World War II Honoree

Carlton Howard Weaver, Jr.

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

Hutchinson, Kansas

Honored By

Robert S. Cox

SERVED IN THE AMERICAN THEATER AND OVERSEAS AS A BOMBER AIRCREW MEMBER IN THE EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN THEATER DURING THE WAR. FLEW ON B-17 'FLYING FORTRESS' AND B-24 'LIBERATOR' HEAVY BOMBERS, AND B-26 'MARAUDER' MEDIUM BOMBERS. BASED IN NORTHERN IRELAND AND ENGLAND. DURING ONE MISSION, AS HIS DAMAGED AIRCRAFT PREPARED TO MAKE AN EMERGENCY BELLY LANDING, HE WAS ACCIDENTALLY SUCKED OUT OF THE PLANE IN MIDAIR. HE WAS INITIALLY REPORTED AS HAVING BEEN KILLED IN ACTION BUT WAS LATER FOUND BARELY ALIVE IN A TREE. HE FACED SEVERAL WEEKS IN A FULL-BODY CAST BUT SURVIVED. AWARDED THE AIR MEDAL, GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL, AMERICAN DEFENSE SERVICE MEDAL, EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, AND WWII VICTORY MEDAL. AUTHORIZED THE PRESIDENTIAL (DISTINGUISHED) UNIT CITATION FOR EXTRAORDINARY HEROISM IN ACTION BY HIS UNIT. HONORABLY DISCHARGED AND ISSUED THE HONORABLE SERVICE LAPEL BUTTON.