Wantagh Funeral Set For Vietnam Vet Who Earned Purple Heart

WANTAGH, NY — Fred Haag, a Vietnam War veteran who earned two bronze stars and a Purple Heart for his service, died Saturday after battling cancer. He was 72.

Haag's funeral is scheduled for 11:15 a.m. Thursday at St. Frances de Chantal Roman Catholic Church in Wantagh, his niece Tina Flaherty told Patch on Wednesday. About five family members in all were expected to attend his service, but the family said his funeral is open to the public for those who wish to attend. In a Facebook post, the Wantagh Chamber of Commerce encouraged community members to attend Haag's funeral, who the chamber described as a "hero."

Born in 1947, Haag grew up in Brooklyn and was drafted into the Army at 19. He served from 1966 to 1968 in the 1st Battalion, 58th Infantry Regiment as well as the 197th Infantry Brigade. He was a sharpshooter.

At one point during his service, Haag was shot in the elbow. Like many returning veterans, Flaherty said Haag rarely talked about his time in Vietnam. He was deeply affected by what he saw in the war, she said, noting it seemed to change him when he returned to the United States, as he mostly kept to himself.

"He was kind and gentle," Flaherty recalled.

In addition to the Purple Heart and Bronze Star medals, Haag earned several accolades for his service, including the National Defense Service Medal, which is awarded to those who served honorably during dates of conflict. Others include the Combat Infantry Badge, the Vietnam Service Medal and the Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal with Device (1960), which was given to South Vietnamese troops as well as U.S. troops who helped support operations in Vietnam.

When he returned to the United States, Haag did not marry or have children. He lived much of his life in Connecticut, working in food service for a Veterans Affairs hospital. And while he wasn't known to be particularly fashionable, Haag also enjoyed shopping, whether it was at Macy's, Kohl's, Target or Walmart.

"He loved to go shopping," Flaherty said. "Clothes and shoes. He loved to shop for clothes and shoes."

Within the last year, Haag moved into a Veterans Affairs nursing home on Long Island closer to his family.

Haag is survived by his niece Tina Flaherty, her husband, Jason, and their daughter, Alexa, as well as his other niece Darlene Piritsch, her husband, Robert, and their two kids, Allison and Christopher.