PFC Bert Shegan

courtesy of Rob and Debi Felten

PFC Bert Shegan was born 8 Oct 1906 in McKeesport, Pennsylvania. He was the oldest of the 6 children born to Joseph and Andja (Yunovich) Shegan. Both parents were natives of Yugoslavia. His father had immigrated in 1902. By 1930 Joseph was working as an inspector in a pipe mill and Bert was driving for a grocery store. One sister was working as a packer for a Crown Chocolate Company and a brother was also working as a driver for a grocery. Bert married Daisy Belle Nolder before 1940 and also began working in a steel mill. The couple was living at 649 Monongahela Avenue in Glassport, Pennsylvania which they rented for $29 a month. Daisy was also working at a mill and together the couple reported a 1939 income of $1500. Bert registered for the draft in October 1940.

Bert was drafted in August 1943. After his basic military training he was sent to the European theater, probably in July 1944. PFC Shegan was transferred from the replacement depot to G Company 116th Infantry on 11 Aug 1944. He then fought with the unit in the effort to liberate Brest and as the unit pushed into Germany in the vicinity of Aachen, Germany. He was killed in action on 17 Oct 1944.

PFC Shegan was repatriated and re-interred in the Mount Vernon Cemetery in Elizabeth, Pennsylvania.

Bert's brothers also served their community and country. Michael Milan Shegan was a policeman in McKeesport for many years. David Joseph Shegan served as a CPL in 652nd Engineer Battalion during WW2. Rudy Joseph Shegan served as a CPL in the United States Marine Corps during the war.