World War II Honoree

Joseph James Eisenhofer

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

Iowa City, Iowa

Honored By

Rex Baumback

Relationship

Son-in-Law

IN MARCH 1942, HE JOINED THE ARMY AND BECAME A 1ST LIEUTENANT, BOMBARDIER NAVIGATOR, IN THE 7TH ARMY AIR FORCE, 41ST BOMBARDMENT GROUP, 48TH SQUADRON. HE NAVIGATED B-25 MITCHELL BOMBERS ON 51 LOW-LEVEL BOMBING AND STRAFING COMBAT MISSIONS IN THE CENTRAL PACIFIC AGAINST THE JAPANESE STRONGHOLDS OF THE GILBERT, MARSHALL, CAROLINE, AND MARIANA ISLANDS, INCLUDING RAIDS ON THE ISLANDS OF SAIPAN, TINIAN, AND GUAM (MUCH OF THE TIME FLYING OUT OF TARAWA). HIS PLANE WAS NICKNAMED 'WAIT FOR ME'. HE RECEIVED TWO DISTINGUISHED FLYING CROSS MEDALS AND SIX AIR MEDALS. LATER, HE BECAME A CAPTAIN IN THE AIR FORCE RESERVE.