Hermann Gerhard Hasken, Jr.

Hermann Gerhard Hasken, Jr. Major, US ARMY, Retired Major Hermann G. Hasken, Jr, (US Army, Retired), passed away peacefully in his sleep on 25 December 2023 at Hospice of the Chesapeake, in Pasadena, Maryland. He was surrounded by his wife, children, and grandchildren every day, ultimately receiving the gift of eternal life on Christmas day. Hermann was born in Amersfoort, the Netherlands on 23 July 1935 to Hermann (Sr) and Lummigje “Lien” Hasken. As a young child, he lived under Nazi occupation and was forced to become “man of the house” after his father Hermann Sr. was captured and sent away to solitary confinement in a local prison camp. The early years of the war were spent foraging for food, firewood and coal to keep his family warm in the winter, and avoiding German Army night patrols after curfew. Perhaps the most seminal moment of his youth was witnessing Nazi soldiers executing 10 innocent Dutch citizens near his home when he was just nine years old. When the war was over, Hermann Jr said he wanted to find a place where freedom was certain, and worth fighting for. He was destined to be a solider for life, committed to God, country, and family. While serving a two year obligation in the Dutch Army, Hermann Jr applied for immigration to the United States through Church World Services, taking advantage of quotas that were set after the Soviet Union invaded Hungary in 1956. Seeking “freedom and opportunity” as he often quoted, he arrived in Warren, Massachusetts in January 1957, and was drafted in US Army in August 1957. He was first assigned to 7th Cavalry, 3rd Infantry Division in Bamberg, Germany. While on leave visiting family in his hometown of Amersfoort, he met Hendrika “Marya” Van Voorst and started a love affair that would last for the next 65 years. Hermann and Marya were married in July 1959, stayed in Germany a brief time, and later settled in Fort Meade, Maryland for his next assignment. Major Hasken was then selected and attended Officer Candidate School and US Army Airborne School in Fort Benning, Georgia and later assigned to the 19th PSYOP Group in Fort Bragg, North Carolina. He was then selected and attended US Army Special Forces training and earned the coveted Green Beret. In 1965, he participated in Operation POWER PACK in the Dominican Republic. He later served two tours in Viet Nam with MACV-SOG as part of 5th Special Forces Group from 1967 to 1968, and again from 1969 to 1970. After three years in Okinawa with 1st Special Forces Group, Major Hasken’s last assignment on active duty was with 3rd Battalion, 10th Special Forces Group in Fort Devens, Massachusetts. He retired from active duty in December, 1977. Major Hasken and his family then moved to Stratford, Wisconsin. Hermann became active in the local Veterans of Foreign Wars chapter and his church, and began a career as a trusted financial advisor for nearly two decades. Hermann and Marya spent the next three decades watching their family grow with great joy. As their children and grandchildren later moved to the DMV area, Hermann Jr and Marya moved from Wisconsin to Easton, Maryland in 2004, once again becoming active in the VFW. Hermann also took the opportunity to return to his roots and volunteered as first mate on the skipjack “Nathan of Dorchester,” a living museum based in Cambridge, Maryland. As the effects of service connected disabilities started to have greater impact on day to day living, Hermann and Marya moved to Odenton, Maryland in 2017 to be closer to their children. Every opportunity was taken to collect treasured moments with the “troops,” as he called his children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren. Hermann’s focus was always on family. Hermann is preceded in death by his brother Ben Hasken (The Netherlands), and his son in law, Paul Strohman. Hermann is survived by his wife of nearly 65 years, Hendrika “Marya” Hasken (nee Van Voorst); his two daughters Mary Lou (Strohman) and her two children Taylor and Connor; and Ellen (Clouse) and Stephen Clouse and their five children Justin, Abigail (Metro), Hannah (Kurz), Jared, and Caroline (Whitener); and his sons LTC (US Army, retired) Hermann Hasken III and Elizabeth (Manzano) and their two children Margaret (Schweitzer) and Garrett; and LTC (US Army, Retired) Scott and Barbara (Truhlar) Hasken and their three children John, Kristen (Stewart), and Ryan. Hermann is the proud grandfather of 12 grand children and 10 great grand children. A memorial service is planned to be held at the Veterans of Foreign Wars in Easton, Maryland and burial to take place sometime in 2024 at Arlington National Cemetery in Washington DC. In lieu of flowers, donations in honor of Hermann G. Hasken Jr, can be made to the Green Beret Foundation (https://greenberetfoundation.org/donate/) or Church World Service (https://cwsglobal.org/donate/)

Hermann Gerhard Hasken, Jr.

July 23, 1935 - December 25, 2023