Technical Sergeant Carl D’Agnese, (1923 - 1962) was born at Swampscott, Massachusetts on 6 February, 1923, part of a large Italian family.  He attended both Ipswich and Lynn English High School where he excelled at football with his Brother, Felix.  He worked for the family construction business out of Swampscott, MA after graduation.  Both he and Felix played semi-pro football for the Scarlet Rockets of Lynn, MA.  He was paid $20.00 per game (about 1 days wages) but was so sore that he couldn’t go to work the following day.   Net loss - $20.00.

After enlisting in the Army Air Force, in October, 1942, he worked as an Instructor at Boca Raton, Florida.  After training in Radar, Radio, Air/Sea Rescue and Gunnery, he was assigned as part of a crew to ferry an OA-10A (the Coconut Queen) to the South Pacific Theatre. Arriving at Morotai, on 12 March 45, he and his entire crew were assigned to the 2nd ERS.  He (and crew) were reassigned with the 2nd to Zamboanga on 28 March 45.

Carl flew a total of 59 combat missions with the 2nd Emerngency.   His awards include the Air Medal w/3 Oak Leaf Clusters, WW II Victory Medal, American Campaign Medal, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal w/2 Bronze Stars and the Philippine Liberation Medal w/2 Bronze Stars.

After his discharge on November 20, 1945, he returned home to his Wife and infant child and continued working for the family construction business.   He operated his own Masonry contracting business during the late 1950s.  He and his Wife, Norma Jean, raised three sons.  Carl died on June 13, 1962 of inoperable cancer at age 39.  He is interred at the Swampscott Cemetery at Swampscott, MA. His grave is marked with a footstone noting his service with the 2nd ERS.

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