Obituary of Eugene C. Drogos (Gene)

Eugene C. Drogos (Gene) passed away peacefully on January 29^th, 2021 at UNC hospitals, after a lengthy illness.

 Gene enlisted twice in the United States Navy first in 1942, where he attended Radio (RCK) School in New York City. He received his first orders to the Naval Air Station in Weeksville NC, near Elizabeth City in the LTA Squadron ZP-14. This was one of only 14 Blimp squadrons in the Navy.  He was deployed to the Mediterranean in 1944 and was a part of the only blimp squadron assigned to an overseas war zone. He arrived in Casablanca on June 6^th, 1944 as the D-Day invasion forces began the fight to liberate Europe. He went on to be stationed at Port Lyautey, Morocco. This territory was captured by the US Navy in 1942 from the Vichy French at the time of the American invasion of North Africa. He flew in night patrols of the Gibraltar Straits hunting submarines while avoiding detection from German aircraft. He worked as a Radio Operator, Radar, and Magnetic Airborne Detection Operator.  He had detachments all over the Mediterranean, including Sardinia, Venice, Malta and southern France. He returned to New York on January 1^st, 1946.

He separated from the Navy in 1946 to marry to his wife a Navy Nurse, Evelyn Louise Hux on July 16^th 1946 and they remained married for over 74 years. Together they had 5 children, Mary Drogos Marchman (Phillip) Raleigh NC, Mark Drogos (Linda) of Durham, NC . He enjoyed spending time with his 10 Grandchildren and 10 Great Grandchildren. Gene is preceded in death by one daughter Helen Drogos, two of his sons, John Drogos and Richard Drogos.

After two years of civilian life, he reentered the Navy in 1948, awaiting orders in Norfolk Va. He was assigned to Patrol Squadron one in San Diego as a radioman on the Lockheed Neptune Medium Bomber, his homeport was Whidby Island, Washington.

His squadron performed mine sweeps and reconnaissance duties over the Aleutian Islands. In 1951 he transferred to Squadron nine (Liberator Bombers) and was deployed to Okinawa where he flew reconnaissance missions off the China coast. He also served in Seoul, Korea as a radioman and gunner, where his mission was to light up targets for the marine air wings to neutralize. They were attacked during one of their night missions but made it safely back to base. He retuned to shore duty from 1954 to 1956.

He participated in Operation Red Wing, the testing of atom and hydrogen bombs in Bikini Atoll in 1956. He received orders to Electronics School in Memphis TN, where was hospitalized from February 1957 to January 1958, he received a medical discharge form the US Navy.

He graduated from UNC in 1962, with a degree in Radio and Motion pictures. He was one of the cameramen filming when President John F. Kennedy addressed the University Graduates that year. He worked for UNC TV for many years, before joining the University Of North Carolina General Administration where he worked until he retired.

Gene joined St. Thomas More Church in 1958; he was very active in the church serving as a Founding Father of the Knights of Columbus, Council 10910. He received the Knight of Year Award numerous times and also served as a trustee for both the Council and the Assembly for the Knights. He was a Founding Father of the Saint Thomas More Men’s Club. He also served faithfully as a Eucharistic Minister. There was no job too large or two small for his beloved church. He and his wife Louise were instrumental in helping to found the Saint Thomas More School. Gene was also a longtime member of American Legion, Post 6 in Chapel Hill and he and his wife both have been recognized as Hometown Heroes by WCHL.

In 2004, Gene was awarded the Order of the Long Leaf Pine, which is the highest award presented by the Governor of North Carolina for a record of proven service in the recipients state and community.

The family would like to extend their very sincere gratitude the MPCU team at UNC Hospitals, for the exceptional care that he and his family received from them during a very difficult time.

In lieu of flowers donations can be made to:

Knights of Columbus

Paul J. Tragesser Council 10910

 C/O

James Davisson

220 Brier Summit Pl 

Durham,  NC 27703

Chapel Hill NC.

Dad May you have fair winds and following seas!

The link for the funeral mass is

https://youtu.be/44U7vmuWFE4

Walker’s Funeral Home in Chapel Hill is assisting the family.