World War II Honoree
World War II Veteran
Charles Clement Harpin, Sr.
Branch of Service
U.S. Army Air Force
Hometown
Waterbury, Connecticut
Honored By
Son
AERIAL GUNNER ON A B-24, 8TH AIR FORCE, STATIONED IN ENGLAND. APRIL 12, 1944 ON HIS 13TH MISSION HE WAS SHOT DOWN OVER BELGIUM. HE BAILED OUT AND ELUDED CAPTURE FOR 2 WEEKS WITH THE HELP OF THE MARQUIS UNDERGROUND. AFTER HIS CAPTURE, HE WAS THEN TAKEN TO THE CITADEL IN LIEGE, BELGIUM. HE WAS HELD FOR 3 MONTHS, THEN TRANSFERRED BY TRAIN TO POLAND, WHERE HE WAS INTERNED AT STALAG LUFT 4. HE WAS THERE FOR 1 YEAR AND THEN WENT ON THE 680 MILE DEATH MARCH THROUGH GERMANY. HE WAS LIBERATED BY AMERICAN TROOPS AT THE ELBE RIVER IN MAY 1945.