In honor of Veterans’ Day today, here is a peek at small collection from a World War II veteran that we recently received and processed.
Edward Charles Hauck was born July 15, 1909, in Dayton, Ohio, one of several children born to Louis A. and Emma (Schott) Hauck. Edward, like his father, was a milkman by occupation. Edward married Nellie E. Wright (1913-2011), daughter of Roman and Catherine Wright. At the time of World War II, Edward and Nellie resided in a rented home at 63 Park Drive in Dayton, in the South Park neighborhood. Edward enlisted in the U.S. Army on September 18, 1943, at the age of 34. According to his obituary, he served in the 5th Army, and according to the materials in this collection, he was a member of “Roger Squad.” However, little is known of his unit divisions between Army and Squad. He was discharged November 18, 1945.
After World War II, Edward Hauck returned to his occupation as a dairyman, and he ultimately retired from the Meadow Gold Dairy. Nellie worked at Rike’s Department Store for many years. The couple had no children. They were charter members of American Legion Post 675 (in Dayton’s South Park neighborhood). Edward was also active in V.F.W. Post 2800 and Eagles Aerie 3675. He died on January 17, 1991, at Miami Valley Hospital in Dayton. Edward and Nellie are buried in Dayton’s Woodland Cemetery.
Edward Hauck’s collection consists of original drawings by a soldier known as “Poncho” (a member of Hauck’s Roger Squad) during the Battle of the Bulge in World War II. The drawings depict fellow Roger Squad members (including Hauck) and combat scenes. The collection also includes letters (written on the backs of the drawings) from Hauck to his wife back home in Dayton and one photograph of Hauck and his brothers in their military uniforms.
For more information about this collection, please review the SC-332: Edward Hauck World War II Collection finding aid.