World War II Honoree

Nolan Ruiz

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

Plaquemine, Louisiana

Honored By

G. Holcomb

ENLISTED NOVEMBER 1942. SERVED AS A BALL TURRET GUNNER ON A B-17 BOMBER BASED IN NORWICH, ENGLAND WITH THE 8TH AIR FORCE'S 95TH BOMB GROUP. HIS PLANE WAS SHOT DOWN ON A MISSION OVER BERLIN AND HE WAS CAPTURED AFTER PARACHUTING FROM HIS BURNING AIRCRAFT. HE SPENT A SHORT TIME AT STALAG LUFT VI AND IV. HE BECAME PART OF A GROUP OF THOUSANDS OF PRISONERS OF WAR WHO WERE FORCED TO MARCH AHEAD OF THE ADVANCING SOVIET ARMY FOR 86 CONSECUTIVE DAYS AND FINALLY LIBERATED BY THE 104TH INFANTRY DIVISION OF THE U.S. ARMY.