John B. Wogan

John Beugnot Wogan
Born	(1890-01-01)January 1, 1890 New Orleans, Louisiana
Died	September 30, 1968(1968-09-30) (aged 78) Asheville, North Carolina
Allegiance	United States of America
Service / branch	United States Army
Years of service	1915–1946
Rank	Major general
Commands	13th Armored Division
Battles / wars	World War I World War II
Awards	Distinguished Service Medal Silver Star Legion of Merit Purple Heart

John Beugnot Wogan (January 1, 1890 – September 30, 1968) was a decorated United States Army officer with the rank of Major General. He is most noted for his leadership of the 13th Armored Division for the most of World War II.

Biography

John B. Wogan was born on January 1, 1890 in New Orleans, Louisiana. He graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York in 1915 as a part of The class the stars fell on. His classmates were for example Dwight D. Eisenhower, Omar N. Bradley, James Van Fleet or Stafford LeRoy Irwin. All big future generals of World War II.

He was commissioned a Second lieutenant of Coastal Artillery and his first service assignment was at Fort H. G. Wright during years 1915-1916.

Fluent in both French and English (parents were from old New Orleans French lineage), Wogan spent extensive time in France as a staff translator for the Army of Occupation after World War 1.

In 1931, Wogan was posted to Panama as a major of Pack Artillery, and oversaw the first ever aerial deployment of artillery, using army aircraft to transport artillery from one side of the Panama Canal to the other.

In 1939, Wogan transferred service branches once again, this time to the Armored Corps. He eventually rose in rank to Major General, commanding the 13th Armored division from 1942 to 1945. In the last days of World War 2, Wogan fought a desperate German offensive in the Ruhr Pocket, where he was severely wounded by German rifle fire. He was forced to medically retire as a result of these wounds after a lengthy convalescence in military hospitals.

Wogan retired to his wife's hometown of Asheville, North Carolina, where he spent the remainder of his life as the director of the Veteran's Hospital there. He was active in civic causes until his death in 1968.

Decorations

	Army Distinguished Service Medal
	Silver Star
	Legion of Merit
	Purple Heart
	Mexican Border Service Medal
	World War I Victory Medal
	American Defense Service Medal
	American Campaign Medal
	European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with four Service Stars
	World War II Victory Medal