World War II Honoree

Donald Verne Way

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Niagara Falls, New York

Honored By

M. J. Lynett

SIX MONTHS AFTER THE PEARL HARBOR ATTACK THAT BROUGHT THE UNITED STATES INTO WWII, ENTERED THE ARMY, WHERE HIS SKILLS WITH A MAP LED TO HIS ASSIGNMENT TO THE 949TH ENGINEER COMPANY IN THE 20TH AIR FORCE UNDER GENERAL CURTIS LEMAY. HIS UNIT, BASED ON THE ISLAND OF GUAM IN THE SOUTHWEST PACIFIC WAS ASSIGNED THE TASK OF PREPARING THREE-DIMENSIONAL MAPS OF THE JAPANESE CITIES THAT WERE LEMAY’S TARGETS. THE DEVASTATING SUCCESS OF LEMAY’S B-29 AIRCRAFT ULTIMATELY BROUGHT THE WAR TO A QUICKER END WHILE AVOIDING THE NEED FOR AN EVEN MORE COSTLY INVASION OF THE JAPANESE MAINLAND.