Karl F. Hausauer

Karl F. Hausauer (31 October 1896 – 5 December 1979) was an American businessman and military officer from New York. In addition to a civilian career as an executive of a Buffalo, New York printing company, he served in the army from 1918 to 1957, including time with the Regular Army, Organized Reserve Corps, and National Guard. A veteran of World War I and World War II, from 1950 to 1957 Hausauer served as Adjutant General of New York.

A native of Buffalo, Hausauer graduated from the Carnegie Institute of Technology in 1917 and joined his family's printing business. In October 1917, he began his military career when he joined the New York National Guard's Company A, 74th Infantry Regiment as a private. He was activated for federal service during World War I and underwent officer training at Camp Zachary Taylor, Kentucky. He received his commission shortly after the end of the war; after his release from active duty he joined the Organized Reserve Corps.

Hausauer later transferred to the National Guard, and he advanced through staff and command assignments in the Field Artillery and Coast Artillery, including command of Battery D, 106th Field Artillery Regiment, and 1st Battalion, 106th Field Artillery Regiment. During World War II, he commanded 1st Battalion, 209th Coast Artillery (Anti-Aircraft) Regiment, and acted as commander of the regiment and its higher headquarters, the 102nd Coast Artillery Brigade (Anti-Aircraft). After arrival in Europe, he commanded US Forces, Port of Belfast and was one of the planners of the Operation Overlord invasion of France.

After the war, Hausauer advanced to the general officer ranks and commanded the 105th Antiaircraft Brigade and New York National Guard. In 1950 he was appointed the head of New York's National Guard; in most states this position is titled the adjutant general; legislation enacted at the time of Hausauer's appointment changed the title to chief of staff to the governor. Hausauer retired from the military in 1957. After retiring from a position with the state government in 1960, he resided in Vero Beach, Florida. Hausauer died in Houston, Texas on 5 December 1979 and was buried at Crestlawn Cemetery in Vero Beach.

Early life Karl Frederick Hausauer was born in Buffalo, New York on 31 October 1896, a son of George M. Hausauer and Isabella (Plogsted) Hausauer. He was educated in the public schools of Buffalo, and was a 1913 graduate of Lafayette High School. In 1917, he received a Bachelor of Arts degree from the Carnegie Institute of Technology. After college, he began work with his family's printing business, Baker, Jones and Hausauer; he eventually became president and chairman of the board, and he remained with the company until it was liquidated in 1963.

Start of military career In September 1917, Hausauer was chosen as second lieutenant of the Parkside Company of the First Home Defense Regiment, a home guard unit organized to protect strategic sites as the US prepared for entry into the First World War. In October 1917, Hausauer began his United States Army career when he joined the New York National Guard's Company A, 74th Infantry Regiment as a private. He was promoted to sergeant in January 1918. Hausauer continued his training after the Armistice of November 11, 1918 ended the war, and in December he received his commission as a second lieutenant of Field Artillery. After reaching Georgia, Hausauer was assigned as the regimental executive officer and second-in-command. In the summer of 1941, Hausauer was among the 209th Regiment's officers selected for attendance at a 10 week antiaircraft artillery course which was held at Fort Monroe, Virginia. In June, he was appointed acting regimental commander. In December, most 209th soldiers were granted Christmas furloughs; Hausauer was appointed acting commander of the 209th's higher headquarters, the 102nd Coast Artillery Brigade (Anti-Aircraft).

In February 1942, Hausauer was among the senior officers of the 209th Coast Artillery who were selected for advanced tactical training at Fort Monroe. In late 1942, Hausauer left the 209th Coast Artillery for Belfast, Northern Ireland, where he was assigned to command US forces at the Port of Belfast, one of the main points of entry for US Army units arriving in the European theatre. In May 1943, Hausauer was promoted to colonel and he served as assistant chief of staff for logistics (G-4) on the staff of the European Theater of Operations, United States Army (ETOUSA) headquarters in England. In 1944 and 1945, Hausauer was a member of the Supreme Headquarters Allied Expeditionary Force's (SHAEF) Chief of Staff to the Supreme Allied Commander's (COSSAC) team that developed the plan for the Operation Overlord invasion of mainland Europe. In March 1945, Hausauer was dispatched from England to the United States on temporary duty to attend planning conferences and conduct liaison between SHAEF and the US Department of War.

Later military career From March 1946 to February 1948, Hausauer belonged to the Organized Reserve Corps; assigned to the New York National Guard's state headquarters, he took part in the Guard's post-war reorganization. In September 1948, Hausauer was selected to command the New York Guard, succeeding Hugh A. Drum, who had held the position during the Second World War. In October, Hausauer received promotion to major general. In May 1949, Hausauer was appointed military chief of staff to the governor; the law creating this position made the state adjutant general's position, then held by Ames T. Brown, subordinate to the chief of staff. The New York Division of Military and Naval Affairs continued to use the chief of staff title for its head until 1988, when it was changed back to Adjutant General of New York. The legislation creating the chief of staff's position also directed the chief of staff to disband the New York Guard, presuming there was no need for it following World War II; the continued need for the organization during the Korean War soon became apparent, and the New York Guard's reconstitution and reorganization began in 1950.

Hausauer's term as head of New York's National Guard was marked by the organization and fielding of the New York Air National Guard, which had been created in 1947. He also oversaw the activation and training of New York units for federal service during the Korean War. In addition, he led the Guard's reorganization during the Cold War, including an emphasis on Armor units to defend West Germany in the event of an invasion from the Soviet Union. Hausauer retired from the military in January 1957 and was succeeded by Ronald C. Brock. In May 1957, he was appointed the state Division of Military and Naval Affairs liaison to the US Department of Defense, a position he received in order to allow him to qualify for a state pension. Hausauer retired in 1959 and moved to Vero Beach, Florida. In February 1960, he received promotion to lieutenant general on the state's retired list as a commendation of the outstanding service he rendered throughout his career. His foreign decorations included the Order of the British Empire, Belgian Croix de Guerre with palm, and French Croix de Guerre with palm. He also became active in the Indian River chapter of the Military Order of the World Wars. In addition, he was a member of the American Legion and served as a member of the Vero Beach maritime commission that was created to regulate boats and yachts at the city's docks and marinas. Hausauer died in Houston, Texas on 5 December 1979.

Dates of rank Hausauer's dates of rank were:

Private, 30 October 1917 Sergeant, 21 January 1918 Second Lieutenant, 21 December 1918 First Lieutenant, 8 August 1921 Captain, 21 August 1922 Major, 20 June 1928 Lieutenant Colonel, 4 August 1940 Colonel, 26 May 1943 Brigadier General, 8 July 1947 Major General, 25 October 1948 Lieutenant General (Retired List), 8 February 1960