World War II Honoree

Edward 'Ted' Healam

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

Pateros, Washington

Honored By

John Healam & LTC Charles T. Borg, USA-Ret.

ENTERED SERVICE JULY 1942. RECEIVED ADVANCED TRAINING AT MCDILL FIELD, FLORIDA. IN AUGUST 1943, WAS STATIONED AT GREAT DUNMOW, ENGLAND WITH 555TH 'TRIPLE NICKEL' BOMB SQUADRON, 386TH BOMBARDMENT GROUP OF THE 9TH AIR FORCE. SERVED AS AN ARMORER OF THE B-26 MARAUDER 'YANKEE GUERILLA' WHICH BY JUNE 6, 1944 HAD COMPLETED 100 MISSIONS. THE 555TH SQUADRON PLAYED A KEY ROLE SUPPORTING THE ALLIED INVASION AT NORMANDY ON JUNE 6, 1944 AND OPERATION MARKET GARDEN IN THE NETHERLANDS IN SEPTEMBER 1944. AS THE ALLIED ARMY ADVANCED THROUGH NORTHERN EUROPE IN THE LAST HALF OF 1944 THE 555TH WAS DEPLOYED TO FORWARD OPERATING BASES IN FRANCE, HOLLAND, AND BELGIUM. IT PLAYED A KEY ROLE SUPPORTING THE GROUND FORCES DURING THE BATTLE OF THE BULGE AND THE CROSSING OF THE RHINE INTO GERMANY. BY THE END OF THE WAR IN EUROPE HE HAD ATTAINED THE RANK OF SERGEANT AND HAD BEEN AWARDED THE GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL, EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN THEATER MEDAL, WWII VICTORY MEDAL, PRESIDENTIAL UNIT CITATION,AND EXPERT AIRCRAFT ARMORER BADGE.