World War II Honoree

Donald L. Perkins

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

Bartlesville, Oklahoma

Honored By

Robert S. Cox

ENLISTED IN MILITARY SERVICE IN 1942. SERVED OVERSEAS IN THE EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN THEATER, BEGINNING IN 1943, WITH THE 347TH BOMBARDMENT SQUADRON, 99TH BOMBARDMENT GROUP. STATIONED AT TORTORELLA AIRFIELD IN ITALY. FLEW SEVERAL COMBAT MISSIONS OVER ENEMY-OCCUPIED TERRITORY IN ITALY, GERMANY, THE BALKANS AND SOUTHERN FRANCE. WHILE ON A BOMBING MISSION OVER AUSTRIA ON APRIL 2, 1944, HIS B-17 'FLYING FORTRESS' BOMBER WAS SHOT DOWN. HE BAILED OUT WITH A FLAK WOUND TO HIS BACK AND WAS TAKEN AS A PRISONER OF WAR (POW) BY GERMAN FORCES. AFTER 5 MONTHS IN A GERMAN HOSPITAL, HE WAS HELD IN CAPTIVITY AT STALAG 9-C AND STALAG LUFT IV. ON FEBRUARY 6, 1945, AS THE RUSSIAN ARMY WAS APPROACHING STALAG LUFT IV, THE GERMANS EVACUATED THE CAMP. HE AND OTHER PRISONERS WERE FORCED TO MARCH 86 DAYS ON WHAT WAS CALLED THE 'BLACK DEATH MARCH.' THEY MARCHED IN BLIZZARD CONDITIONS DURING THE COLDEST WINTER OF THE 20TH CENTURY, WITH LITTLE FOOD, INADEQUATE CLOTHING AND LIMITED SHELTER. LIBERATED BY THE BRITISH 2ND ARMY NEAR HALLE, GERMANY ON MAY 3, 1945. AWARDED THE PURPLE HEART FOR WOUNDS RECEIVED IN BATTLE, AIR MEDAL, GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL, AMERICAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN CAMPAIGN MEDAL WITH 3 BRONZE SERVICE STARS, AND WWII VICTORY MEDAL. AUTHORIZED THE PRESIDENTIAL (DISTINGUISHED) UNIT CITATION FOR EXTRAORDINARY HEROISM IN ACTION ON JULY 5, 1943 BY HIS UNIT AT SICILY. HONORABLY DISCHARGED AFTER THE WAR AND ISSUED THE HONORABLE SERVICE LAPEL BUTTON.