"Because several players will have to leave for compulsory Naval Science cruises on June 18, the third Harvard-Yale baseball game, originally schedule for June 20 (1941), has been called off. The Crimson players involved include: third baseman Gilbert F. Whittemore '42, catcher Robert F. Regan '41, and Sophomore outfielders Fred S. Troy, Jr. and Robert S. Potter."
My uncle Rob was the starting catcher for the Harvard baseball team in 1941. Not bad for the son of a Gaelic speaking farm girl from Lisdoonvarna (Honoragh Lafferty) and a trolley car conductor from Cork (Tim Regan). Jack and Joe Kennedy sat behind my grandmother at baseball games and shouted encouragement for "Shanty" Regan. No one seemed to mind nicknames back then. Joe Kennedy was Uncle Rob's inspiration for going Naval Aviation: "If that bum Joe Kennedy can be a pilot, so can I."
Uncle Rob was assigned to VC-38 a squadron of TBF torpedo planes that fought in the Solomons Campaign. My mother called the torpedo planes "Ensign Eliminators", a well-earned nickname due to their heavy losses during the Pacific war. At Midway in June of 1942, VT-8's entire complement of TBDs and TBFs was wiped out during their repeated desperate attacks on the Japanese fleet.
For valor during many World War II battles, including the raids on the heavily defended Japanese naval bases at Rabaul and Kure, the son of Irish Catholic immigrants was awarded the Navy Cross, the Silver Star, the Bronze Star and the Distinguished Flying Cross (three times).
After the war, Rob became one of the Navy's first jet test pilots and finished his career as the commander of Naval Air Station Corpus Christi.
* * * * *
REGAN, ROBERT F.
 |
| INJ Tone under attack at Kure |
The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross [America's second highest award for combat valor ] to Lieutenant Robert F. Regan (NSN: 0-106999), United States Naval Reserve, for extraordinary heroism in operations against the enemy while serving as Pilot of a carrier-based Torpedo Plane in Carrier Air Group THIRTY (CAG-30), while leading a flight of torpedo bombers in a bombing attack on major combatant units of the Japanese Fleet in Kure Harbor, on 19 March 1945. Lieutenant Regan skillfully and courageously selected the best point of attack and pressed home his own bombing run to a very low altitude despite intense anti-aircraft fire scoring two direct hits on a heavy cruiser [sinking IJN Tone, whose aircraft had participated in the attack on Pearl Harbor]. His courageous and skilled tactics set the pace for the remaining attacking planes resulting in heavy losses to the enemy vessels. His outstanding courage and determined skill were at all times inspiring and in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.
[It was during the Kure raid that Holy Cross College professor Joseph O'Callaghan, SJ., displayed valor meriting the Congressional Medal of Honor when USS Franklin was struck by a devastating attack from Japanese bombers and nearly sunk]
The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Lieutenant Robert F. Regan (NSN: 0-106999), United States Naval Reserve, for gallantry and intrepidity in operations against the enemy while serving as Pilot of a carrier-based Torpedo Plane in Carrier Air Group THIRTY (CAG-30), while participating in an aerial flight as leader of a squadron of torpedo bombers in an attack upon an enemy convoy in the East China Sea, on 24 March 1945. As a result of careful planning of the attack of his squadron, the planes in his flight scored several torpedo and bomb hits on enemy ships. He personally scored a direct hit with his torpedo on a large enemy cargo vessel which exploded and sank. As a result of his and other attacks the entire convoy was destroyed. His courage, determination and devotion to duty in the execution of this mission were at all times in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.
