World War II Honoree
World War II Veteran
Gene R. Haff
Branch of Service
U.S. Army
Hometown
Ketcham, Craig County, Oklahoma
Honored By
Robert S. Cox
HIS DIVISION STAGED AT CAMP KILMER AT STELTON, NEW JERSEY ON SEPTEMBER 20, 1942, AWAITING OVERSEAS DEPLOYMENT. SAILED FROM THE NEW YORK PORT OF EMBARKATION ON OCTOBER 5, 1942, AND ARRIVED IN ENGLAND ON OCTOBER 11, 1942. SERVED OVERSEAS IN THE EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN THEATER, IN THE EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (ETO), WITH THE 29TH INFANTRY 'BLUE AND GRAY' DIVISION, DURING THE WAR. HIS DIVISION ASSAULTED ACROSS OMAHA BEACH IN NORMANDY FRANCE ON JUNE 6, 1944 (D-DAY). HE PARTICIPATED IN THE NORMANDY, AND NORTHERN FRANCE CAMPAIGNS. HE WAS TAKEN AS A PRISONER OF WAR (POW) BY THE GERMANS DURING THE RHINELAND CAMPAIGN AND HELD FOR SOME SEVEN MONTHS UNTIL REPATRIATED. AWARDED THE PRISONER OF WAR MEDAL, GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL, AMERICAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, AND WWII VICTORY MEDAL. HONORABLY DISCHARGED AND ISSUED THE HONORABLE SERVICE LAPEL BUTTON.