Elwin H Haak - 298th Engineer Combat Battalion, WWII, WW2

Elwin H Haak

Source: saukvalley.com
STERLING - Elwin H. Haak, 88, of Sterling, died Friday, September 14, 2012 at CGH Medical Center. He owned Rock River Vendors for over forty years. Elwin was born November 1, 1923 in Jordan Township the son of Carl and Winifred (Haines) Haak. He married Rita Ann Sullivan on August 30, 1947 in Sterling. She preceded him in death on September 24, 2008. Elwin served in the United States Army 298th Engineer Combat Battalion during WWII, was captured in France and held in Moosburg, Bavaria until the end of the war. Elwin was a graduate of SHS class of 1941. He enjoyed family, golf, and travel and had been active in many local civic organizations. Survivors include four daughters, Sandy (Terry) Dell of Bettendorf, IA, Sally Stringer of Naperville, Dawn (Chris) Rosendall of Fort Wayne, IN and Debbie (Rick) Terry of Parrish, FL; one sister, Betty Zigler of Sterling; nine grandchildren; ten great-grandchildren and several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by one daughter, Melea Marie Haak; one sister, Bernice Wiedel; one brother, Lawrence Haak; one son-in-law, Curt Stringer. Services Tuesday, September 18, 2012 at the Schlling Funeral Home, Sterling. Burial at Oak Knoll Memorial Park. A memorial has been established to the Wounded Warrior Fund.

saukvalley.com
Man captive for 9 months
By Joseph Bustos
Created: Saturday, November 7, 2009 1:58 a.m. CST
Updated: Thursday, November 12, 2009 12:11 p.m. CST

Source: Find A Grave
Elwin H. Haak
BIRTH 1 Nov 1923, Whiteside County, Illinois
DEATH 14 Sep 2012 (aged 88), Sterling, Whiteside County, Illinois
BURIAL Oak Knoll Memorial Park Cemetery, Sterling, Whiteside County, Illinois
MEMORIAL ID 97123517

Note to readers: This is the seventh in a series of Sauk Valley Newspapers articles on some of the World War II veterans who are going to Washington, D.C., Tuesday on the Whiteside County Honor Flight.

STERLING On Sept. 29, 1944, Carl and Winnifred Haak received a frightening Western Union telegram: “The Secretary of War desires me to inform you, your son Private First Class Elwin H. Haak, has been reported missing in action since 7 August in France. If further details or other information are received, you will be promptly notified.”

Further information came Oct. 16, 1944, also in a telegram: “Report received through the International Red Cross states that your son, Private First Class Elwin H. Haak, is a prisoner of the war of the German government.”

Haak Scrapbook

Moosburg Online - Stalag VII: Oral History

Listed in After/After Action Reports 26 July - 1 Dec 1944:
LOSSES IN ACTION - A Co - 7 AUGUST 1944
Pfc Elwin H. Haak 36742237

Source: National WWII Memorial
Elwin Henry Haak
BRANCH OF SERVICE U.S. Army
HOMETOWN Sterling, IL
HONORED BY Dawn Haak Rosendall, Daughter
ACTIVITY DURING WWII
Inducted into U.S. Army 3/26/43. Was assigned to company a, 298th engineer (combat) battalion and trained at Camp Rucker, Alabama and Camp Iron Mountain, California. Shipped overseas from Boston aboard the USS Explorer 1/19/44. Arrived Grennoch, Scotland 1/28/44. Arrived Weymouth, Dorset, England 2/1/44. Participated in Normandy invasion with the 298th landing on Omaha beach 6/8/44. Captured by Germans 8/7/44. Held in Stalag 7a outside Moosburg, Germany. Returned to U.S. military control 5/26/45.

Listed in undated, pre-1985, memo from Clycle Haskill, titled “WHAT ARE THEY DOING NOW”
HAAK, Elwin A, Rock River Vending Co

From: Chris Rosendall
My Father-in-Law, Elwin Haak, was in the U.S. 298th Engineer Combat Battalion during WWII. He was captured by the Germans during the August 6 - 7, 1944 action when they were ambushed east of Milley. He eventually ended up in Stalag 7A outside of Moosburg, Bavaria. I have added the following oral history to the Moosburg Stalag 7A site. Elwin died on September 14, 2012 in Sterling, IL at the age of 88.
Fort Wayne, IN
E-Mail: Chris Rosendall

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