Branch of Service
U.S. Army Air Force
Hometown
Rockford, Illinois
Honored By
C. McCabe
SERVED AS A RADIO OPERATOR IN THE 873RD BOMB SQUADRON. AWARDED 3 BRONZE STARS AND THE PURPLE HEART MEDAL. IN A 1944 BOMBING MISSION DURING AIR OFFENSIVE JAPAN, HIS B-29 WAS DITCHED IN THE PACIFIC. AS THE RADIO OPERATOR, HE HAD BEEN IN CONSTANT COMMUNICATIONS WITH THEIR BASE SO THEIR LOCATION WAS KNOWN. HE WAS RESCUED 72 HOURS AFTER DRIFTING 350 MILES IN A LIFE RAFT NEAR TAIWAN.