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MEMORIAL ARTICLE
Published Assembly Sep '93
CHARLES JUDD HAUENSTEIN No. 15486 Class
of 1946 Died 27 February 1961 in Honolulu, Hawaii, aged 35
years. Interment: Forest Rose Cemetery, Lancaster, Ohio. |
CHARLES JUDD HAUENSTEIN was always known to family and
friends as Judd. He was born 13 September 1925 in Lancaster,
Ohio. He spent his entire youth in Lancaster and graduated from
Lancaster High School in 1943. A boyhood friend, Hubert B. Eyman,
recalled: "Judd was very active in Boy Scouting. He loved
camping and hiking. During the course of achieving a merit badge,
three of us helped out with a Cub Scout den. Judd continued to
help them long after the merit badge requirements were satisfied.
Judd was interested in sports - pole vaulting, basketball, backyard
football, swimming, etc. He was a good student, Honor Society,
Student Council, Scholarship Team, Hi-Y, Latin Club and Class
Officer. Judd left early in the summer of 1943 for the Academy,
and I had little contact until after the war. One day, perhaps
in 1947, we were at my parent's cottage on a nearby lake. He
accidentally lost his USMA class ring in the lake. We searched
futilely on the muddy bottom. Every time I hear that the lake
has been lowered, I go up and look. Maybe some day..."
Judd's sister Pat recalled: "Throughout his school years,
Judd demonstrated leadership qualities and frequently held class
office. He was an honor student and possessed a marvelous power
of concentration. He loved music, played the French horn and
was a member of a brass sextet that won many awards. His perfect
pitch was an endless source of fascination to me. I remember
his intense interest in the future of space exploration and travel."
With that background, it is no wonder that Judd welcomed the
telegram telling him to report to West Point to join the Class
of 1946.
Judd managed to adjust to cadet life with little trouble.
He coped easily with the Tactical Department and breezed through
academics. His intense interest in flight and space was rewarded
when he was able to choose flight training in the spring of yearling
year. His youthful dreams came to fruition at graduation when
he became a second lieutenant wearing the wings of a pilot in
the Army Air Corps.
Judd's first assignment after graduation was to Williams Field,
Arizona for transition flying training. With that completed,
he moved to Shaw Field, South Carolina for assignment to the
79th Fighter Squadron, His next assignment was to Bergstrom Air
Force Base, Texas with the 4th Troop Carrier Squadron. The 4th
later was redesignated the 4th Carrier Squadron and moved to
McChord Air Force Base, Washington. Judd moved with the squadron.
His next assignment was overseas in the Philippines, where he
was assigned to Operations, Headquarters Thirteenth Air Force.
He returned to the States in the spring of 1950.
On 27 September 1950, Judd married Mary Ann Spencer in Nelsonville,
Ohio. He was assigned to the 5th Rescue Squadron, Selfridge Air
Force Base, Michigan. In 1951, Judd and Mary Ann moved to Mountain
Home Air Force Base, Idaho, where Judd was a pilot with the 581st
Air Rescue and Cargo Wing. The 581st deployed to the Far East
in 1952, and Judd moved with it to Clark Air Force Base, the
Philippines. He flew missions in the Korean War during that tour.
In 1954, he returned to the States with assignment to Charleston
Air Force Base, South Carolina. In the next four years, Judd's
unit moved to Seattle, Washington and then to Ardmore, Oklahoma.
Judd and Mary Ann moved with the unit each time. In 1958, Judd
received the assignment of his dreams. The 6593rd Test Squadron
(Special) was established at Hickham Air Force Base, Hawaii,
and Judd was made Maintenance Officer of the squadron. The squadron
was established to develop and prove techniques for the retrieval
of film capsules ejected from space vehicles launched in the
Pacific Test Range. The unit flew C-119's and snagged the capsules
in flight as they parachuted from space.
On 18 January 1961, Major Charles Judd Hauenstein was flying
a practice capsule capture mission when he suffered a massive
heart attack. He was hospitalized at Tripler Army Hospital in
Honolulu but died on 27 February. He was survived by his wife
Mary Ann; a son, Judd, Jr.; a daughter, Jane; his mother; two
brothers, George and William (Rear Admiral, US Navy. Retired);
and a sister, Pat.
Judd Hauenstein died doing what had been his dream from childhood.
His career was in its ascendancy. He was obviously going far
in the Air Force when he was taken from his family and friends.
That he was a leader and inspiration to those who served under
him was shown by the men in his squadron who wept unashamedly
upon learning of his heart attack. There are no words to express
the sadness that the news of Judd's death brought to those who
knew and loved him. He brought joy and light into the lives of
each person who knew him. He was a friend who could be counted
upon at all times. An Air Force classmate, Herbert (Zeke) Hopkins,
recalled: "Judd was a quiet, introspective person with a
wry sense of humor. He used to put himself down as just being
a farm boy from Ohio, but I thought his background gave him an
understanding of life beyond his years. He was a quiet, mature,
dependable friend. I along with the rest of our class,
will miss him." West Point lost a true son of the Long Gray
Line with Judd Hauenstein. He was continuing his devotion to
Duty, Honor, Country when his career was ended in the prime of
his life. The memory of all that he was and stood for will remain
always bright in the minds of his family, friends and classmates.
His time with them was far too brief, but they know their lives
were enriched by him. The Class of 1946 is proud to join his
family in proclaiming: "Well Done, Judd; Be Thou At Peace!"
Judd's beloved Mary Ann died on 26 March 1992.
'46 Memorial Article Project and his Family
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