Papers (1941-1970) of member of U. S. Naval Academy Class of 1941, including correspondence, orders, citations, an informal log of his naval service, 1941-1947, a photographs, and miscellany relating to his service aboard the destroyers USS LEA and the USS WADSWORTH during World War II and his postwar naval career.
George M. Hagerman was born in Chambersburg, Pennsylvania, on 14 July 1917. As a graduate of the United States Naval Academy Class of 1941, he served on two destroyers during World War II, the USS LEA (1941-1943) and the USS WADSWORTH (1943-1945). Following the war, Hagerman served as executive officer on the USS O'HARE (1945-1946), operations officer on the USS BOSTON (1956-1958), and commanding officer of the USS HAMBLETON (1946-1947), the USS WREN (1951-1953), and the USS HYADES (1962-1963). Hagerman was assigned to the University of Virginia as associate professor of Naval Science (NROTC) from 1947-1949. Other stateside duty included aide and flag secretary to the Commander Amphibious Training Command, U.S. Atlantic Fleet (1949-1951) and head of Functional Training Section, Bureau of Personnel, Washington, D.C. (1953-1956). He was also involved in European defense planning (1960-1962) and helped organize Operation Sea Spray (1963). Overseas duty took Hagerman to Bremerhaven, Germany, as the head of Field Training Group, for the Military Assistance Advisory Group (MAAG) from 1958 to 1959. Then he completed the NATO Defense College course in Paris, France (1959-1960). He served in Korea (1965-1967), where he was assistant chief of staff of the United Nations Command concerned with military and political affairs. Hagerman ended his career as the director of the Navy's Foreign Military Assistance Division (1967-1970).
Hagerman kept an informal log while serving on several ships from 1941 to 1947. Composed of index cards, it maintains a running total of the number of days spent at sea, in port, on liberty, and on leave, and the number of miles traveled for approximately every quarter of the year. On the back of each card are brief but vivid descriptions of activities and events that occurred during the period. Notations reflect convoy duty and antisubmarine operations while stationed on the USS LEA in the Atlantic during WorldWar II. For later in the war, while on board the USS WADSWORTH in the Pacific, commentaries concern participation in activities related to the invasion of Guam, Iwo Jima, and Okinawa. There are also descriptions of repelling Japanese dive bombers and kamikaze attacks. After World War II the entries concern normal naval exercises and ship operations.
The majority of the collection consists of orders, documents, and correspondence relating to Hagerman's entire thirty-year career (1941-1970). His involvement during the Cuban Missile Crisis, while commanding the USS HYADES, is described in correspondence with naval officials and comments on his role in the evacuation of military dependents from Guantanamo Bay to Norfolk, Virginia. Korean correspondence concerns political and public relation matters, particularly the ratification of the Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA) by the Republic of Korea Assembly.
Most of the personal correspondence was generated during his Korean tour and much of it concerns personal business back in the United States, moving his family to Korea, military family life in Korea, and local social affairs. In addition, there is correspondence with the publisher and a Korean illustrator concerning an article written by Hagerman entitled "Loyal Valorous Lord Yi," published in the U.S. Naval Institute Proceedings (December 1967).
Official citations reveal some of the many honors Hagerman received during his career, including heroism during World War II, as well as certificates of completion and letters of appreciation.
For related material see Oral History Interview, O.H. 112.
Gift of Captain George M. Hagerman, USN (Ret)
Processed by F. Cantelas, October 1989
Encoded by Apex Data Services
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