informed the family that he had been missing in the north African area since February 17. He had been there since November 7.
A graduate of Morningside college in the Class of 1940, he had been a cornetist in the college band. He also played with Monahan Post band of the American Legion and with the Sioux Cityans. For a time while in college he was employed in the T. S. Martin Co. men’s shoe department.
He had served with American troops in England and Scotland. After enlisting April 7, 1941, he went to Camp Claiborne, Louisiana, and later to Fort Dix, New Jersey. He went overseas February 16, 1942. He served for the most part with an infantry band unit.
Source: The Sioux City Journal, March 9, 1943 (photo included)
GERMANS HOLD SIOUX CITYAN
Devon W. Hahn Had Been Reported as Missing in Action
Mr. and Mrs. H. W. Hahn, 1230 S. Cecelia street, received five letters and four cards Thursday morning, all from different persons, tell of hearing a shortwave broadcast on April 12, which stated their son, Devon W. Hahn, was a prisoner of war.
Technician Hahn is 23, a graduate of Morningside college and was widely known here for his musical abilities. In a telegram to his parents last month from the War Department it was stated that Mr. Hahn had been missing in the north African area since February 17.
Mrs. Hahn said that the letters stated that the German announcer on the broadcast asked the parents be notified. In the broadcast young Hahn said, “Am now a prisoner of war on my way to Germany. Am fine and hope all are well. Keep your chin up. I love you all. Will make them jazz conscious now, your son, Devon.”
Young Hahn had served with American troops in England and Scotland. After enlisting April 7, 1941, he went to Camp Claiborne, Louisiana, and later to Fort Dix, New Jersey. He went overseas February 16, 1942. He served for the most part with the infantry band unit.
Source: The Sioux City Journal, April 15, 1943
War Department Confirms Youth Is Nazi Prisoner
The parents of Technician Devon W. (“Gus”) Hahn, 24, have received official confirmation from the War Department that the Sioux City youth was being held as a prisoner of war by the Germans.
In April the parents, Mr. and Mrs. H. W. Hahn, 1230 S. Cecelia street, received about 20 cards and letters from persons in the east who had intercepted a short wave message from Germany in which Devon sent greetings and said he was at the time on the way to a German camp.
Earlier this month a cousin of the Sioux City youth, Private Dale Timmerman of Oto, wrote from Germany that they were interned in the same camp.
Source: The Sioux City Journal, May 16, 1943
***Further Research:
Devon Weston Hahn was born Apr. 16, 1919 to Henry W. and Macil Krueger Hahn. He died Jan. 27, 1973 and is buried in Memorial Park Cemetery, Sioux City, IA.
Source: ancestry.com
