William E Hagan was the son of Mabel and William C Hagen of 159 4th Street Renovo, PA. He was born on March 28, 1926. He had a sister Betty Jane Hagen, who served as a nurse in WWII. He was aboard the flight deck of the USS Hornet Aircraft Carrier (CV12) who was killed in the Battle of the Philippines in the South Pacific on December 23, 1944. At the time of his death, he was only 18 years old, having enlisted at the age of 17. S2c Hagen was attempting to secure a plane that was coming to land on deck. The pilot was injured, and the plane was damaged. As the plane came in for a landing, the pilot was told not to land on deck, William was swept off the deck as he attempted to secure the plane. According to military records, the USS Swenson (DD-729) and planes tried to locate the missing sailor but to no avail. Rumor had it that he had a life vest and was still alive when he was swept off the deck and that there was no attempt to retrieve him.