Page 27 - Senior Link Magazine Fall 2020- Online Magazine

ARMY AIR CORPS
WWII

MT. PLEASAN T

presumed all had died from machine gun fire while in Sergeant Ragain’s service and personal sacrifice were
the aircraft or had been strafed in the water ahead of commendable and typical of the members of the
him. Ten minutes later, a “greatest generation.” His
Japanese boat recovered memory lives on in his
Ragain who was severely children and grandchildren
burned on his face, chest, and in those who learn of
arm and leg. Sergeant his story.
Roger Ragain was the
lone survivor of the (Information for this story
Kalamity Kat, the last was provided from research
U.S. aircraft crew lost compiled by Lee D. Cary
to hostile action during and interviews with Dr.
World War II. Mike and Melanie Ragain.
Dr. Mike Ragain serves as
Ragain spent the the Chief Medical Officer at
night blindfolded and UMC Health Systems.)
chained to a stake. He
was interrogated and
transported by train to a
POW facility – Ofuna Interrogation Camp. At Ofuna,
his wounds were bandaged, but he received no other
medical treatment for his burns. Sergeant Ragain
later reported that a Bristish medic POW provided
treatment by capturing flies and applying them to
his festering burns. The flies laid eggs which became
maggots; the maggots ate his infected flesh. This was
the survivor’s only medical treatment, saving his life
until proper medical attention would be provided
at the end of the war. While the war against Japan
ended on August 15, 1945, it took over two weeks to
repatriate many Allied POWs in Japan. On August
30, Sergeant Ragain was evacuated aboard the U.S.S.
Benevolence. He returned to Mount Pleasant, Texas
after being discharged on February 9, 1946.
War-veteran Roger Ragain soon met and married Nell
Weaver. They had two daughters and later, a son.
Roger used the G.I. Bill to attend classes at Lee Junior
College, earning a business degree at East Texas State
University (now Texas A&M University – Commerce).
He worked in various capacities at Lone Star Steel
Company in east Texas. On February 23, 1967, Roger
Ragain left work early to be fitted for a tuxedo for his
oldest daughter’s wedding. Tragically, this war hero’s
life ended that day as he was struck and killed by a
drunk driver.

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