Elbert Smith Hale
Adirondack Daily Enterprise, June 10, 1948
Born: c. 1921
Died: October 20, 1944
Married:
Children:
Private First Class Elbert Smith Hale was a World War II veteran who was killed in the war. He was a son of Mrs. Florence Hale.
Lake Placid News, August 18, 1944
Pfc. Hale Wounded
Pfc. Elbert Smith Hale, 23, of Saranac Lake was seriously wounded in action in Italy on July 13, according to a telegram received by his mother, Mrs. Florence Hale.
The telegram informed Mrs. Hale that her son had been evacuated to a hospital behind the lines or in North Africa or England.
Pvt. Hale has been in action in Italy since May. His sister Pfc. Barbara Pearle Hale, is serving with the medical corps of the WAC.
Lake Placid News, November 10, 1944
Pfc. Hale Wounded
Pfc. Elbert S. Hale, son of Mrs. Florence Hale, Saranac Lake, has been wounded in action for the second time while fighting in Italy. Mrs. Hale was informed that her son was wounded on October 16, and had not known that he had returned to active duty. He has previously been wounded on July 13 and evacuated to a hospital in France. She received letters from him in which he said that he was improving and had received the Purple Heart, and with no further news, believed him to be still in the hospital.
The Enterprise, Thursday, November 9, 1944; reprinted in Howard Riley's column, May 15, 2021
PFC. Elbert S. Hale Dies of Wounds
PFC. Elbert S. Hale, 23, died in Italy of wounds received in action on Oct. 16, his mother, Mrs. Florence Hale of 4 Dorsey Street, was notified Tuesday evening by the War Department.
The telegram contained the following information:
The Secretary of War asks that I assure you of his deep sympathy in the loss of your son, PFC. Elbert S. Hale. Report received that he died Oct. 20 in Italy as result of wounds received in action. Letter follows.
This was the first word Mrs. Hale has received since the previous telegram in which she had been informed he had been seriously wounded in action for the second time.
At the time that Mrs. Hale was informed that her son had been wounded in action again, she did not know that he had returned to combat duty but believed him in a hospital in France recovering from other wounds received in July. He died four days after being wounded in the front line fighting.
PFC. Hale had arrived overseas last April. He was first stationed in North Africa and in May was ordered to combat duty in Italy.
He served with the Infantry and on July 13 was badly wounded by German gunfire. He was evacuated to a hospital in France for treatment and remained there several months.
He joined the service on Nov. 14, 1942. Besides his mother he is survived by two sisters, PFC. Barbara Hale of the WAC stationed at Fletcher General Hospital in Camp Bridge, O., and Mrs. Dada Mae Shaw of Saranac Lake.
