Ernest Fredrick Hubacker – July 13, 2018

Ernest was born October 16, 1915 in Cheboygan, Michigan, the son of Fredrick and Kate (Brunden) Hubacker. His parents later divorced and Ernest grew up living with his mother and stepfather on a small farm. He attended a one room schoolhouse in Beaugrand township. The family moved to the town of Cheboygan to go to high school, graduating in 1934.

Following high school he enrolled in the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) and served two separate enrollments for a total time of 45 months.

Ernest registered for the original draft preceding World War II on his 25th birthday. He like to say the whole country celebrated his 25th birthday. He soon volunteered to serve his time, but was rejected because his eyesight was not up to Army standards at the time. He moved to Chicago and began working in a factory. Two years after his first Army rejection the draft board summoned him and this time he was taken into the US Army. This was after Pearl Harbor. His first military duty was at Ft Reno, OK in the remount service where they trained horses and mules.

After 15 months Ernest was transferred to Ft. Riley, Kansas where he had six weeks training in the Cavalry replacement center for the toughest six weeks of Army service until real combat. In his last years, he thought he was the last man to know anything about the Horse Cavalry. One of his biggest regrets was not saving his cavalry uniform.

October 1944 Ernest went from Ft. Riley to California and onto a troop ship to India and then Burma. He was assigned to the 475th Infantry Regiment of the MARS Task Force. His job was to block the Burma road so the Japanese could not use it. After fighting in Burma his next transfer was to China to train Chinese soldiers. Ernest was there when the war ended.

Upon his return to the United States, Ernest lived and worked in Chicago.

He married Virginia Anderson in 1951. She died in 1969. In 1980 Ernest married Allyce Wood Wardell (sister of Rachel (Ervin) Sahr), a Jamestown girl. Ernest retired in 1982 and in August 1987 they moved to Jamestown. Allyce died in November 1992.

Ernest was a member of the VFW Post 760 and Past Commander; Merrills Marauders Association; Historic Ft. Reno, Inc.; the Jamestown Hospital Auxillaryfor ovber 15 years, and a Charter Member of the WW II Memorial.

Ernest is survived by a stepdaughter, Jane Gudmundson, Glenview, IL; two step-grandsons, one step-granddaughter and a step-great granddaughter.

He was preceded in death by his wives, Virginia and Allyce; parents; two half-sisters and two half-brothers.

Ernest was the last living member of his family.

Funeral Service: 2:00 p.m., Thursday, July 19, 2018 at G.L. Rife Chapel, Eventide, Jamestown.

Visitation: 1:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., Wednesday, July 18, 2018 at Eddy Funeral Home, Jamestown.

Prayer Service: 7:00 p.m., Wednesday, July 18, 2018 at Eddy Funeral Home.

Burial: 10:00 a.m., Friday, July 20, 2018 at Mt. Hope Cemetery, Edgeley, ND.

Memorials: May be sent to JRMC Hospice, 2422 20th Avenue SW, Jamestown or the Vet’s Club, 116 1st Street E, Jamestown.