World War II Honoree

Robert Joseph Fagan

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Rosenberg, Texas

Honored By

Pearl Thomas

Relationship

A Grateful American

He enlisted in the US Army at the age of 19. He began in a Military Police unit. After 11 months, he requested a transfer to a combat engineer company. On June 6, 1944, he boarded a landing craft off the Normandy coast headed to Utah Beach. His job was to remove underwater obstacles so boats could land. He then began an eleven month march into Berlin. He spent several months clearing mine fields so Allied forces could advance into Belgium. He and his company were to blow up a bridge during the Battle of the Bulge, the explosives didn't work and he and his platoon were captured by the German soldiers. They were marched to a camp in south Berlin. After four months of confinement, the guards heard the Russians were moving in so they drove them to the American forces about 10 miles away. He served 3 years, 1 month and 21 days. Awarded the French Legion of Honor and Purple Heart.