Branch of Service
U.S. Army Air Force
Hometown
Houston, Texas
Honored By
Orville L. Kline
RANK: STAFF SERGEANT. SERVED AS A B-25C ‘MITCHELL’ MEDIUM BOMBER GUNNER, WHO WAS KILLED AUGUST 18, 1942 DURING A NORMAL TAKE-OFF. THE TWIN-ENGINE BOMBER HAD TAKEN-OFF FROM THE COLUMBIA ARMY AIR BASE, COLUMBIA, SOUTH CAROLINA WHEN THE STARBOARD ENGINE FAILED. THE AIRCRAFT, AT AN ALTITUDE OF APPROXIMATELY 300 FEET AND OUT OF CONTROL CRASHED ONTO THE AIRFIELD. IT EXPLODED INTO FLAMES UPON IMPACT, FATALLY INJURING THE FOUR CREWMEN.