World War II Honoree

John Dan Bewley

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

Tulsa, Oklahoma

Honored By

Robert S. Cox

SERVED IN THE EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN THEATER WITH THE 75TH TROOP CARRIER SQUADRON, 435TH TROOP CARRIER GROUP, 9TH AIR FORCE. MOVED TO ENGLAND ABOUT NOVEMBER, 1943 AND WAS STATIONED AT LANGAR AND THEN WELFORD PARK. PARTICIPATED IN THE ROME-ARNO, NORMANDY, NORTHERN FRANCE, SOUTHERN FRANCE, RHINELAND, ARDENNES-ALSACE (BATTLE OF THE BULGE) AND CENTRAL EUROPE CAMPAIGNS. HIS UNIT ENTERED COMBAT ON JUNE 6, 1944 (D-DAY) AND ENGAGED IN DROPPING PARATROOPERS AND TOWING GLIDERS. THEREAFTER TOOK PART IN TRANSPORTING SUPPLIES TO SUPPORT OPERATIONS IN FRANCE. IN SEPTEMBER, 1944, PARTICIPATED IN THE AIR ATTACK ON HOLLAND BY DROPPING PARATROOPERS AND TOWING GLIDERS. STATIONED AT BRETIGNY, FRANCE IN FEBRUARY, 1945 TO SUPPORT THE ASSAULT ACROSS THE RHINE RIVER. HIS UNIT TOWED GLIDERS ACROSS THE RHINE ON MARCH 24, 1945 AND THEN ENGAGED IN RESUPPLY MISSIONS ACROSS GERMANY TO SUPPORT GROUND OPERATIONS. AUTHORIZED THE PRESIDENTIAL (DISTINGUISHED) UNIT CITATION FOR EXTRAORDINARY HEROISM IN ACTION BY HIS GROUP DURING THE NORMANDY INVASION. HONORABLY DISCHARGED AND ISSUED THE HONORABLE SERVICE LAPEL BUTTON.