Howard Leo Hasselkuss

Howard Leo Hasselkuss

U.S. Army SGT Howard Leo Hasselkuss, of the 192nd Tank Battalion, was born July 17, 1918, in Elmore, OH, the son of Fred A. and Philimina (Hoeflinger) Hasselkus. Surviving are his half-sister, Mary Lou Kruse, of Elmore; and many nieces and nephews. His family that have passed away include wife, Evelyn Smith; his parents; step-mother, Helen (Hardy) Hasselkus; half-sister, Judy Oberski; and half-brother, Fred Hasselkus.

In World War II he was stationed at Fort Stotsenburg, next to Clark Field, in the Philippines. On 22 December, 1941, U.S. Forces moved to the Bataan Peninsula to establish defenses. On 9 April, 1942, USAFFE surrendered and a majority of the soldiers were subjected to a 65 mile-Bataan Death March. On 6 May, 1942, the remaining U.S. Forces surrendered. SGT Hasselkuss, then a Prisoner of War, entered Cabanatuan POW Camp in Nueva Ecija, Philippines. On 6 August, 1942, SGT Hasselkus entered the camp hospital suffering from malaria, scurvy and pellagra. On 28 November, 1942, SGT Hasselkus died of his disease and was buried in Common Grave (CG 807) along with eleven other soldiers who passed away that day.

The Battle of Manila ended on 3 March, 1945, and Japan surrendered on 15 August, 1945. December 1945, AGRS exhumations took place and most remains were sent to Manila #2 Cemetery. The Cabanatuan graves were disinterred from December – March 1946, and almost 1000 soldiers were identified. The unknowns were classified as X-files. AGRS investigators proposed identifications of three (3) unknowns from CG 807, none of those proposed were associated with SGT Hasselkus. 2 February, 1950, SGT Hasselkus was declared Non-recoverable.

August 2014, new technology determined there was sufficient evidence to disinter ten (10) unresolved Unknowns from a common grave. This begins the disinterments for Cabanatuan unresolved cases. The unresolved cases from CG 807 were disinterred from November – December 2018, and transported to DPAA Lab. On 23 September, 2024, SGT Hasselkus was identified.

SGT Howard Leo Hasselkus will be returned to Elmore, Ohio, on August 6, 2025. His body will be escorted by his family and various Veteran Organizations from Crosser & Priesman Funeral Home, 19550 W. St. Rte. 51, Emore, OH, at 10:30 a.m., Friday, August 8, 2025, and travel through downtown Elmore on Rice St., and then proceed to Fremont Street. Those wishing to show their respect are invited to line the streets of the route. He will be laid to rest with Full Military Honors at 11:00 a,m, Friday, August 8, 2025, at Harris Elmore Union Cemetery, W. Elmore-Eastern County Rd. 6 and Schultz-Portage Rd., Elmore, OH.

Online condolences may be shared with the family at www.crosserpriesmanfuneralhome.com