Robert McGowan Wagner
Rank: Private, U.S. Marine Corps
Serial: XC3099452
Unit: Unit 450, 5th Marines, 1st Marine Division
Entered service from: New Jersey
Died:
Burial: Beverly National Cemetery, Beverly, NJ
Awards: Purple Heart, Asiatic-Pacific Theater Ribbon
Introduction
Private Robert McGowan Wagner was born in California on August 19, 1920. He lived most of his life in Berlin, NJ, where he attended local elementary schools and sang in the church choir of the Berlin Baptist Church. After graduating from Haddonfield Memorial High School in Haddonfield, NJ, he took a job at a hosiery mill in Palmyra, NJ.
Private Wagner enlisted in the Marine Corps at Philadelphia in January of 1942. He trained at Parris Island, SC; Quantico, VA; and New River, NC, before leaving the United States in March of 1942 — never having had a furlough. He served with Unit 450, 5th Marines, 1st Marine Division. He participated in the invasion on August 7th, 1942, of Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands, which was the first land offensive against the Japanese. During an aerial bombing attack, in the presence of John Everett Martin, Jr. of Berlin, NJ, he was killed on October 8th, 1942, and interred in the U.S. Cemetery there. He was entitled to wear the Asiatic-Pacific Theater Ribbon and was awarded posthumously the Purple Heart Medal.
Robert Wagner was brought home to New Jersey after the war. He was buried at Beverly National Cemetery on March 13, 1948.
Military Funeral For R.M. Wagner
Camden Courier-Post —
MILITARY FUNERAL FOR R.M. WAGNER
Three organizations will conduct military rites for Pvt. Robert M. Wagner, of the Marine Corps, at services Saturday at 11 a. m. in the Berlin Baptist Church. Burial will be in the U. S. National cemetery, Beverly.
Organizations taking part will be Wagner Monzo post 311, Atco; George R. Duncan post 271, Berlin; both American Legion, and Garrison 1921, Army & Navy Union, Atco.
Private Wagner, formerly of East Front street, Atco, was 21 when killed by Japanese machine-gun fire Oct. 8, 1942, on Guadalcanal.
Born in California, he spent most of his life in Berlin where he attended elementary schools. He was graduated from Haddonfield High school. Before entering the Marine corps in January, 1942, he worked at a hosiery mill in Palmyra. He was a member of Berlin Baptist Church choir.
Surviving are his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Sontos, Atco; two brothers, James Wagner, and Harry Sontos, both Atco; a half-brother, S/Sc. Navy, Joseph Sontos, Atco; an aunt, Mrs. Mary Zack, Detroit, and Mrs. Elsie Churchill, Atco.