Lt. Gene F. Rogge Biography-6
August 1, 1952: MiG Alley Dogfight
Gene Destroys a MiG-15 & Saves His Wingman's Life...
Lt. Rogge was on patrol in MiG Alley with 31 other F-86E Sabre pilots on August 1, 1952. “MiG Alley" was the name given by United Nations pilots to the northwestern portion of North Korea, where the Yalu River empties into the Yellow Sea. It was the site of numerous dogfights between UN fighter pilots and their North Korean opponents, including Russian and Chinese pilots.
Gene saved the life of his wingman, Lt. William Brown, by shooting down a MiG attacking him; Gene’s gun camera recorded the kill. As graphically remembered years later by Lt. General Brown in the book Silver Wings, Golden Valor":
“When we got finally got back to the base…we looked at the gun camera film from Gene Rogge, who was my element leader. Gene Rogge’s gun camera film showed the MiG shooting at me…. This happened just as he squeezed the trigger, because then his .50-cal bullets were going out into the MiG, and he shot that MiG down.
And the reason I’m here today is because of a fellow named Gene Rogge.”
Air Force - Korean War Aerial Victories
Almost 1,000 US pilots served in the Korean War. Around 400 -- including Lt. Gene Rogge -- are credited with shooting down at least one MiG-15. Probably only two of these incredible pilots are still alive in 2026: 100-year-old Navy Captain Royce Williams (awarded the Medal of Honor by President Donald Trump) and Lt. Colonel Gene F. Rogge.
Pvt. Paul R. Thomer Biography-1
Paul Thomer's Watch Returned to His Family - Sept 2023
On Sept 9, 2023, Pvt. Thomer’s watch was returned to his daughter Deborah and her four siblings, exactly 80 years after Paul purchased it. They will treasure it as a tangible memory of their courageous Dad. Semper Fi.
Pvt. Paul Thomer -- 1942 Guadalcanal Marine & His Watch
Private Paul R. Thomer (1923–1992) fought at Guadalcanal as a member of the famed 1st Marine Division. Paul was from Pittsburgh PA, and enlisted in the Marines in January 1942.
The 1st Marine Division sailed from San Francisco in June, and landed on the island of Guadalcanal on Aug 7, 1942. This was the first major US amphibious landing of World War II. The invasion ignited a ferocious struggle with Japanese forces, marked by seven major naval battles, numerous clashes ashore, and almost continuous air combat through December 1942.
The fighting at Guadalcanal took a terrible toll; the 1st Division suffered 650 killed in action and 1,278 wounded, with a further 8,580 contracting malaria and other diseases. As one Marine recalled, ”the Division suffered 100% casualties, with the dead, wounded, and those sick from malaria, dengue fever, jungle rot, malnutrition and combat fatigue… “.
Battle-weary and in poor health following the Guadalcanal campaign, the men of the First Marine Division were shipped to Melbourne Australia for nine months recuperation in January 1943. “They were greeted with warm hospitality; these 15,000 young American men found a home away from home”.
On Feb 10, 1943, Paul Thome purchased a steel-cased wristwatch from a local Melbourne jewelry store, and had it engraved “Paul R. Thomer ~ U.S.M.C. ~ 343824 ~ Australia ~ 2-10-43”.
The 1st Division returned to combat in the South Pacific in October 1943, leading the December offensive at Cape Gloucester, New Britain. “The action they found there has been described as the toughest man has ever endured.” In July 1944, the 1st Division returned to the US for stateside duty. Paul was honorably discharged in 1945.
In 1954, Paul married Frances Mary LaRoche in Pittsburgh; in 1962, they moved to California. Paul and Frances had five children – two sons and three daughters. Paul died on February 16, 1992, and is buried with Frances in the San Fernando Mission Cemetery in Mission Hills, CA.