US Army SGT Howard Leo Hasselkuss of the 192nd Tank Battalion. He was born July 17, 1918, in Elmore, 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 members who have passed away include his wife, Evelyn Smith; his parents; his stepmother, Helen (Hardy) Hasselkus; his half sister, Judy Oberski; and his 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, US 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 US 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 3 March 1945, and Japan surrendered 15 August 1945. In December 1945, AGRS exhumations took place, and most remains were sent to Manila No. 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 these were associated with SGT Hasselkus. On 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 marks the beginning of the disinterments for unresolved cases in Cabanatuan. 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 7, 2025. His body will be escorted by his family and various Veteran Organizations from Crosser & Priesman Funeral Home, 19550 W. SR 51, Emore, 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 a.m. Friday, August 8, 2025, at Harris Elmore Union Sterling Cemetery, W. Elmore-Eastern County Rd. 6 and Schultz-Portage Rd. Elmore, OH.

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