Warren W. Hassler, Jr., Penn State professor emeritus of American history, died on July 12 in La Jolla, Calif., after a brief illness. Hassler was born and raised in Baltimore, Md. He served in the 7th Army Air Corps at the end of World War II.
After his discharge, he completed his bachelor of arts degree at The Johns Hopkins University and continued his education with a master of arts degree at the University of Pennsylvania. He was awarded a doctoral degree in American Military History by Johns Hopkins in 1953 with a dissertation in the field of the American Civil War.
In 1954, he joined the faculty of Penn State and remained here until his retirement in 1989, except for two years, first as the Distinguished Visiting Professor at the US Army Command and General Staff College, Ft. Leavenworth, and then at the US Military Academy at West Point.
Hassler was the author of numerous articles including the major article on the Civil War in the Encyclopedia Britannica, and of five books on the Civil War and American Military History. He had an unwavering pride in the United States of America and in the commitment and sacrifices of the U.S. armed forces.
Hassler is survived by his wife Peggy McCreight Hassler; his children Christopher and wife Susan of Fairfax Station, Va., and Carol and her husband David Kruse of Mamaroneck, N.Y.; and his grandchildren Douglas and Katherine Kruse.
Donations in his memory may be made to The Wounded Warrior Project, P.O.Box 75817, Topeka, KS 66675 or online at www.woundedwarriorproject.org.