World War II Honoree

Marlin Robert Hagen

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

Racine, Wisconsin

Honored By

Traci Youngs

Relationship

Granddaughter

HE WAS WITH THE 333RD ARMY AIR FORCE WITH THE RANK OF SERGEANT. HE SPENT 3 YEARS, 3 MONTHS, AND 7 DAYS IN THE ARMY AIR FORCE AS AN AIRPLANE MECHANIC. HE SERVED IN THE CHINA-BURMA-INDIA THEATER OF OPERATIONS, AND CENTRAL BURMA. HE ENTERED THE ARMY AIR FORCES IN SEPTEMBER OF 1942. HE ATTENDED BASIC TRAINING AT CAMP LUNA, NEW MEXICO AND THEN WAS ASSIGNED TO AIR TRANSPORT COMMAND AT ROSECRANS FIELD IN ST. JOSEPH, MISSOURI. HE THEN ATTENDED MECHANIC SCHOOL AT SEYMOUR JOHNSON AIR BASE, NORTH CAROLINA AND AFTER WHICH HE LEFT THE U.S. FROM NEWPORT, VIRGINIA ABOARD THE LOUIS PASTEUR. HE ARRIVED IN CASABLANCA ON OCTOBER 1, 1943. HE WENT BY BOX CAR TO ALGERIA AND THEN BY C-47 WITH STOPS IN TRIPOLI, CAIRO, ABADAN, KARACHI, AND THEN TO THE BASE IN MISAMARI WHERE HE SERVED UNTIL FEBRUARY 1944. HE WAS THEN ASSIGNED TO DERAGON, JORHAT, AND CHABWA UNTIL NOVEMBER 1945. HE CHANGED ENGINES ON C-46 AND C-87 AIRCRAFT. HE FLEW THE HUMP SEVERAL TIMES TO CHANGE ENGINES AT BASES IN CHINA. HE LEFT CHABWA IN NOVEMBER OF 1945 FOR KARACHI ON A C-54 AIRCRAFT. HE THEN BOARDED THE USS GENERAL MCRAE AND LANDED BACK IN NEW JERSEY ON CHRISTMAS EVE IN 1945. HE RETURNED TO WISCONSIN ON NEW YEARS DAY IN 1946. HIS MEDALS INCLUDE: THE WWII VICTORY MEDAL, AMERICAN THEATER RIBBON, ASIATIC-PACIFIC THEATER RIBBON WITH 2 BRONZE BATTLE STARS, CHINA MEMORIAL MEDAL AND RIBBON, 4 OVERSEAS SERVICE BARS, 1 SERVICE STRIPE, GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL, AND DISTINGUISHED UNIT BADGE.