World War II Honoree

Walter A. Golec

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

Detroit, Michigan

Honored By

Genevieve S. Golec & Diane

Relationship

Wife & Daughter

SERVED AS A B-24 'LIBERATOR' BOMBER TOP TURRET GUNNER AND RADIO OPERATOR IN THE MEDITERRANEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS WHERE HE FLEW 35 COMBAT MISSIONS FOR A TOTAL OF 304 COMBAT HOURS. ASSIGNED TO THE 9TH AIR FORCE, 98TH ‘PYRAMIDIERS’ BOMB GROUP, 344TH BOMB SQUADRON, BENGHAZI, LIBYA. HIS BATTLES AND CAMPAIGNS WERE ‘OPERATION TIDAL WAVE’, THE FAMOUS LOW LEVEL RAID ON THE RUMANIAN PLOESTI OILFIELDS AND REFINERIES, SUNDAY, AUGUST 1, 1943. THE TUNISIA (NORTH AFRICAN) CAMPAIGN, INVASION OF SICILY, THE ITALIAN, PO VALLEY AND RHINELAND CAMPAIGNS. DECORATIONS AND CITATIONS: THE DISTINGUISHED FLYING CROSS WITH 1 BRONZE OAK LEAF CLUSTER, BRONZE STAR WITH 3 OAK LEAF CLUSTERS, AIR MEDAL WITH 1 SILVER OAK LEAF CLUSTER, GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL, AMERICAN DEFENSE SERVICE MEDAL, AMERICAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, WWII VICTORY MEDAL. ALSO 2 DISTINGUISHED UNIT CITATIONS FOR THE NORTH AFRICAN AND SICILY CAMPAIGNS.