Lt. Col. Robert D. "Bob" Hagen

Lt. Col Robert D. "Bob" Hagen September 24, 1954 - August 18, 2009 HENDERSON, NEV. - Lt. Col. Bob Hagen, 54, of Henderson, Nevada, died August 18 at Nathan Adelson Hospice from complications after a year battling lung and brain cancer. Bob was born on September 24, 1954 in Salem, Ore. one of eight children of the late Vince, Sr. and Ruth Hagen. Following graduation from McNary High School in Salem in 1973, he attended the University of Oregon. Later he graduated from Thomas Edison State College in Trenton, N.J. with a degree in Journalism. Bob earned his Eagle Scout in 1970 at the age of 15 and later was selected to work on the National Junior Leader Instructors Training Staff at Philmont Scout Ranch in Cimarron, N.M. Later, in 1979 he enlisted in the Army as a private first class and one year later was selected to attend Officers Candidate School at Ft. Benning, Ga. when he was commissioned a second lieutenant in the field artillery. Later he was selected as a public affairs officer for senior Defense staff including the Secretary of Defense, the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the Secretary of the Army, all with assignments to the Pentagon in Washington, D.C. He also served in public affairs while assigned to the 50th Anniversary of World War II, 50th Anniversary of the Korean War, 50th Anniversary of NATO and the Pentagon, 60th Anniversary of WWII and the 60th Anniversary of the Korean War. On September 11, 2001, he was stationed in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia as public affairs officer for the U.S. Central Command under the leadership of GEN Tommy Franks. In 2005, he was sent to the Gulf Coast as public affairs officer for the Task Force Katrina commander. At the time of his death, Lt. Col. Hagen had served over 29 years of Active Duty, Oregon National Guard and the Army Reserve, --where he was still serving at the time of his death-- and has been awarded more than 18 awards and decorations for his service; the highest being the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, from the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. He also served as protocol and escort officer for the National Memorial Day Concerts and the Nation's Fourth of July Concerts held annually in Washington, D.C. for senior defense officials and Members of Congress. Lt. Col. Hagen was a Life Member of the National Eagle Scout Association, the American Legion, the Veterans of Foreign Wars, American Veterans (AMVETS), Military Officers Association of America (MOAA), Reserve Officers Association and Association of the United States Army. His brothers and sisters and their spouses include: Vince E. Hagen, Jr. and wife Donna of Chambersburg, Pa.; Terry Saddler and her husband Bill of Las Vegas, Nev.; Larry Hagen, Aspen, Colo.; Steve Hagen of Independence, Ore.; Patty Higlin and her husband Will of Salem; Karleen Saddler of Salem; and brother Frank and his wife Brenda of Keizer, Ore. Lt. Col Hagen is survived by his wife of 32 years, Sharon (Gall); daughter, Amanda Recker and her husband Jason and their children Nicholas, Madison, Olivia and Avery, and Matthew Hagen, all of Henderson, Nev. A Memorial Service will be held at 11 a.m. on September 5, 11:00 a.m. at Howell-Edwards-Doerksen Funeral Home in Salem, Oregon. A private interment will be held at Willamette National Cemetery, Portland, Oregon, at a later date. In lieu of flowers, please consider contributing to the Disabled Veterans of America. Online condolences at www.hedfh.com.