Tech 5 Philip Louis Dagen was born in Twin Lakes, Michigan on October 18, 1909, the son of Hubert Douglas Dagen (1870-1931) and Anna Belle Wilson (1886-1961). He was the third child of nine born to his parents who married in 1903. His father supported his family in a variety of jobs before moving to Pineville in Escambia County, Florida in or before 1920. His father would pass away in 1931 leaving Anna to take care of their large family. By 1940, they were living at RFD #1, Box 276 in Barrineau Park, north of Cantonment. Here, Philip was working as a laborer on road construction for the WPA (Works Project Administration). This program was a governmental attempt to put men back to work during the Great Depression and included the construction of public buildings and roads.
At some point in time, Philip enlisted (or drafted) in the US Army and was assigned to the 7th Infantry Division stationed at Fort Ord, California. The division had been reactivated on July 1, 1940 and many of the division's early soldiers had been inducted during our peacetime draft program. At the beginning of the war, the division's main mission was in construction and training roles. On April 9, 1942, the division was redesignated the 7th Motorized Division and began training in the Mojave Desert in preparation for a predicted move to the African theater. But by January 1, 1943, it was again redesignated as the 7th Infantry Division of light infantry.
However, two weeks earlier Cpl. Philip Louis Dagen was killed or died on December 17, 1942 at Fort Ord, CA. His death was designated a "DNB" which meant "died non battle" and encompassed any line-of-duty death from sickness, homicide, or accidents i.e. training or maneuvers outside combat areas. The information on this is very sketchy and perhaps a family member can clarify. Nevertheless he died serving his country and his remains were returned to Pensacola and buried in the Lathram Church Cemetery.
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