Lt. Gene F. Rogge Biography-8
Gene Rogge: Career Air Force Officer
After flying over 100 combat missions, Gene returned to the US in 1953, and was stationed at McCord AFB in Washington. In October, he married Lynn Sharrits; he and Lynn were the parents of son Gregory (who also became an Air Force fighter pilot).
Gene continued his Air Force career; by 1957, Captain Rogge was piloting F-102A “Delta Daggers” for the 325th Fighter Wing. He became a member of Fighter Squadron 24 in 1968, flying a McDonnell F3H Demon. The squadron operated in the Far East and Western Pacific, making flights from Guam, Okinawa, Iwo Jima, and Formosa.
In 1964, he Gene was stationed Hamilton AFB in California, promoted to Major, and became the Operations Officer for the 84th Fighter Interceptor Squadron. He was promoted to Lt. Colonel in 1967.
Gene was one of the very few Air Defense Command (ADC) pilots to earn the title of “Master
of Air Defense”, which required both experience (over 6000 hours of flying time) and rigorous study and testing.
Gene retired in 1973 as Lieutenant Colonel after a 23-year career in the Air Force.
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.