William Anthony Hald was born in St. Gall, Switzerland on May 19, 1922. His family immigrated to the United States when he was four years old. Hald had a career as a furniture upholsterer in New Jersey before enlisting in the U.S. Army in December 1942.

 

Following the end of hostilities, Hald received a transfer to the MFAA in Germany. He served as a driver for Monuments Man Capt. Jonathan T. Morey of the Regierungsbezirk Oberbayern Section of the Office of Military Government for Bavaria (an administrative district which included Munich). During the course of his duties, Hald transported objects to the Munich Central Collecting Point on Morey’s behalf. In September 1945 he delivered a small wooden Madonna and Child found in Schloss Raitenhaslach in Altötting, Germany.

 

Hald was discharged from the Army in early October 1945. He died in Woodbridge, Virginia on February 14, 2006 and was buried at nearby Quantico National Cemetery.

 

The Foundation is very interested in learning more about William Hald’s life, in particular his military service as a Monuments Man. If you have any information, please contact abottinelli@monumentsmenfoundation.org.