World War II Honoree

Lewis Roberts Hart, Jr.

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

Berea, Kentucky

Honored By

Bob & Kathy Hart

Relationship

Son & Daughter

THE ATTACK ON PEARL HARBOR LED HIM TO JOIN THE ARMY AIR CORPS TO FIGHT FOR HIS COUNTRY AT 18 YEARS OLD. HE JOINED IN 1941 AND WENT THROUGH FLIGHT SCHOOL FOR SEVERAL MONTHS IN 1942. HE WAS SENT TO ENGLAND IN MAY 1943 TO JOIN THE CAMPAIGN INTO WESTERN EUROPE WHERE HE FLEW 25 MISSIONS AS A B-17 PILOT. HE SERVED IN THE 305TH BOMB GROUP IN THE 8TH ARMY. AFTER HE WAS ROTATED OUT OF COMBAT IN JANUARY OF 1944 HE JOINED THE AIR FORCE AND REMAINED IN THE MILITARY UNTIL HE RETIRED AS A LIEUTENANT COLONEL IN 1963. HONORS INCLUDE THE DISTINGUISHED FLYING CROSS, AIR MEDAL, AMERICAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, WWII VICTORY MEDAL, NATIONAL DEFENSE SERVICE MEDAL, EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, WWII ARMY OF OCCUPATION MEDAL, ARMY NATIONAL GUARD ARMED FORCES RESERVE MEDAL, AIR FORCE LONGEVITY SERVICE RIBBON AND THE AIR FORCE PRESIDENTIAL UNITY CITATION RIBBON.