Roger W. Haller

Command Sergeant Major Roger Woods Haller, U.S. Army National Guard, of the Headquarters, 70th Regiment (LDR), 49, died Saturday, Jan. 20, 2007, along with 11 other soldiers in a helicopter crash northeast of Baghdad, Iraq.

Born on July 9, 1957 in Murrysville, Pa., he was the son of Ann "Timmie" Haller of Cambridge, and the late William S. Haller Sr.

Roger was a graduate of Cambridge High School, Class of 1975, and a graduate of Fairmont State University in West Virginia, Class of 1979. He received a bachelor"s degree in history and political science. It was Roger"s interest in political science which led him to become a soldier in the Army National Guard.

His career began in the Virginia Army National Guard"s 116th Infantry Brigade, Stanton, Va., as an Infantryman and an Intelligence Assistant. He joined the Maryland Army National Guard"s B Co. 2/175th Infantry; 58th Brigade, Easton, as a member of the mortar section. He continued to serve in the unit, later redesignated to B Co. 2/115th Infantry, 29th Infantry Division, in a variety of positions, including Fire Direction Coordinator, NBC NCO, and Squad Leader.

In July 1987, he was a Supply Specialist with the Army National Guard in Chestertown. In September 1988, he was assigned to HHC 2/115th Infantry, 29th Division, as a Chief Fire Direction Coordinator, Chestertown. He became the Section Chief and Acting Platoon Sergeant from February 1989 to November of 1995 for B Co. 2.115th Infantry, 29th Division in Easton.

From December of 1995 to present time, Sgt. Haller held many instructor positions within the 70th Regiment, Reisterstown. In October of 2002 he was the Regimental First Sergeant until March of 2004, when he assumed the position of GS Battalion Operations Sergeant. In February 2006, he selected to hold the highest enlisted position within the regiment, the regimental Command Sergeant Major. He held this position until his death.

Sgt. Haller received the Army Commendation Medal with One Oak Leaf Cluster, Army Achievement Medal with One Oak Leaf Cluster, Army Reserve Component Achievement Medal, National Defense Ribbon with One Star, Armed Forces Reserve Medal, NCO Professional Development Ribbon with Numeral 3, Army Service Ribbon, Army Reserve Component Overseas Ribbon with Numeral 3 and the Maryland Meritorious Service Medal. He was also the recipient of the Maryland Commendation Medal and the Maryland State Service Medal.

While he resided in Cambridge, he was a member of White Haven United Methodist Church, Church Creek.

He enjoyed the outdoors including camping, motorcycle riding, hunting, fishing, backpacking and rock climbing. Sgt. Haller was a master plumber.

Surviving is his mother, Ann "Timmie" Haller; three children, Daniel Woods Haller, Morgan Elizabeth Haller, Kathryn Alexandra Haller, from the union of his former wife, Sandy Hockman, all of Cambridge; a sister, Anne Sillaman and her husband, Ron of Riva; three brothers, William S. Haller Jr. and his wife, Mary of Germantown, Frederick R. Haller and his wife, Sally N., John H. Haller, a niece Jennifer Ann Haller, all of Cambridge and a many friends.

The family will receive friends from 3 to 5 p.m., Tuesday, at Governor"s Hall, Sailwinds Park, Cambridge. The family will also receive friends at Sailwinds on Wednesday, January 31, from 11:00 to 1:00, with the funeral service beginning at 1:00 p.m. with Full Military Honors. Officiating at the service will be The Rev. David Stewart.

Inurnment will be held privately at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, memorial offerings may be made to the CSM Roger W. Haller Scholarship Fund, c/o Bank of the Eastern Shore, P.O. Box 757, Cambridge, MD 21613, Dorchester County Humane Society, American Cancer Society, c/o Doris Weber, 5163 Maple Dam Road, Cambridge, MD 21613

Arrangements are being handled by Curran-Bromwell Funeral Home, P.A., Cambridge.