Caryl Edmond Hager, 88 years, of Columbia, Mo., passed away October 21, 2011 at Harry S. Truman Veterans Hospital in Columbia. Graveside services will be November 5 at 2 p.m. at the Gentryville Cemetery.
Caryl was born February 2, 1923 in Gentryville, Mo., to Jesse E. and Rowena Hager. He attended Albany High School.
Caryl served his country as a crew member in the amphibian tractor battalion of the 2nd Marine Division WWII. He is the holder of the Purple Heart and other medals including five battle stars for the campaigns on Guadalcanal, Tarawa, Saipan, Tinian, and Okinawa. Caryl was wounded twice in combat and was on 2 Navy LSTs that were sunk by kamikaze attacks.
After coming home, he completed his military service with the U.S. Army Reserves in the 135th Field Artillery Battalion, where he attained the rank of Captain. After the war, he lived his life at Albany, later moving to Hannibal then to Davenport, Iowa, Bel Air, Md., and then Columbia, Mo. His college education spanned to include Northwest Missouri At Maryville, Blackhawk College in the Quad City area, a Baltimore community college in Maryland, and Culver Stockton College in Canton, Mo.
He married Rosalie Wilson in Albany and of this union they had six children. He is survived by Carol A. Allen, John E. and Kitty Hager, Robert T. Hager, Joseph R. Hager, and Roderick V. Hager. He is also survived by six grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren; two brothers Gene Hager, and Von and Evelyn Hager. A sister-in-law, Audree Hager and brother-in-law J.E. Jones, as well as many nieces and nephews.
Caryl was preceded in death by his parents; one daughter, Greta; a great-grandson, Mason Hager; brother, Eldon Hager;and sister, Cynthia Jones.
Caryl was born February 2, 1923 in Gentryville, Mo., to Jesse E. and Rowena Hager. He attended Albany High School.
Caryl served his country as a crew member in the amphibian tractor battalion of the 2nd Marine Division WWII. He is the holder of the Purple Heart and other medals including five battle stars for the campaigns on Guadalcanal, Tarawa, Saipan, Tinian, and Okinawa. Caryl was wounded twice in combat and was on 2 Navy LSTs that were sunk by kamikaze attacks.
After coming home, he completed his military service with the U.S. Army Reserves in the 135th Field Artillery Battalion, where he attained the rank of Captain. After the war, he lived his life at Albany, later moving to Hannibal then to Davenport, Iowa, Bel Air, Md., and then Columbia, Mo. His college education spanned to include Northwest Missouri At Maryville, Blackhawk College in the Quad City area, a Baltimore community college in Maryland, and Culver Stockton College in Canton, Mo.
He married Rosalie Wilson in Albany and of this union they had six children. He is survived by Carol A. Allen, John E. and Kitty Hager, Robert T. Hager, Joseph R. Hager, and Roderick V. Hager. He is also survived by six grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren; two brothers Gene Hager, and Von and Evelyn Hager. A sister-in-law, Audree Hager and brother-in-law J.E. Jones, as well as many nieces and nephews.
Caryl was preceded in death by his parents; one daughter, Greta; a great-grandson, Mason Hager; brother, Eldon Hager;and sister, Cynthia Jones.
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