World War II Honoree

Daniel F. Elam

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

Stephens County, Oklahoma

Honored By

Orville L. Kline

RANK: MAJOR. SERVED AS A ‘DOUGLAS’ C-47 TROOP TRANSPORT PILOT ASSIGNED TO THE U.S. ARMY AIR FORCES, 79TH SQUADRON, 436TH TROOP CARRIER GROUP, 9TH AIR FORCE. HE WAS KILLED IN ACTION SEPTEMBER 17, 1944 DURING THE INVASION OF HOLLAND, OPERATION MARKET GARDEN. WHEN HIS AIRCRAFT HAD ENTERED THE DESIGNATED DROP ZONE, IT HAD BEEN SEVERELY DAMAGED BY ENEMY ARTILLERY FLAK BURSTS AND GROUND FIRE. WITH THE LEFT ENGINE ON FIRE AND THE TAIL SECTION PARTIALLY BLOWN AWAY, HE WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF HIS CRIPPLED AIRCRAFT WHILE HIS PARATROOPERS HAD SAFELY JUMPED AND HIS CREW HAD BAILED OUT. HE DIED AT THE CONTROLS ALONG WITH THE COPILOT WHEN HIS AIRCRAFT CRASHED IN A WOODED AREA DURING AN ATTEMPTED CRASH-LANDING AND EXPLODED INTO FLAMES UPON IMPACT. DECORATIONS AND MEDALS: POSTHUMOUSLY AWARDED THE DISTINGUISHED SERVICE CROSS, AWARDED FOR EXTREME GALLANTRY AND RISK OF LIFE IN ACTUAL COMBAT WITH AN ARMED ENEMY FORCE AND THE PURPLE HEART. HIS UNIT WAS AWARDED A PRESIDENTIAL UNIT CITATION, FRENCH CROIX DE GUERRE WITH PALM AND THE FRENCH FOURRAGERE. HIS BODY WAS RETURNED TO TEXAS FOR BURIAL, WITH INTERMENT IN A PRIVATE CEMETERY.