World War II Honoree

Earl Dwight Watkins

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

Champaign, Illinois

Honored By

Joy L. Knapheide

Relationship

Niece

SERVED AS A B-29 ‘SUPERFORTRESS’ BOMBER TAIL GUNNER IN THE SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS. HE SURVIVED 3 CRASH LANDINGS WHILE RETURNING TO BASE FROM COMBAT MISSIONS, THE FIRST ACCIDENT WAS ON FIJI ISLAND AND THE OTHER TWO WERE ON OKINAWA. HE WAS SEVERELY WOUNDED ON HIS LAST MISSION AND EVENTUALLY AIR EVACUATED TO A HOSPITAL IN MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE. AMONG HIS DECORATIONS AND CITATIONS HE WAS AWARDED THE PURPLE HEART MEDAL WITH 2 BRONZE OAK LEAF CLUSTERS AND HIS SILVER AIRCREW MEMBER WINGS.