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Case File: Theodore W. Haley (1944)

Kim McIntosh (thank you!) was able to these fantastic funeral records of the Office of the Quartermaster General at the National Archives at St. Louis.  These records are for Pvt. Theodore W. Haley

1. A Verification Slip for the headstone with a Latin Cross “Theodore W. Haley” Wisconsin, Pvt – 346 Aviation Sq. AC.  It notes that he was born 27 Feb 1912 and died 11 Feb 1944.  His body was sent by rail to the West Allis, Wisconsin railway station for the Veterans Administration Cemetery in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.  This is dated 2 Oct 1944.
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2. Application for Headstone or Marker – dated 2 Oct 1944 and for an Upright Marble Stone.  Interestingly this is a different application than the one found on Ancestry.com – but further documents below will explain why there were two.
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3. Special Follow Up – a request to follow up on the original headstone application, which had not been actioned.  This record includes additional documentation “death held to be not in line of duty and due to deceased’s own misconduct”.  It further noted that he was inducted into the military on 16 Feb 1943, he reported for action on 23 Feb 1943 and was discharged upon his death on 11 Feb 1944.
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4. A supplemental report of the burial expenses by Maj. Walter F. Diesem, Quartermaster.  Dated 29 Mar 1944.  The military paid for her hearse from the parlor to church to cemetery; a limousine for immediate relatives to the cemetery, and minister fees.
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5. The Adjutant General’s Report of Death.  This notes that Theodore died at the Station Hospital at La Junta Airforce Base of “Cardiac tampanod of aorta due to stab wound”.  Although misspelled in the record, a “cardiac tamponade” occurs when fluid or blood builds up in the sac around the heart, compressing the heart and preventing it from pumping properly.  This suggests further that he was stabbed near the heart but did not penetrate the heart itself.  There are also notations that an investigation was made, that Theodore was on duty status but the injury did not occur in the line of duty, and that it was due to his own misconduct – but no explanation is given to the nature of that “misconduct”.  Again, the record is vague.
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6. The first report of funeral expenses by Maj. Walter F. Diesen, Quartermaster, this included embalming, a casket (with metal innersealer), a hearse, rail tickets for Theodore and his escort, a monetary allowance for the escort and a 12 item list of clothing for Theodore. This is in two pages.
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