World War II Honoree

Robert Charles Wagner

Branch of Service

U.S. Navy

Hometown

Cary, Illinois

Honored By

Theodore Wagner

Relationship

Son

Enlisted 2-15-43 Navy - “Sea Bees”. Sent first to England for the D-Day invasion. Served as Machinist Mate First Class on a landing craft and for 72 hours straight ferried soldiers and equipment from ships to Utah Beach during the D-Day invasion. Wounded by shrapnel and hospitalized - offered the Purple Heart but would not take it saying so many others were much more deserving losing limb and life. After short time in Europe, transferred by ship through the Panama Canal for the invasion of Japan. Participated in the battle of Okinawa and landed in Japan three weeks after the United States bombed Hiroshima. Walked through what was left of Nagasaki after the atomic bomb blast. Earned - European African 1 Star American Theater and Asiatic Pacific 1 Star Victory Metal Honorably Discharged 0n 2-7-46