World War II Honoree

John A. Harmon

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

Ingraham, Illinois

Honored By

Robert Medley Gatewood

BEGAN ACTIVE DUTY AS A NAVIGATOR ON AUGUST 21, 1943 AND DEPARTED THE CONTINENTAL U.S. ON NOVEMBER 17, 1943 BOUND FOR THE EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS. ASSIGNED TO AND FLEW COMBAT WITH A UNIT OF THE 8TH AIR FORCE IN THE AIR OFFENSE EUROPE AND NORMANDY CAMPAIGNS. RETURNED TO THE U.S. ON AUGUST 10, 1944, ATTENDED NAVIGATOR INSTRUCTOR SCHOOL, COMPLETED THE INFORMATION AND EDUCATION OFFICER COURSE, AND ASSIGNED TO AND SERVED WITH THE 423RD ARMY AIR FORCES BASE UNIT AT WALLA WALLA, WASHINGTON. EARNED THE DISTINGUISHED FLYING CROSS, AIR MEDAL WITH 3 OAK LEAF CLUSTERS, AMERICAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN CAMPAIGN MEDAL WITH 2 BRONZE BATTLE STARS, AND THE WWII VICTORY MEDAL. HONORABLY SEPARATED FROM ACTIVE FEDERAL SERVICE ON NOVEMBER 7, 1945 AT THE SEPARATION CENTER, SCOTT FIELD, ILLINOIS.