“GUEST OF THE EMPIRE” Presented by Col. J. D. CRAWFORD (Retired) will be at John A. Logan College in Carterville on Saturday, June 10, 2023 at 10 a.m.

Col. J.D. Crawford who lives in Birmingham, Alabama will join us discuss the life story of 1st LT. James Hase, who was killed in action in 1945 aboard the ship Enoura Maru, the Philippines Islands.

Col. Crawford is the grandnephew of 1st LT. Hase. 1st LT. Hase was in Company H, 45th Infantry Regiment. Born in Hamilton County, spending his early years in Union County, Hase went on to become an instructor at the Missouri Military Academy in Mexico, Missouri.

1st LT. Hase enlisted like many others joining the Army in 1941. Hase, was at the battle of Corregidor and was taken prisoner in 1942 becoming a “Guest of the Empire”. 1st LT. Hase was transferred to a “Hell Ship” as they were called until being killed in action in 1945.