Haney, Elmo, MTSgt

Actually, born as St. Elmo M Haney "Pop", was born in Magazine, Yell Arkansas, to Albert S. Haney and Mary Haney. He was the grandson of Henry Haney a confederate veteran. He had two sisters, Georgia Cowger of Kansas City, MO and Geneva Virginia White of Bella Vista.

Marine Master Sargent St. Elmo Murray Haney "Pop", served with great distinction through our worst wars, WW1 and WWII. Master Sargent Haney during WWI, then a Corporal in a heavy machine gun unit fought in places in France and at the famed battle of Belleau Wood, against a heavy German fighting force. At that time, he was serving in K (King) Company, 3rd Battalion, 5th Marines (there were no divisions at the time). He left the service in 1921, while stationed at Boston Navy Yard to teach school in Arkansas for four years. He reentered the service in 1927 in San Diego California. By WWII he reenlisted and was attached to K/3/5 (his original assignment during WWI), being considered "The Old Breed" he commanded Marines in the field of the South Pacific fighting the Japanese Empire. He fought in the campaigns of Guadalcanal, Cape Gloucester (where his valor earned him the Silver Star) and Peleliu. He was a man that had the respect of his Marines.

After coming home from the war, he went to school and became a graduate of Cilicothe Business College in Missouri and attended Hendrix College. He settled to Bentonville, Arkansas and in 1949 married Ethel Taletha Tirey. Ethel Haney died in 1972. He attended Bentonville Church of Christ and was where he lived for 30 years until his death.

Master Sargent St. Elmo Murray Haney was a character recently depicted in the HBO mini-series "The Pacific" referred to as "Gunny". From those who served with Haney, it has been confirmed that how you saw him portrayed on screen was exactly the man and Marine he was.

I am currently getting more information on this great Marine and will update as I get more of the information.

Below is his following citation for his Silver Star that he was awarded in WWII:

Silver Star - Awarded for actions during the World War II

The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Platoon Sergeant St. Elmo M. Haney (MCSN: 131228), United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity while serving with the FIRST Marine Division in action against enemy Japanese forces on Cape Gloucester, New Britain on January 10, 1944. While our forces were engaged in bitter hand-to-hand combat defending a vital ridge, Platoon Sergeant Haney courageously led an ammunition carrying party through dark jungle undergrowth and driving rain to deliver supplies to our front lines, arriving five minutes before the last desperate counter attack when one platoon was completely out of ammunition and the entire line was low. By his expeditious delivery of the urgently needed supplies, he enabled our units to defend their position successfully. L Platoon Sergeant Haney's daring initiative and selfless devotion to duty in the face of grave peril were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.

General Orders: Commander 7th Fleet: Serial 0853

Action Date: January 10, 1944
Service: Marine Corps
Rank: Platoon Sergeant
Division: 1st Marine Division

Described in Eugene Sledge's book, With the Old Breed: On Peleliu and Okinawa and portrayed in the HBO mini-series, "The Pacific."