|
J.D. "Dutch" Haaland, Major, USMC (retired) SEMPER FIDELIS Major J.D. "Dutch" Haaland, retired USMC, and died on Saturday, February 26, 2005, two days short of his 69th birthday. Dutch was born in New London, MN, grew up on a farm and moved west when his father followed the ship building industry to San Francisco. He enlisted in the Marines at age 18 and quickly advanced to the rank of Gunnery Sgt. During the early 60s he was stationed at MCRD in San Diego, as a drill instructor. In June 1966 he was commissioned as a 2nd Lt. He traveled the world on his orders and served two years in Vietnam where he was awarded two Purple Hearts. Heavily decorated, Major Haaland was awarded 15 medals during his career, among them the Silver Star for "conspicuous gallantry" in Con Thien, Vietnam. In the early seventies, Dutch served as the Inspector Instructor at the Marine Corps Reserves in Albuquerque before going to his last duty station, prior to his retirement, in Twenty-Nine Palms, CA. He returned to Albuquerque, lived in Florida for a decade, and came back to Albuquerque in 2003. Dutch, a brave soldier and devoted father, is survived by his brother, Conrad Haaland; his wife, Barbara and her daughters, Amy Candelaria and Julie Pratt; his four children, Denise Kirksey, Zoe Magee, Debra Haaland, and Judd Haaland and their mother, Mary Toya; also by his ten grandchildren, and loyal pooch, Sophie. Services will be held at noon Saturday, March 5, 2005 at Strong-Thorne, Coal Ave. east of I-25. His children will take his remains to Arlington National Cemetery in April for full military honors.
|
