World War II Honoree

Harry P. Hagen

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

St. Petersburg, Florida

Honored By

Ms. Nancy S. Nick

Relationship

Daughter

380TH BOMB GROUP, SQUADRON 528, FAR EAST AIR FORCE, 5TH AIR FORCE IN SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS IN 1945. BRIEFLY IN 2/45, WHILE SWIMMING ON A BEACH, HE LOCATED 2 CRATES OF VESTS ALLOCATED FOR NON-FLYING PERSONNEL. HIS SQUADRON HAD BEEN FLYING FOR 2 WEEKS WITHOUT ANY VESTS AS THEIR SHIP HAD BEEN UNABLE TO DELIVER THEIR VESTS DUE TO SUBS IN THE AREA. MY DAD HAD BEEN CHALLENGED AND HEARD A CARTRIDGE BEING CHAMBERED. HIS EXPLANATION OF NEEDING THE VESTS WAS DISMISSED BY THE GUARD.