Eugene Francis Langan was born July 24, 1917 in St. Louis, Missouri and died September 9, 1967 at the young age 50. He first served in the Missouri National Guard in St. Louis from 1937 to 1939. He volunteered with the Royal Canadian Air Force, enlisting January 7, 1940 at Windsor, Ontario. After training, he was stationed at Yatesbury Airfield in England from March 1941 until September, 1941. He was then attached to the 115th Fighter Squadron when he went back to Patricia Bay on the west coast of Canada. He was awarded the Canadian Wireless-Air Gunners badge. He had various assignments in Canada and he advanced to Tech. Sgt., serving through May 16, 1942 when he was discharged to enlist in the Marines that same date at Belleville, Ontario, Canada. From there went to Parris Island for training.
Captain Langan's entire Canadian and American service record accompanies the group including copies if his award cards. Langan's Service Record shows that he started his Marine career as a Master Sergeant in September 1942 in VMSB 141 as a radio-gunner. He was appointed Second Lieutenant on July 7, 1943 and in August of 1943 was assigned as a ground officer in VMSB 141 then located in the Solomon Islands. On September 30, VMSB 141 was detached to the Marine Fleet Air, West Coast. He then transferred to VMSB 132 as Squadron officer. He was transfered to el Toro, California with VMSB 132 in November, 1943. He became Assistant Group Intelligence Officer in February, 1943 and then transferred to VMSB 234. He stayed stateside until August, 1945, having been promoted to First Lieutenant on December 1, 1944. He continued his career stateside in various billets until November, 1948, when he was transferred to Tsingtao, China, and later Shanghai, and then Guam in April, 1949. His service continued through the Korean conflict and until June 30, 1956, when he finished his last assignment in C Co., HqBn, HQMC, Washinton, DC.
The group includes five ribbon bars, two mounted bars of medals, sterling 1/20 10k gold filled pinback aircrew wing with 3 stars, and 3 cloth Canadian badges including Wireless-Air Gunner badge. The medals on the first bar are Navy Distinguished Flying Cross, Bronze Star with Combat V, Navy Air Medal with 3 gold stars, 1945 named and dated Marine Corps Good Conduct, Navy Asiatic Pacific campaign with 3 stars, American Campaign, and WW2 Victory. The medals on the second bar are Navy Occupation with Asia bar, China Service, National Defense, Korean Service with 4 bronze stars, Canadian Voluntary Service Medal with overseas bar, Canadian War Medal, and UN Korea medal. In addition, Langan received the Korean Presidential Unit Citation. His Service in Korea was with the 7th Marines and 5th Marines. His Bronze Star was awarded for service with the 5th Marines in Korea. Langan is listed as a DFC recipient in Blakeney's Heroes of the US Marine Corps on page 309. Langan's DFC and Air Medals were awarded for service in WW2.
