World War II Honoree

E. D. Witherspoon

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

Gadsden, Alabama

Honored By

E. D. Witherspoon

Relationship

Self

SERVED WITH THE 15TH ARMY AIR FORCE, 727TH BOMBARDMENT SQUADRON (HEAVY), 451ST BOMBARDMENT GROUP (HEAVY) IN THE EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS. SHOT DOWN ON 29TH COMBAT MISSION. CAPTURED AND HELD AS A PRISONER OF WAR OF THE 3RD REICH FROM 1944 TO 1945 IN STALAG LUFT IV. RECEIVED THE EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN CAMPAIGN MEDAL WITH 5 BRONZE BATTLE STARS (NAPLES-FOGGIA, ROME-ARNO, AIR OFFENSIVE EUROPE, AIR COMBAT BALKANS, SOUTHERN FRANCE), GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL, PURPLE HEART MEDAL, AIR MEDAL WITH 1 OAK LEAF CLUSTER, PRISONER OF WAR MEDAL, AMERICAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL AND THE WWII VICTORY MEDAL. HONORABLY DISCHARGED FROM THE MILITARY WITH THE RANK OF COLONEL.