World War II Honoree

Chester O. Coggin

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

Flora, Illinois

Honored By

Robert Medley Gatewood

INDUCTED ON FEBRUARY 3, 1942. TRAINED AS AN AERIAL PHOTOGRAPHER AND ASSIGNED TO THE 361ST BOMB SQUADRON, 90TH BOMB GROUP FLYING B-24 LIBERATOR HEAVY BOMBERS. DEPARTED THE CONTINENTAL U.S. ON SEPTEMBER 4, 1942 BOUND FOR HAWAII FOR ADDITIONAL TRAINING AND THEN ON TO AUSTRALIA AND NEW GUINEA, WHERE HIS UNIT JOINED THE 5TH AIR FORCE OPERATING IN THE ASIATIC-PACIFIC THEATER. CORPORAL COGGIN WAS KILLED IN ACTION DURING A COMBAT MISSION ON APRIL 30, 1943. EARNED THE PURPLE HEART MEDAL AND WAS OTHERWISE ELIGIBLE POSTHUMOUSLY FOR THE AMERICAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, THE ASIATIC-PACIFIC CAMPAIGN MEDAL, AND THE WWII VICTORY MEDAL. HONORED AT THE WWII MEMORIAL IN FLORA, ILLINOIS.