World War II Honoree

Louis V. Girard

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

West, Texas

Honored By

John, Rick, Doug, Jim & Barbara

Relationship

Nephews & Niece

FEBRUARY 1941, JOINED THE ROYAL CANADIAN AIR FORCE. DECEMBER 1941, TRANSFERRED TO ENGLAND AS A FLYING SERGEANT. FLEW BEAU FIGHTERS IN THE BATTLE OF BRITAIN. SEPTEMBER 1942, COMMISSIONED 2ND LIEUTENANT IN THE U.S. ARMY AIR CORPS. LATER PROMOTED TO 1ST LIEUTENANT. ASSIGNED TO FLY B-24 BOMBERS WITH 8TH AIR FORCE. FLEW NUMEROUS MISSIONS TO GERMANY. SUMMER 1943, ASSIGNED TO 68TH BOMBER SQUADRON, 44TH BOMBER GROUP (HEAVY), 9TH AIR FORCE. SENT TO NORTH AFRICA TO TAKE PART IN OPERATION TIDAL WAVE, THE BOMBING OF THE OIL REFINERIES IN PLOESTI, RUMANIA ON AUGUST 1, 1943. WAS LISTED AS KILLED IN ACTION. AWARDS INCLUDE THE DISTINGUISHED FLYING CROSS AND AIR MEDAL WITH 2 OAK LEAF CLUSTERS. POSTHUMOUSLY AWARDED THE PURPLE HEART . INTERRED AT THE FLORENCE AMERICAN CEMETERY IN VIA CASSIA, ITALY; LISTED AS UNKNOWN.