Soldier Sends $100 From New Guinea to Pay His Income Tax
DES MOINES (AP)—An Iowa soldier stationed in New Guinea sent $100 to pay his income tax and said he considered it a privilege, E. H. Birmingham, federal collector of internal revenue for Iowa, has reported.
Lt. John H. Hageboeck of Avoca said he would forward whatever was necessary in addition to the $100, if it were not sufficient.
Birmingham said the lieutenant did not have to make out a return, did not owe any tax and that his money was being returned to him.
The letter, in which Lt. Hageboeck asked for income tax blanks to sign, said in part:
“I at least can feel that I am square with old Uncle Sam. I consider it a privilege to fight for and pay taxes in order one day to live again in the finest county in the world. I guess it took a few years of being away from it and a couple of close calls to make me realize this fact.”
Source: The Cedar Rapids Gazette, July 4, 1944
