Patrick J. Regan WW1 Medal of Honor

The President of the United States
in the name of The Congress
takes pleasure in presenting the

Medal of Honor

to

REGAN, PATRICK

Rank and Organization: Second Lieutenant, U.S. Army, 115th Infantry, 29th Division. Pace and date: Bois-de-Consenvoye, France, 8 October 1918. Entered Service At: Los Angeles, Calif. Birth: Middleboro, Mass. G. O. No.: 50, W.D., 1919.

Citation:
While leading his platoon against a strong enemy machinegun nest which had held up the advance of 2 companies, 2d Lt. Regan divided his men into 3 groups, sending 1 group to either flank, and he himself attacking with an automatic rifle team from the front. Two of the team were killed outright, while 2d Lt. Regan and the third man were seriously wounded, the latter unable to advance. Although severely wounded, 2d Lt. Regan dashed with empty pistol into the machinegun nest, capturing 30 Austrian gunners and 4 machineguns. This gallant deed permitted the companies to advance, avoiding a terrific enemy fire. Despite his wounds, he continued to lead his platoon forward until ordered to the rear by his commanding officer.
A blue spruce is dedicated to Patrick J. Regan in the Middleboro Veterans Memorial Park as a living memorial. In addition, on September 17,1997 grade six students from the Rogers Middle School in Rockland planted a red maple in Lt. Regan's honor at the Shea Field Memorial Grove at the former US Naval Air Station in South Weymouth, Massachusetts.
In addition to the Medal of Honor, Lieutenant Regan also earned numerous other medals. They include: French Croix de Guerre, Legion of Honneur, Cuban Occupation medal, Phillipine Campaign medal, United Spanish War Veterans medal, Mexican Service medal, Purple Heart, Italy's War Cross, WW1 Victory medal with Battle Clasps.
.......................................RIGHTING A HISTORICAL WRONG ..................
.................Monday, May 27, 2002 Brockton Enterprise, by Mary Julius, Enterprise staff
MIDDLEBORO - Wounded, weak and armed with only an empty pistol, U.S. Army 2nd Lt. Patrick J. Regan of Middleboro dashed into a machine gun nest, capturing 30 Austrian gunners and four maching guns.
His selfless bravery during a battl in Bois de Consenvoye, France, on Oct. 8,1918, allowed his soldiers to advance and avoid enemy fire.
For his heroism, Regan was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor, the highest military award for bravery.
"His military record was phenomenal," said Robert N.Lessard of Middleboro.
Three years later, when the Medal of Honor was pinned on the flag-draped coffin of the Unkown Soldier of World War 1 at Arlington National Cemtery, Regan was chosen to serve as a pallbearer.
More than 80 years have passed since Regan valiantly served his country, but no until a special cceremony is held Wednesday at the former South Weymouth Naval Air Station will Regan finally receive the local recognition he deserves- thanks to countles hours of historical research by Lessard.
"We need a few more Bob Lessards, who take the time to ferret out information about our history and important facts about our past, and, bring them to our attention, " said Town Manager John F. Healey.
After months of poring over old records, Lessard discovered information on a plaque honoring Regan at Shea Field Memorial Grove at the air station mistakenly confused him with another Medal of Honor recipient- also named Patrick Regan, who enterd the service in New York and received an award for noncambat gallantry inChile in 1873.
"They had him in the wrong service," said Middleboro Veterans Agent Richard M. Bagdasarian. The John F. Glass Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 2188 in Middleboro has offered to pay for Regan's new plaque.
The error was made when th park was being built in 1997 and information for the plaques was lost. When the replacement information was sent from the National Headquarters of the Congressional Medal of Honor Society in South Carolina, it included the wrong Regan.
"There are fewer than 3500 Medal of Honor recipients in the history of the United States," Lessard said. "These people should be remembered."
A rededication ceremony for Regan's new plaque will be held at 2 p.m. Wednesday at Shea Field Memorial Grove. The bronze plaque, mounted on a granite stone, is one of 32 plaques for Medal of Honor recipients of Plymouth and Norfolk counties on display in the park.
..( Researched im 2002 and compiled for Centennial Celebration by Historian Bob Lessard 2014)