World War II Honoree

John A. Cotter

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

Kansas City, Missouri

Honored By

Family

LIEUTENANT COLONEL, U.S. AIR FORCE. AT THE ENTRY OF WWII, VOLUNTEERED FOR PILOT TRAINING. EARNED HIS WINGS AND COMMISSION IN OCTOBER 1943. SERVED AS A FIRST LIEUTENANT AND ENTERED COMBAT IN THE EUROPEAN THEATRE FLYING P-51 MUSTANGS WITH THE 355TH FIGHTER GROUP OUT OF ENGLAND. HE WAS SHOT DOWN ON A LOW LEVEL MISSION IN AUGUST 1944. HE WAS IMPRISONED IN STALAG III, AND ENDURED THE BRUTAL WINTER MARCHES DOWN INTO BAVARIA. LIBERATED AND RETURNED TO THE U.S. IN JUNE 1945. AWARDS AND DECORATIONS INCLUDE THE DISTINGUISHED FLYING CROSS WITH OAK LEAF CLUSTER, THE AIR MEDAL WITH THREE OAK LEAF CLUSTERS, THE PURPLE HEART, THE BRONZE STAR, THE AIR FORCE COMMENDATION MEDAL, THE PRESIDENTIAL UNIT CITATION, THE EUROPEAN THEATRE RIBBON WITH THREE BATTLE STARS AND NUMEROUS OTHER DEFENSE AND THEATRE RIBBONS.