World War II Honoree

John Joseph Hagan

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Dallas, Texas

Honored By

Edward Emmit Hagan & G. Holman King

Relationship

Brother & Friend

HE WAS MEMBER OF THE TEXAS A&M ROTC CORPS OF CADETS WHO WAS SCHEDULED TO GRADUATE IN CHEMICAL ENGINEERING AND BE COMMISSIONED IN MAY, 1944. REPORTING TO ROTC CHEMICAL WARFARE SUMMER CAMP AT EDGEWOOD ARSENAL NEAR BALTIMORE, MARYLAND IN JUNE, 1943, LED DIRECTLY TO ACTIVE DUTY AND OFFICER CANDIDATE SCHOOL. APRIL, 1944 ASSIGNED AS PLATOON LEADER TO 89TH CHEMICAL MORTAR BATTALION, MOTORIZED AT CAMP CARSON, COLORADO WHERE BATTALION WAS TRAINING. EACH PLATOON HAD FOUR 4.2 MORTARS WHICH WERE EXTREMELY ACCURATE. SHIPPED TO ENGLAND AND THEN TO FRANCE. SAW COMBAT ACROSS EUROPE. AFTER GERMANY SURRENDERED, RETURNED TO FT. JACKSON, SOUTH CAROLINA TO TRAIN FOR JAPANESE INVASION. AT JAPANESE SURRENDER HAD ENOUGH BATTLE STARS FOR IMMEDIATE SEPARATION. DISCHARGED IN SEPTEMBER, 1945 AND RETURNED TO TEXAS A&M TO COMPLETE HIS EDUCATION.