Rosemary Hogan Luciano
Colonel, U.S. Air Force

Rosemary Hogan was born on 13 March 1912 in Walters, OK.

Hogan entered service with the U.S. Army on 1 August 1936 at Fort Sill, OK, and served there until 1940. She landed on the Philippine Islands in December 1941, shortly before the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor. On Christmas Eve of 1941, along with 25 U.S. Army nurses and 25 Filipino nurses, she was sent to the Bataan Peninsula in order to set up a 1000-bed hospital. Hogan served as Assistant Chief of Nurses until she was wounded April 1942 when she and another nurse were assisting a surgeon while under attack. Hogan was badly wounded and Hospital #1 at Bataan was destroyed.

Taken prisoner by the Japanese, she survived the ordeal of being a POW for three years. Hogan was among the first four women to attain the rank of full Colonel. She married Air Force Major Arnold Luciano and, after retirement, they made their home in San Antonio, TX.

Hogan was known as one of the "Angels of Bataan" for her acts of courage and service to others during the war and while a Japanese prisoner of war.

Medals and Awards

Bronze Star Medal
Purple Heart
Presidential Citation (3 Awards)
American Defense Medal
Asiatic-Pacific Medal
Pre-Pearl Harbor Medal
Philippine Liberation Medal
Overseas Stripes (6)

Death and Burial

Colonel Rosemary Hogan Luciano died on 24 June 1964. She is buried at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, VA.