Veterans Way Honorees

Staff Sergeant Eric Steffeny of Waterloo was trying to diffuse a roadside bomb on Wednesday, February 23, 2005 north of Baghdad when it exploded. A nearby landmine was detonated by an insurgent killing Steffeny. He was serving in the Army’s bomb squad unit which finds, disarms and detonates unexploded munitions. He enlisted in the Army after graduation from Waterloo West High in 1996. The 28-year-old was on his second tour in Iraq and was due to return stateside in April. Steffeny was the 22nd Iowan killed in Iraq or Afghanistan. He left a wife and three children in North Carolina.

Ronald S. Prescott served in the United States Navy for 6 years.

Robert Robinson enlisted in the United States Navy as an able bodied seaman at the age of 16 May 1946-Sept 1957, promoted to Chief Yeoman before being commissioned as an officer in the US Navy. He served in Atlantic submarine fleet, on an LST and at shore stations. Commissioned as an officer in 1957, retired in 1973 at a rank of Commander. Attended the Naval Postgraduate School and the Naval War College, earning BA and MA in Political Science and International Relations. He served during the Korean War and Vietnam from 1968-1969. Arrived in Cedar Falls in July 1973 to work for Wayne Engineering as its Sales Manager. Bob and his wife, Marie (now deceased), have three children and seven grandchildren.

Robert J. Hoover Jr. served in the United States Army from 1943 to 1945. As a WW II veteran Robert served in the US army 1276 Engineer combat battalion, Company C. Iceland, Belgium, Holland, Germany and Ft Meyer, VA Received the Presidential Unit Citation during Operation Grenades.

Robert Curtis served in the United States Army from 1950 to 1983.

Robert A. Clark served in the United States Army from 1966 to 1968.

Robert “Bob” Little served in the United States Army from 1944 to 1946.

Sergeant Richard L. Hofstadter (Army Serial No. 37657506), Coast Artillery Corps. United States Army, for meritorious service in connection with military operations, as Section Chief, Battery “D”, 546th Antiaircraft Artillery Automatic Weapons Battalion (Mobile) , from 14 July 1944 to 8 May 1945. Continually on the move and despite extremely adverse conditions, Sergeant Hofstadter displayed outstanding ability in maintaining a high level of enthusiasm and cooperation among his men and in keeping his section’s equipment in a superior conditions all times. The loyal, untiring devotion to duty displayed by Sergeant Hofstadter throughout the entire period increased the efficiency of his unit in sustained operational activities against the enemy.