Athens, GA - Old soldier Irwin Haffner, 84, rose to the ultimate bugle call on the morning of November 28, 2011 in Athens, GA. Mr. Haffner was a decorated U.S. Army veteran who served his county for 27 years. He enlisted straight from military school and was still in his teens when he was deployed to Germany. There, he drove U.S. prosecutors to and from the Nuremberg War Crimes Tribunals. He later trained as a medic and was sent to Korea to set up battlefield M.A.S.H. units. In December 1950, he saved the lives of wounded U.S. and U.N. soldiers during the famous Battle at Chosin Reservoir, called the "Frozen Chosin" because the weather was so brutally cold. He earned the Bronze Star twice for his valor during battle and was awarded the Purple Heart for injuries sustained in a mortar explosion. He and his first wife, Edith Haffner, retired to Yankeetown, FL, where Mr. Haffner was called "Doc" by his hunting and fishing buddies. After her death, he met and married Leatrice Shuman Thomas Maxwell Magic in 2003. They lived in Dunnellon, FL, until they relocated to Athens in 2008. They attended St. Joseph Catholic Church and Mr. Haffner was active with the local Military Order of the Purple Heart. Mr. Haffner was born in Pittsfield, MA, to the late Harold R. Haffner, Sr. and Maude A. Barnum Haffner. Survivors include his wife, Leatrice Haffner of Athens; stepdaughters Patricia Thomas and Meriwether Rhodes of Athens; brothers, Harold R. Haffner, Jr. and George Haffner, both of Tampa; and sister, Priscilla Broxson of Tampa. Mr. Haffner reveled in the beauties of nature and enjoyed flowers, trees, birds, and all animals except squirrels. He loved tired old jokes, all types of music, crossword puzzles and key lime pie. He never tired of calling out "Go Gators" to people wearing UGA logos. A memorial service will be held at a later date in Tampa, Florida. Online condolences may be offered at www.bernsteinfuneralhome.com. Bernstein Funeral Home and Cremation Service is in charge of arrangements.

Published in Ocala Star-Banner from December 2 to December 3, 2011