World War II Honoree

Lee 'Shorty' Gordon

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

Southern, California

Honored By

Grateful American

BELIEVED TO BE THE FIRST AMERICAN PRISONER OF WAR TO ESCAPE FROM A GERMAN CAMP DURING THE WAR. HE SERVED AS A BALL TURRET GUNNER WITH THE ARMY AIR CORPS 305TH BOMB GROUP WHEN HIS B-17 WAS SHOW DOWN OVER WILHELMSHAVEN, GERMANY ON FEBRUARY 26, 1943. HE SURVIVED THE PARACHUTE LANDING, BUT WAS QUICKLY CAPTURED BY GERMAN TROOPS. HE MADE TWO FAILED ESCAPE ATTEMPTS FROM STALAG VIIA, INCLUDING ONE ON A BICYCLE WHILE YELLING THE ONLY GERMAN HE KNEW, 'HEIL, HITLER!' HE FINALLY ESCAPED AFTER TRADING IDENTIFICATION TAGS WITH AN AUSTRALIAN POW TO GAIN ACCESS TO THE OUTDOOR WORK AREA OF THE MOOSEBURG CAMP. THERE HE BRIBED GUARDS WITH COFFEE AND CIGARETTES AND HID IN A BATHROOM STALL UNTIL DARK. HE THEN HOPPED A FENCE WHEN A GUARD'S BACK WAS TURNED AND WALKED OUT OF THE CAMP. HE RODE FREIGHT TRAINS TO FRANCE, WHERE HE MADE CONTACT WITH A RESISTANCE GROUP THAT HELPED HIM REUNITE WITH THE ALLIED FORCES. MORE THAN A YEAR LATER, ON FEBRUARY 27, 1944 HE ARRIVED SAFELY IN ENGLAND. WHEN HE RETURNED TO THE U.S., HE WAS AWARDED THE SILVER STAR MEDAL AND SENT AROUND THE COUNTRY ON A LECTURE CIRCUIT TO BOOST MORALE AND SELL WAR BONDS.