World War II Honoree

Edward R. Pehrson

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

Ludington, Michigan

Honored By

Eric R. Pehrson

Relationship

Grandson

SERVED IN THE 9TH ALLIED AIR FORCE WITH THE 431ST FIGHTER CONTROL SQUADRON FROM DECEMBER 1942 UNTIL DEMOBILIZATION IN AUGUST 1945. SPENT BASIC TRAINING IN NEW JERSEY AND WENT TO SCHOOL AT LOUISIANA STATE UNIVERSITY. SPENT ONE YEAR AND SEVEN MONTHS OVERSEAS. HIS UNIT WAS ACTIVE IN NORMANDY, NORTHERN FRANCE, THE ARDENNES, RHINELAND AND CENTRAL EUROPE. THERE HE ROSE TO THE RANK OF STAFF SERGEANT AND SERVED HIS COUNTY WITH DISTINCTION EARNING A SILVER BATTLE STAR AND THREE OVERSEAS SERVICE BARS. AFTER SERVICE IN THE EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS HE WAS ON A TRANSPORT HEADED TOWARDS THE PACIFIC. JUST BEFORE REACHING THE PANAMA CANAL THE ATOMIC BOMBS WERE DROPPED AND THE WAR ENDED.