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Pvt Donald Earl Hoak

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Pvt Donald Earl Hoak Veteran

Birth
New Salem, Fayette County, Pennsylvania, USA
Death
27 Nov 1943 (aged 20)
At Sea
Burial
Carthage, Tunis, Tunisia
Plot
Tablets Of The Missing ~ Army
Memorial ID
56247719 View Source

Donald served as a Private, 853rd Engineer Battalion, Aviation, U.S. Army Air Force during World War II.

He resided in Washington County, Pennsylvania prior to the war.

He enlisted in the Army on January 28, 1943 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He was noted, at the time of his enlistment, as being employed Single, without dependents.

Donald was a passenger on the HMT Rohna.

The Rohna and four other troop ships left Oran in French Algeria with cargo and troops. Off Béjaïa, Algeria the convoy was attacked by an estimated 60 German Luftwaffe Heinkel 177's. One of the 177's, piloted by Hans Dochtermann, released a glide bomb that hit Rohna on her port side and she eventually sank.

1,138 men were killed, including 1,015 U.S. personnel. The attack is the largest loss of US troops at sea due to enemy action in a single incident. 35 U.S. troops of the 2,000 originally embarked later died of wounds.

Donald was declared "Missing In Action" in this sinking during the war.

He was awarded the Purple Heart.

Service # 33422998

( Bio by: Russ Pickett )

Donald served as a Private, 853rd Engineer Battalion, Aviation, U.S. Army Air Force during World War II.

He resided in Washington County, Pennsylvania prior to the war.

He enlisted in the Army on January 28, 1943 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He was noted, at the time of his enlistment, as being employed Single, without dependents.

Donald was a passenger on the HMT Rohna.

The Rohna and four other troop ships left Oran in French Algeria with cargo and troops. Off Béjaïa, Algeria the convoy was attacked by an estimated 60 German Luftwaffe Heinkel 177's. One of the 177's, piloted by Hans Dochtermann, released a glide bomb that hit Rohna on her port side and she eventually sank.

1,138 men were killed, including 1,015 U.S. personnel. The attack is the largest loss of US troops at sea due to enemy action in a single incident. 35 U.S. troops of the 2,000 originally embarked later died of wounds.

Donald was declared "Missing In Action" in this sinking during the war.

He was awarded the Purple Heart.

Service # 33422998

( Bio by: Russ Pickett )


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