World War II Honoree
Killed in World War II
John R. Rawls
Branch of Service
U.S. Army Air Force
Hometown
Asheville, North Carolina
Honored By
A Grateful American
CAPTAIN, PARTICIPATED IN THE SICILY, ITALY, AND NORMANDY INVASIONS. AWARDED AIR MEDAL WITH ONE OAK LEAF CLUSTER. KILLED APRIL 20, 1945. WAS RETURNING HOME FROM EUROPEAN COMBAT AND WAS THE CO-PILOT ON BOARD A DAKOTA TRANSPORT AIRCRAFT EN ROUTE FROM MIDLAND, TEXAS, TO BERRY ARMY AIRFIELD IN NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE. THE PLANE CAUGHT FIRE AND CRASHED NEAR SWEETWATER, TEXAS.