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WILLIAM H. “BILL” HACK
June 14, 1924 ˜ September 5, 2022
Former Vancouver resident William H. “Bill” Hack, 98, died peacefully on Sept. 5, 2022, at his daughter’s home in Plant City, FL. At his request, no service was held.
Bill was born on Flag Day, June 14, 1924, in Garfield, NJ, to Jacob and Helen (Badaczewski) Hack. Fittingly, he was extremely patriotic, which he demonstrated by leaving high school early to enlist in the US Navy in January 1942. This began an incredibly interesting life path taking him through three wars and three branches of service. He first served aboard the USS Nelson, DD 623, during numerous convey escorts across the Atlantic and during the invasion of Sicily in July - Aug. 1943. He was transferred to the Panama Canal Zone in February 1944, serving aboard mine sweeper USS YMS-138.
Following his WWII service, Bill attended Pennsylvania Military College, earning a degree in civil engineering in 1951. As an ROTC student, Bill was commissioned a 2nd Lt in the US Army Corps of Engineers upon graduation. In July 1952, Bill was sent to the Republic of Korea where he supervised construction projects in support of the war. He was transferred to Japan a year later, the day before the Korean Armistice was signed.
After the Army, Bill embarked on a long civil service career, working at military bases across the United States beginning at Dover Air Force Base in 1954. Always seeking a challenge, Bill volunteered for service in Vietnam, serving as Chief of the Air Force Regional Engineering Division in Saigon from Sept. 1967 - Dec. 1968. He was there during the Tet Offensive, perilously living outside the military base in an apartment throughout his time in Saigon.
After Bill retired from his military and federal service in 1976, he worked as consulting engineer, traveling in the US and overseas. Bill came to Vancouver in 1981, working as the Senior Engineer for Pacific Telecom until his final retirement in 1991.
Bill lived in his beautiful downtown Vancouver home with his wife, Patricia, for many years. They loved their house, and spent countless hours making it a comfortable showplace where friends and family could gather. His neatly labeled garage was no surprise with this engineer. After Patricia’s death, Bill enjoyed spending time with friends at the Luepke Senior Center, playing cards at the mall or his house, and sharing with squirrels his backyard garden. Everyone knew Bill for his quiet but blunt sense of humor and generous nature. The country has lost not just a three-war veteran but a friend.
Bill is survived by daughter, Eileen “Susie” Knorr; son, William E. Hack (Sylvia); son, Christopher E. Blanchard (Kelly); daughter, Julie Ann Justin; and numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Bill was predeceased by wife, Patricia Halligan Hack; son, William H. Hack, Jr.; daughter, Carol Ann Gilbertson; and son, Laurence J. Blanchard.
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2 Entries
Chris Blanchard
October 11, 2022
We enjoyed having Bill as a neighbor on 29th and loved hearing his stories about his long life.
Skip and Emmy Sloan
Friend
October 11, 2022
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