Sidney Hack

COLUMBIA - Services for Col. Sidney Hack, U.S. Army (Ret.), will be held 10:30 a.m. Monday, August 23, 2010, at Dunbar Funeral Home, Devine Street Chapel. Burial with full military honors will follow at noon in Ft. Jackson National Cemetery. Visitation is 5-7 p.m. Sunday at the funeral home. Memorials may be made to the charity of one""'s choice.

Col. Hack died August 17, 2010. Born in New York City, he was the son of the late Sophie and Benjamin Hack. He entered military service in the United States Army when he volunteered in December 1941. After basic training at Fort Eustis, Va., he was assigned to the 70th Coast Artillery and shipped to the Pacific Theater with that unit in January 1942 as a Private. There he was awarded a battle star before he returned to the United States to attend Officers Candidate School at Camp Davis, N.C. He was the honor graduate of his class when he graduated in October 1943. Subsequently, he became an Armor officer ""' a status he was to hold for his entire career.

He joined the 14th Armored Division""'s 47th Tank Battalion and saw combat with the division when it moved to Europe and participated in actions under Generals Patch and Patton in 1944 and 1945. Near the end of World War II the then Lt. Hack spearheaded the division attack that liberated the Hammelburg prisoner of war encampment and then led the forces that freed 110,000 Allied POWs at Moosburg, Germany. He was promoted to Captain when Germany was defeated, and he was preparing to deploy his tank company to the Far East to participate in the final defeat of Japan when WWII came to an end. Released from active duty at year""'s end, he opted to remain in the Reserve.

In 1951 he was recalled to active duty for service during the Korean War. In the years that followed he saw duty at various posts in the United States, Europe and Viet Nam as he advanced to the rank of Colonel and filled with distinction increasingly important assignments. He commanded Armor units at every level from platoon to regiment. His last command assignment was as commander of the 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment at Fort Lewis, Wash. His staff assignments included Plans Officer for the 14th Armored Cavalry Regiment, Executive Officer of the G4 Division of Headquarters, U.S. Army, Europe and Director of the Department of Military Planning and Strategy of the U.S. Army War College at Carlisle Barracks, Pa.

Twice wounded in action, Col. Hack""'s decorations included the Silver Star, the Bronze Star, two Purple Hearts, the Legion of Merit with oak leaf cluster, the Army Commendation medal, two additional battle stars for action in the European Theater of operations, and other service medals and decorations. His military schooling included attendance at the Command and General Staff College and the Army War College. He was a graduate of the University of Maryland and George Washington University where he received a master""'s degree in International Affairs.

After his retirement from active duty, he became a self-taught computer expert. He wrote numerous articles on computing and other subjects. He liberally supported music, art and wildlife organizations as well as many charitable causes. Col. Hack was a member of the Tree of Life Congregation, the Retired Officers Association and the Military Order of World Wars.

Surviving are Eleanor """Ellie""" Bermak Hack; sons, Randolph, Richard and wife, Rosanne; daughter, Elizabeth and husband, Philip Lewenthal; grandson Richard """Jay""" Hack and wife, Ansley; brother, Leo Hack; sister, Frances Hack; many nieces and nephews.

Please sign the online guestbook at www.dunbarfunerals.com.