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Haskell Dale Maurer

T/SGT in 3132nd Signal Service Co

ASN#35378227

Born 1917 in PA, Died 1970

Other residence(s): Strasburg, PA; Belmar, NJ; Akron, OH; Coventry, OH; Portage Lakes, OH
United States Army, European Theatre of Operations
Source: W. Anderson Notes ; Travel Orders, 23d HQ, 29 August 1945; Ghost Army roster by state; 3132 Pine Camp Photo Names; photo courtesy Donald Maurer

Dale Maurer was born on October 9, 1917 in Strasburg, PA, the oldest of three children. His father was a department manager for a manufacturing company. The family moved to Akron, OH in about 1921.

Dale grew up in Akron, graduated from high school in 1936, and went to work at Star Drilling Machine Co. He registered for the draft on October 16, 1940, and married Twyla Bowsher on May 17, 1941. He enlisted on April 25, 1942 and was eventually assigned to the 3132 Signal Service Company. He served in Europe with the unit during the war, and was discharged with the rank of T/SGT on October 22, 1945.

Dale (left) with his son Don and wife Twyla at Don's 1965 graduation at Parris Island; photo courtesy Donald Maurer

Dale and Twyla settled in Belmar, NJ after the war, and their son, Donald, was born there. But they eventually returned to Ohio, and he worked for a while as a supervisor at Akron-based E.A. Pflueger Company,* a fishing tackle manufacturer.

Then Dale changed careers, into automotive body work. He worked at Knafel Pontiac, City Chevrolet, and Schmidt Pontiac-Oldsmobile before ending up as body shop manager at Jim Leach Ford. Dale loved doing body work, and getting a new Chevy to drive every year!

As a veteran, Dale was quiet about his own war experience, but very active in the VFW organization. He served as post commander of Fred L. Reese Post 3310 and Portage Lakes Post 3458, was a member of Firestone Post 3383, and a past president of Firestone Dads Post 20.

In 1960 he was national aide-de-camp to Louis Feldman, national commander of the VFW, and in 1966-67 he served as commander of the VFW's District 8, four counties in the area from Akron to Youngstown. Dale's wife Twyla was also very active in the VFW Auxiliary.

The biggest tribute, though, comes from Dale's son Don who says: "He was the greatest father."

Dale died too early, of a heart attack, on April 20, 1970; he was only 52. He is buried at Northlawn Memorial Gardens in Peninsula, OH.

*NOTE: Pflueger today is still one of the world's largest fishing rod and reel brands.

Sources:

1917 Lancaster PA Mennonite birth record

https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/255226:60592?ssrc=pt&tid=243990&pid=162367786123

1930 census

https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/69226692:6224?ssrc=pt&tid=243990&pid=162367786123

1940 census

https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/34119007:2442?ssrc=pt&tid=243990&pid=162367786123

1940 draft record

https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/200177970:2238?ssrc=pt&tid=243990&pid=162367786123

1941 marriage record

https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/286162:2145?ssrc=pt&tid=243990&pid=162367786123

1950 census

https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/206838296:62308?tid=&pid=&queryId=d1967118-f5b5-4222-8deb-6ec46d37166e&_phsrc=lYM4&_phstart=successSource

1960 article in the Akron Beacon Journal (OH) about his role in VFW

https://www.newspapers.com/image/146794233/?match=1&terms=dale%20h.%20maurer

1966 article in the Akron Beacon Journal (OH) about his role in VFW

https://www.newspapers.com/image/152863729/?match=1&terms=dale%20h.%20maurer

1966 article in the Akron Beacon Journal (OH) about his role in VFW; includes photo

https://www.newspapers.com/image/152869593/?match=1&terms=dale%20h.%20maurer

1970 Ohio death record

https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/307540:5763?tid=&pid=&queryId=6d6a9156-3778-4f0d-8494-7542c6ea1c07&_phsrc=QSp1&_phstart=successSource

1970 Social Security death index

https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/39831416:3693?tid=&pid=&queryId=01ae6ea6-6308-44bf-8539-e81e35c65e6a&_phsrc=QSp3&_phstart=successSource

1970 Find a Grave record

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/6447755/dale-haskell-maurer?_gl=1*1jgr7co*_gcl_au*MzM2NTAxNjc5LjE3MTc3MDY2Mjc.*_ga*MTM3NjMyMTQxNS4xNzE3NzA2NjI3*_ga_4QT8FMEX30*MjAwMWE2N2EtNGY2Yy00NWRmLTkxOGItNTczNTRkYjJhY2YyLjYuMS4xNzE3NzA4ODQ3LjM4LjAuMA..*_ga_LMK6K2LSJH*MjAwMWE2N2EtNGY2Yy00NWRmLTkxOGItNTczNTRkYjJhY2YyLjYuMS4xNzE3NzA4ODQ3LjAuMC4w

1970 obituary in the Akron Beacon Journal (OH)

https://www.newspapers.com/image/147371486/?terms=Maurer&match=1

1970 US headstone applications for military veterans

https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/4881923:2375?tid=&pid=&queryId=fca31eab-fe19-4ff3-81a7-7a22c5179d2a&_phsrc=lYM3&_phstart=successSource

2024 (May 30) GALP Veteran Biography Worksheet from son Donald Maurer

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