World War II Honoree

Rush Leonard Akers

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

Hillsville, Virginia

Honored By

Major Michael G. McGrady, USMC (Retired)

Relationship

Brother-in- Law

ENLISTED IN 1941 AS AVIATION CADET. TRAINED IN FLORIDA, TEXAS, OKLAHOMA, ILLINOIS AND CALIFORNIA. COMMISSIONED IN 1943. PILOTED TWIN-ENGINE C-46 & C-47'S IN THE CHINA-BURMA-INDIA THEATER FLYING OVER THE HIMALAYAS; OFTEN REFERRED AS 'FLYING THE HUMP' RE SUPPLYING THE 'FLYING TIGERS' AND THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT OF GENERAL CHIANG KAI-SHEK. DECORATIONS INCLUDE: AMERICAN THEATER SERVICE MEDAL, EUROPEAN- AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN SERVICE MEDAL, ASIATIC-PACIFIC THEATER SERVICE MEDAL AND 2 OVERSEAS SERVICE BARS. DISCHARGED AS 1ST LIEUTENANT ON DECEMBER 19, 1945 FROM SEYMOUR JOHNSON FIELD, NORTH CAROLINA.