Jackson County IA Archives Military Records.....Haight, Pvt. Gene June 23, 1944
WWII Medical unit, 34th Infantry Division
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Ken Wright wright@prestontel.com April 22, 2010, 12:14 pm

Two Maquoketans Killed In Action
Jackson Sentinel
June 23, 1944

Two Maquoketans Killed in Action in Italian Campaign Near Rome; One Reported 
Wounded
Pvt. Gene Haight And Cpl. Theodore Chase Are Casualties

Two Maquoketans were killed in action near Rome and one has been reported 
wounded. It was learned here this week. Dead were Pvt. Gene Haight, 28, a 
member of a medical unit, and Cpl. Theodore Chase, 25. Wounded was Pvt Robert 
Chandler, son of Mr. and Mrs. Fred Chandler, of Maquoketa. The latter has been 
awarded the purple heart.

PVT. GENE HAIGHT

Pvt. Gene Stevers Haight was a son of Mrs. Mollie Haight, of Maquoketa. Word 
of his death came from Lt. Henry L. Mitchell, his commanding officer, who said 
in part:

“I am writing you in regards to the death of your son Gene. He and I were the 
best of friends and his death was a shock that I shall never forget. There 
wasn’t a better man in the outfit. We were like brothers and had great plans 
for after the war. Gene was liked by everyone and whenever he was needed he 
was right there on the spot, a man that you could always depend upon.

“One day I noticed that he was getting nervous from fatigue and ordered him 
back to an aid station for a few days rest. But when he heard that some of our 
boys had been wounded he volunteered to go on the battlefield and attend them. 
I did not know of his death until the following day, due to the fact that I, 
myself, was wounded and had gone back to the aid station.

“He was brave and had a lot of courage. He was killed saving another man’s 
life. I know how you must feel about his death. I do know though, that you are 
very proud of him and you have all the right in the world to be proud of him. 
Every man in the outfit is proud of him and his death will be remembered by 
all.”

ENLISTED FOR DUTY

Pvt. Haight was born August 29, 1915, in Maquoketa and attended schools here 
and graduated from St. John’s Military academy at Delafield, Wis. Following 
graduation there, he entered Coe college, Cedar Rapids.

Four years ago, while in the employ of Fischer law firm, Cedar Rapids, Gene 
enlisted in the National Guard with a group of young business and professional 
men. He was stationed at Camp Claiborne, La., and Camp Dix., before going 
overseas where he has served for two years in Ireland, Africa and Italy with 
the 34th division.

His father, George S. Haight, preceded him in death, in 1924. He is survived 
by his mother and one brother, George Haight, of Laurel, Md.

His last letter to his mother was written May 21 when he requested a copy of 
George Santayana’s latest book, “Persons and Places,” hoping to have the 
author, who is residing in Rome, autograph it for him. He was an inveterate 
reader and lover of nature, and music.

CPL. CHASE

Cpl. Chase, son of Mr. and Mrs. Myron Chase, of Clinton, former Maquoketans, 
was killed near Rome on May 30, one day prior to the death of Pvt. Haight. 
Cpl. Chase was serving with Gen. Mark Clark’s Fifth Army, having enlisted two 
years prior to Pearl Harbor. News of his death was received here by his 
grandmother, Mrs. Howard Steffey.

Cpl. Chase, a veteran of five years service, was born in Maquoketa on June 23, 
1919, and attended Maquoketa and Clinton schools. He is survived by his 
parents and grandmother, his grandfathers, John Brundage, of Wisconsin, and 
Peter Chase, of Clinton, and his great-grandmother, Mrs. V. Sanger, of 
Maquoketa.

No particulars were available concerning the death of Cpl. Chase other than 
the fact that he was in the thick of fighting in the Rome area.


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