Albert Habhab, a son of Lebanese immigrants and one of five brothers who served in WWII, swiftly transitioned from a high school graduate on January 21, 1944, to a valorous soldier in General Patton’s Third Army. By October 1944, Albert was entrenched in the Battle of Metz with the 87th Infantry’s 346th Regiment. His gallantry shone when, disregarding his safety, he rescued a fellow soldier under fierce enemy assault. This heroic act through a hailstorm of bullets earned him the esteemed Bronze Star with “V” Device for undeniable courage.

 

Albert, a dedicated legal mind, earned his law degree from the University of Iowa and established his practice in 1952. As Fort Dodge Mayor (1960-1974) and later as Judge in Iowa’s Second Judicial District, he ascended to the Iowa Court of Appeals, eventually leading as Chief Judge. He retired in 1997, leaving a legacy that concluded with his passing on January 27, 2024.

 

We are profoundly grateful as we commend Judge Albert Habhab for his unwavering dedication to his nation, state, and hometown. It is with great pride that we recognize him as the 2018 Veteran of the Year.