Francis Gene Gergen

Korean War
Service #496802
Unit53 FITRON
RankLieutenant Junior Grade U.S. Navy
Date of DeathFebruary 21 1952
StatusMissing In Action
Memorialized
Courts of the Missing
Court
8
Air Medal
Combat Action Ribbon (Navy)
Distinguished Flying Cross
Korean Service Medal
National Defense Service Medal
Purple Heart
Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation
Republic of Korea War Service Medal
United Nations Service Medal
For his leadership and valor, Lieutenant Gregen was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Air Medal with 2 Gold Stars, the Purple Heart, the Commendation Ribbon, the Combat Action Ribbon, the Korean Service Medal, the United Nations Service Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Korean Presidential Unit Citation and the Republic of Korea War Service Medal.
Notes
Lieutenant Gregen was the pilot of a F4U-4B Corsair fighter with Fighter Squadron 53, aboard the aircraft carrier USS ESSEX (CV-9). On February 21, 1952, he was escorting a flak damaged aircraft to Sokcho-ri Airfield (K-50), North Korea through a snowstorm, when he became disoriented and his aircraft suddenly swerved and crashed into the sea. His remains were not recovered. His name is inscribed on the Courts of the Missing at the Honolulu Memorial.