Captain Alfred Hiram Agan, A Marine's Story
Captain Alfred Hiram Agan, A Marine's Story
Alfred Hiram Agan was born on July 6, 1919, in Carterville, Iowa. After attending Iowa State University, he enlisted in the United States Marine Corps in 1942, answering the call as the nation mobilized for global conflict.
Captain Agan trained as a fighter pilot and flew the F4U Corsair, an aircraft synonymous with Marine aviation. He became the first Marine pilot to employ proximity fuses, a technological advancement that significantly increased the effectiveness of air-to-ground and air-to-air ordnance, reflecting both the rapid evolution of warfare and the demanding technical skill expected of aviators.
During the Korean War, Captain Agan flew combat missions in support of United Nations forces on the peninsula. On January 20, 1951, while conducting a bombing run near Inchon, his aircraft was damaged. Captain Alfred Hiram Agan was killed in the line of duty as a result of that mission.
He is laid to rest at Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery in San Diego, California, among fellow Marines whose service carried them far from home and into history.
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About the Author
a.d. elliott is a wanderer, photographer, and storyteller traveling through life
She shares her journeys at Take the Back Roads, explores new reads at Rite of Fancy, and highlights U.S. military biographies at Everyday Patriot.
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