Branch of Service
U.S. Army Air Force
Hometown
Mangum, Oklahoma
Honored By
Robert S. Cox
SERVED AS A SECOND LIEUTENANT IN THE EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN THEATER STATIONED AT BASSINGBOURN, ENGLAND WITH THE 91ST BOMBARDMENT GROUP, 8TH AIR FORCE. HE FLEW AS CO-PILOT ABOARD A B-17 'FLYING FORTRESS' BOMBER NICKNAMED 'BRIDE OF MARS.' HIS UNIT WAS ENGAGED PRIMARILY IN STRATEGIC BOMBING OF AIRCRAFT FACTORIES, AIRFIELDS, OIL AND RAIL FACILITIES. HIS AIRCRAFT WAS SHOT DOWN OVER GERMANY IN 1944 AND HE WAS TAKEN PRISONER OF WAR (POW) BY THE GERMANS. HE WAS HELD AS A POW UNTIL LIBERATED BY RUSSIAN FORCES IN MAY 1945. AWARDED THE AIR MEDAL, PRISONER OF WAR MEDAL, AMERICAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, AND WWII VICTORY MEDAL.