Bernie Regan joined the “Enlisted Reserve” in 1942, awaiting orders to report for active duty. He graduated from college, then took a job at General Motors machine gun plant. In May, he reported for military duty, graduating as a pilot in April 1943.
It was June 6, 1943, D-Day and Lt. Regan was now a member of the 391st. He and his flight crew flew a B26 bomber just minutes before 6:00 am to the target of Omaha Beach, northern France. The next mission was to bomb the submarine pens in Brest, France. Then a gasoline storage area at the edge of Paris, all in the effort to defeat Hitler’s war machine. He flew 65 missions in France and Germany.
Lt. Regan was married to Kathleen Rohde in 1944, a marriage that lasted over 77 years. His amazing wife Kay, worked in a factory during the war. They lived many places, Laredo, Tx., California, Japan, Massachusetts, Michigan, Florida, and Washington, DC. They raised two sons. Kay passed in 2021.
Regan earned a Law degree in 1954 from McGeorge College of Law. When he returned to Michigan (his home state) he taught college at Michigan State University. In 1962, he was stationed at Otis AFB, Air Defense Command at Cape Cod Mass., then Eglin AFB in Ft. Walton Beach, Fla. In 1966, Lt. Col. Regan also was in Saigon, Viet Nam as US military Assistance Command. Finally, he served at the Pentagon as a Staff Officer in Deputy Chief of Staff, Chief of Legislative Matters for Personnel.
Lt. Col Bernard Regan retired in 1973 and moved back to Ft. Walton Beach, Fl.
Bernie's 102nd birthday is November 8th. His son is collecting the cards. To ensure they get there in time, please put your cards in the mail on or before November 1. Here's the address:
Mike Regan
318 Snapper Dr.
Destin, Fl. 32541
attn: Bernie Regan
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