World War II Honoree

Dan Elam

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

Duncan, Oklahoma

RECEIVED THE DISTINGUISHED SERVICE CROSS FOR EXTRAORDINARY HEROISM IN CONNECTION WITH MILITARY OPERATIONS AGAINST AN ARMED ENEMY WHILE SERVING AS PILOT OF A C-47 TROOP CARRIER AIRPLANE IN THE 53RD TROOP CARRIER WING, NINTH AIR FORCE, IN ACTION AGAINST ENEMY FORCES DURING A PARATROOP DROP OVER HOLLAND ON 17 SEPTEMBER 1944. WITH THE LEFT ENGINE OF HIS PLANE ON FIRE, THE TAIL STRUCTURE PARTIALLY SHOT AWAY, AND THE ENTIRE LEFT SIDE OF THE PLANE IN FLAMES, HE CONTINUED IN FORMATION. THE FIRE HAD SPREAD RAPIDLY BY THE TIME THE DROP ZONE HAD BEEN REACHED. AFTER THE PARATROOPERS HAD JUMPED, HE ORDERED HIS CREW TO BAIL OUT. THE PLANE NOSED INTO A WOODED AREA ON A CRASH-LAND ATTEMPT AND EXPLODED. THE PERSONAL COURAGE AND DEVOTION TO DUTY HE DISPLAYED ON THIS OCCASION HAVE UPHELD THE HIGHEST TRADITIONS OF THE MILITARY SERVICE AND REFLECT GREAT CREDIT UPON HIMSELF, THE 9TH AIR FORCE, AND THE UNITED STATES ARMY AIR FORCES.