Bernard Elwood Hagerman

Bernard Hagerman, passed away on August 4th, 2017. Born March 8,1920 in Chesapeake Ohio to James and Mabel Hagerman. Bernard joined the Civil Conservation Core in the late 30s in Utah, building roads and bridges. He came home to marry Mary Nichols together they had 2 sons Douglas ( deceased) army recruiting officer and Norman (deceased) Vietnam vet and a daughter Barbara Ransbottom currently in Okatie SC . In 1943, Bernard enlisted in the US Army and was sent to the South Pacific Guadal Canal on the USS Serpens on January 28th,1945 he was transferred off the USS SERPENS. The following day the ship exploded killing most of the men on board. Bernard went then to The Phillipines (CEBU) and was awarded the Asiatic Pacific Theater Ribbon with One Bronze Star, numerous other ribbons and a World War ll Victory Metal he was discharged Dec.29,1943. Upon returning home, Bernard and Mary divorced. In 1954 Bernard moved to Marion, Ohio. He met and married Martha Lee Hamm in 1955 and worked at Pollak - Armco Steel where he retired after 27 years. He was a member at Big Branch Methodist Church in Chesapeake, Ohio. Martha Lee and Bernard celebrated 53 years of marriage before her sudden death. Bernard lost his Brother Norman and Sister Maxine but still living are siblings Dorothy, Linda and Jim Hagerman. In 2012 he moved to Greer, SC to be loved and cared for by his granddaughter, Tina and Ken McCormick. In May of this year they went to Washington DC on a life changing trip where he was honored by hundreds of individuals for his time in WWII. At Arlington National Cemetery he became a voice in History as he gave his one on one account at the USS SERPENS disaster with captive audiences Bernard wept as he remembered fallen soldiers who died that day. During that visit he met a Historian Perry McLead who later traveled to Greer, SC to interview Bernard for WWII history archives. Bernards health began to rapidly deteriorate after that trip confining him to his home. No longer able to get on his John Deere and mow, his time was filled with being spoiled by Tina and Ken, baseball baseball and more baseball, wheel of fortune and enjoying his visits from Nancy and Carrie from Interim Hospice where he was given hugs and I love you's a plenty. On Friday morning, Bernard heard the message of grace and that evening received it as he went home to be with our Lord and all our family.
Tina McCormick