Howard H. Hasting, Sr. -- Obituary

“Duty, Honor, Country”

Howard H. Hasting, Colonel, United States Army (Ret.) peacefully passed away on the morning of April 1, 2003, at the age of 98 after a brief illness. He was born in Tupelo, Arkansas, on March 23, 1905, the oldest of six children. Colonel Hasting graduated from the United States Military Academy, West Point, New York, in 1928. In 1930, he voluntarily separated from the armed services, although he retained a reserve commission, and returned to Arkansas where he became a lawyer in early 1931. He practiced law in Arkansas until he was recalled to the service of his country upon the United States entering World War II after the attack on Pearl Harbor. He served in the Judge Advocate General’s Corps during the war, stationed at his alma mater, the United States Military Academy, teaching military law and engineering drawing, and coaching the pistol team. Offered a regular commission at the end of the war, Colonel Hasting remained in the service after World War II. He served as the chief assistant to the American Judge for the War Crimes Tribunal for the Far East, and was the principal author of the judgment of that body. He subsequently served in the Judge Advocate section of General Headquarters, Tokyo, Japan. Returning from Japan, he served as Staff Judge Advocate, Military District of Washington, and counsel to the Court of Military Appeals. Following duty in Washington, D.C., Colonel Hasting was assigned to the Panama Canal Zone where he served as Staff Judge Advocate for U. S. Army Caribbean and Caribbean Command. His final duty station was Fort Sam Houston where he served as Staff Judge Advocate, Fourth Army. Upon retirement from the Army in 1960, Colonel Hasting entered into the private practice of law in San Antonio. He retired from his law practice in 1993 and pursued gardening and other projects. Colonel Hasting was preceded in death by his wife of 64 years, Margaret Collier Hasting. He is survived by his son, Howard H. Hasting, Jr. and wife, Shirley A. Hasting; granddaughters Carolyn R. Thurlow and husband Paul, and Julie D. Hardaway and husband, Gray; great-grandchildren, Alexander Noel Greig and Hallie Camille Hardaway; all of San Antonio; and sister Virginia Burkett, Pine Bluff, Arkansas. The family takes this opportunity to publicly express its thanks to the staff at Kingsley Place Oakwell Farms for their loving care. The family will receive friends Thursday evening from 6 o’clock P.M. to 8 o’clock P.M. at Porter Loring.

SERVICE

FRIDAY – 1:00 P.M.

PORTER LORING CHAPEL

The Reverend Gary Lillibridge officiating. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial contributions be made to a charity of choice. Interment with full military honors in Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery. Arrangements with Porter Loring Mortuary, 1101 McCullough, San Antonio, Texas, 227-8221.