This Military Service Page was created/owned by
Cpl Steven Ryan (LoneWolf)
to remember
Marine Capt Harold Hagans (Harry).
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Contact Info
Home Town Fort Wayne
Last Address Bastrop, TX
Date of Passing May 13, 1954
Location of Interment Covington Memorial Gardens Cemetery - Ft Wayne, Indiana
Official Badges
Unofficial Badges
Additional Information
Last Known Activity:
Captain Harold (Harry) F. Hagans: Enlisted in the Marine Corps in September 1942. After boot camp in San Diego, Calif., he applied for Aviation Machinist Mate School and graduated in May 1943. On January 1944 he entered Navy Pre-Flight School at Natchitoches, Louisiana. Sergeant Hagans received his Wings at Corpus Christi, Texas on September 19, 1945. On January 8, 1946, he was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in the Marine Corps. He served as a forward Air Controller with the 1st Marine Division in Korea from March to September 1951. From December 1951 to September 1952, he trained for jet airplanes with VMF 232, MAG 15, El Toro, Calif. He served with VMF 311, MAG 33, 1st MAW in Korea from February to July 1953 and with MAG 33, 1st MAW, Korea from August to December 1953.
Other Comments:
Captain Hagans died on May 13, 1954, while participating in a special assignment to promote compatibility between the services at the 27 Strategic Fighter Wing, Bergstom AFB, Texas. The day before his death, Captain Hagans asked the base chaplain to his house and led his family in a service praising God.
Korean War/CCF Spring Offensive (1951)/Battle of Kapyong
From Month/Year
April / 1951
To Month/Year
April / 1951
Description The Battle of Kapyong, also known as the Battle of Jiaping, was fought during the Korean War between United Nations (UN) forces—primarily Australian and Canadian—and the Chinese communist People's Volunteer Army. The fighting occurred during the Chinese Spring Offensive and saw the 27th British Commonwealth Brigade establish blocking positions in the Kapyong Valley, on a key route south to the capital, Seoul. The two forward battalions—3rd Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment (3 RAR) and 2nd Battalion, Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry (2 PPCLI)—occupied positions astride the valley and hastily developed defences. As thousands of South Korean soldiers began to withdraw through the valley, the Chinese infiltrated the brigade position under the cover of darkness, and assaulted the Australians on Hill 504 during the evening and into the following day.
Although heavily outnumbered, the 27th Brigade held their positions into the afternoon before the Australians were finally withdrawn to positions in the rear of the brigade, with both sides having suffered heavy casualties. The Chinese then turned their attention to the Canadians on Hill 677, but during a fierce night battle they were unable to dislodge them. The fighting helped blunt the Chinese offensive and the actions of the Australians and Canadians at Kapyong were important in assisting to prevent a breakthrough on the United Nations Command central front, and ultimately the capture of Seoul. The two battalions bore the brunt of the assault and stopped an entire Chinese division during the hard fought defensive battle. The next day the Chinese withdrew back up the valley, in order to regroup. Today, the battle is regarded as one of the most famous actions fought by the Australian and Canadian armies in Korea.
