World War II Honoree

Joseph Horace Cornell

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

Elmira, New York

Honored By

Sheri Breeze

Relationship

Granddaughter

SERVED AS A STAFF SERGEANT FROM 1942 TO 1945. AFTER ALLIED TROOPS DESCENDED ON GERMANY, HIS B-24 BOMBER CREW WAS SENT ON A FRONT LINE ASSAULT AND SUPPORT MISSION. HE FLEW OVER ITALY, GERMANY, AUSTRIA, POLAND, HUNGARY AND YUGOSLAVIA IN 20 MISSIONS. HE MADE MANY FLIGHTS AND THEIR AIRCRAFT FACED HEAVY ANTI-AIRCRAFT FIRE IN THE SORTIE, TAKING OVER 300 ROUNDS. HE TOOK A ROUND IN THE FACE IN HIS POSITION AS TAIL GUNNER. DESPITE THE ATTACK AND SEVERE DAMAGE TO THE PLANE, THE CREW WAS ABLE TO SALVAGE THE MISSION AND RETURN TO THEIR BASE OF OPERATIONS. WAS AWARDED THE PURPLE HEART, 2 AIR MEDALS, A GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL, 3 PRESIDENTIAL CITATIONS AND A VICTORY MEDAL.