World War II Honoree

Donald W. Eckwall

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

Elmhurst, Illinois

Honored By

Loraine Eckwall

Relationship

Wife

STAFF SERGEANT, 2ND AERIAL FLIGHT ENGINEER, WAIST GUNNER ON B-24 LIBERATOR 4-ENGINE HEAVY BOMBER; 15TH AIR FORCE, ITALY, 454TH BOMB GROUP, 738TH BOMB SQUADRON. FLEW 16 COMBAT MISSIONS OVER THE EUROPEAN THEATRE OUT OF ITALY WITH BATTLE STARS FOR CAMPAIGNS OF NAPLES-FOGGIA, ROME-ARNO, SOUTHERN ITALY, NORTHERN ITALY, GERMANY, BALKANS, HUNGARY, AUSTRIA AND PO VALLEY. AWARDED AIR MEDAL WITH TWO OAK LEAF CLUSTERS, GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL, AMERICAN THEATER MEDAL, WWII VICTORY MEDAL, ARMY OF OCCUPATION GERMANY AND PRESIDENTIAL UNIT CITATION WITH TWO OAK LEAF CLUSTERS FOR THE DESTRUCTION OF HERMAN GOERING STEEL WORKS IN LENZ, AUSTRIA, DESTRUCTION OF MESSERSCHMITT AIRCRAFT FACTORY IN BAD VOESLAU, AUSTRIA. CERTIFICATE OF RECOGNITION COLD WAR VICTORY, BERLIN. CERTIFICATE OF APPRECIATION FROM THE FRENCH GOVERNMENT FOR PARTICIPATING IN THE AIR WAR OVER FRANCE 1944-1945. RECEIVED AN HONORABLE DISCHARGE (WITH THE 'RUPTURED DUCK' LAPEL PIN) IN 1945.