World War II Honoree

Chester L. Perigo

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

Sperry, Oklahoma

Honored By

Robert S. Cox

ENLISTED IN THE ARMY AIR CORPS FOLLOWING GRADUATION FROM HIGH SCHOOL IN 1941. SERVED AS AN AERIAL ENGINEER-GUNNER IN THE ASIATIC-PACIFIC THEATER IN THE CHINA-BURMA-INDIA THEATER OF OPERATIONS. RESPONSIBLE FOR CHECKING THE AIRCRAFT BEFORE FLIGHT, CORRECTING MECHANICAL PROBLEMS IN FLIGHT AND MANNING A MACHINE GUN POSITION WHEN UNDER ATTACK BY ENEMY PLANES. SURVIVED 50 MISSIONS OPERATING FROM BASES IN INDIA OVER 'THE HUMP' TO CHINA AND OVER BURMA AND THAILAND. HIS EXPLOITS, AFTER BARELY SURVIVING A MISSION, WERE FEATURED IN AN ARTICLE BY WAR CORRESPONDENT ERNIE PYLE. AWARDED THE DISTINGUISHED FLYING CROSS, PURPLE HEART, AIR MEDAL, GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL, AMERICAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, ASIATIC-PACIFIC CAMPAIGN MEDAL, AND WWII VICTORY MEDAL. HONORABLY DISCHARGED AFTER THE WAR WITH THE RANK OF STAFF SERGEANT AND ISSUED THE HONORABLE SERVICE LAPEL BUTTON.