World War II Honoree

James N. Eagen

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

New York, New York

Honored By

Joe Feaster

Relationship

Fellow Veteran

MILITARY SERVICE INCLUDED SERVING IN THE U.S. ARMY FROM OCTOBER 15, 1940 TO OCTOBER 14, 1941, AND SERVING IN THE U.S. COAST GUARD AS AN APPRENTICE SEAMAN FROM JANUARY 6, 1942 TO MARCH 23, 1942. AFTER HONORABLE DISCHARGE FROM THE COAST GUARD, HE VOLUNTEERED IN THE U.S. ARMY AIR CORPS FOR DUTY IN WWII. ENLISTED IN THE ARMY AIR CORPS ON APRIL 6, 1942 AND WAS DISCHARGED FEBRUARY 12, 1945. ARRIVED IN THE EUROPEAN THEATER, STATIONED AT NORWICH, ENGLAND, FEBRUARY 1, 1944. RETURNED TO THE U.S. AUGUST 21, 1944. WHILE IN THE EUROPEAN THEATER, HE WAS A STAFF SERGEANT SERVING AS A TAIL GUNNER IN A B-24 LIBERATOR WITH THE 8TH AIR FORCE, 2ND AIR DIVISION, 456TH BOMB GROUP. HIS PLANE WAS THE 'FINAL APPROACH'. HE FLEW 31 HEAVY BOMBARDMENT SORTIES OVER ENEMY OCCUPIED CONTINENTAL EUROPE AND GERMANY FROM MARCH 21, 1944 TO JULY 31, 1944, INCLUDING TWO BOMBING MISSIONS ON D-DAY, FLYING INLAND FROM THE BEACHHEAD TO PREVENT GERMAN REINFORCEMENTS FROM ADVANCING TO THE BEACH AS THE ALLIED FORCES LANDED. RECEIVED THE BRONZE BATTLE STAR FOR AIR OFFENSIVE EUROPE, THE DISTINGUISHED FLYING CROSS WITH OAK LEAF CLUSTER AND NUMEROUS OTHER BATTLE RIBBONS AND COMMENDATIONS.