World War II Honoree

Robert H. Chapin

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

Sheldon, Iowa

Honored By

Gary Myers

Relationship

Nephew

2ND LIEUTENANT. AGE 22, LOST HIS LIFE OCTOBER 29, 1943 AT DOBODURA, NEW GUINEA. HE JOINED COMPANY I, 1939 AND WAS IN THE MIDDLE OF HIS SOPHOMORE YEAR AT SHELDON JUNIOR COLLEGE, WHEN THE COMPANY LEFT FOR CAMP CLAIBORNE. WHILE ATTENDING COLLEGE HE WORKED AS A SPORTS WRITER FOR THE SHELDON MAIL, SO WHILE HE WAS AT CAMP CLAIBORNE HE WAS THE SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT FOR THE LOCAL NEWSPAPER. AFTER BEING TRANSFERRED OUT OF THE INFANTRY WHILE THE COMPANY WAS AT FORT DIX, WAS COMMISSIONED A PILOT IN THE ARMY AIR CORPS AND WENT TO THE PACIFIC THEATER AS A PILOT OF A B-25 MITCHELL BOMBER FOR THE 90TH BOMB SQUADRON, 3RD BOMB GROUP, 5TH AIR FORCE. HE COMPLETED 8 BOMBING MISSIONS BEFORE LOSING HIS LIFE IN NEW GUINEA.