bellasilva Posted August 5, 2016 Share #1 Posted August 5, 2016 I posted these a little while back requesting more information on this man, and since then have come across much more information and other items pertaining to him, so I decided to give all of it it's own thread. Private Eugene C. Hair hailed from Somerset, Kentucky, and served with Company B, 253rd Infantry Regiment, 63rd Infantry Division. On April 21, 1945, somewhere in Germany, he was severely wounded in action by German machine gun fire to the back, buttocks, and shoulder. He was evacuated and was on board a Curtiss C-46 ambulance flight on May 6, 1945, which was supposed to make a stop over at RAF Greenham Common when the crew encountered low visibility with clouds to 600 feet upon descent. The aircraft struck a radar antenna and lost its right wing, and upon crashing burst into flames, killing all 30 on board and one person inside of a hut located on Mt. Gibbet. After posting Pvt. Hair's dog tags on the forum, I was contacted by another member who just happened to locate at a flea market the American Battle Monuments Commission shipping container containing correspondence to Pvt. Hair's brother, cousin, and sister regarding his death. This incredible forum member sent me these items because they deserved to be together, and I can never thank him enough. One letter inside, dated 1947 from the War Department, Office of the Quartermaster General, and addressed to Private Hair's sister, Hazel (the next of kin on his dog tags), discussed the atmosphere of the US Military Cemetery in Cambridge, England, where he is buried. Another letter, dated 1976 and original to the shipping container, contained a poster size picture of the Cambridge Cemetery and a black and white photo of Pvt. Hair's grave marker. Aldo included was a guide book to to the Cemetery itself. Private Hair was awarded the Purple Heart and Combat Infantryman Badge. He still rests amongst his comrades in England. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bellasilva Posted August 5, 2016 Author Share #2 Posted August 5, 2016 .. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bellasilva Posted August 5, 2016 Author Share #3 Posted August 5, 2016 .. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bellasilva Posted August 5, 2016 Author Share #4 Posted August 5, 2016 I decided that a nice way to honor Pvt. Hair's sacrifice was to simply pair the 1947 War Department letter to his sister with one of his dog tags in a frame.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bellasilva Posted August 5, 2016 Author Share #5 Posted August 5, 2016 And his dog tags.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
USdog Posted August 5, 2016 Share #6 Posted August 5, 2016 Very cool, Phil! Great to have the document reunited with the tags and this mans story remembered. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bellasilva Posted August 7, 2016 Author Share #7 Posted August 7, 2016 Thanks Connor, they definitely compliment each other nicely! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bellasilva Posted August 27, 2016 Author Share #8 Posted August 27, 2016 I received Hair's personnel file yesterday and it is pretty brutal. 30 pages survived the fire, and they really bring home the reality of this pair of tags.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David D Posted August 28, 2016 Share #9 Posted August 28, 2016 That is one brutal death. Pretty disturbing. May he Rest in Peace Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
muddyboots Posted August 28, 2016 Share #10 Posted August 28, 2016 Such a tragic end. Almost out of harms way. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bellasilva Posted September 13, 2016 Author Share #11 Posted September 13, 2016 Most definitely a tragic ending..if he survived his wounds he would've been safe at home.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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