Patrick J. Hogan
Era: World War II
Military Branch: Army
Patrick J. Hogan (Cap) entered the Army on March 6, 1941, at Fort Snelling, Minnesota. Home at entry: Gilbert, Minnesota.
He served as a Corporal and auto mechanic with Company I at Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland. Graduated Ordnance Officer Candidate School in September 1942.
He served as a Captain and bomb disposal officer with the 5th Ordnance Bomb Disposal Squadron in Aleutians, Northern France, Normandy, Rhineland, Ardennes, and Central Europe.
The first soldier drafted from the state of Minnesota. Left the U.S. for England to prepare for D-Day in Normandy at Omaha Beach on June 6, 1944. Assigned to the 3rd Army and traveled through France, Germany, Bastogne, Belgium with "a great leader", General George Patton.
Mr. Hogan was awarded the following: Bronze Star Medal, American Defense Service Medal, American Theater Medal, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with one bronze battle star, and European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with five bronze battle stars.
He was relieved from active duty on December 29, 1945, at Camp McCoy, Wisconsin.
Source: Hometown Heroes: The Saint Louis County World War II Project, page 358.
