World War II Honoree

Earl Geoffrey Hatfield, Jr.

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

Cleveland, Pawnee County, Oklahoma

Honored By

Robert S. Cox

ENLISTED IN MILITARY SERVICE IN APRIL, 1943. TRAINED IN THE AMERICAN THEATER AT SHEPPARD FIELD AT WICHITA FALLS, TEXAS; SIOUX CITY ARMY AIR BASE, IOWA; LAS VEGAS ARMY AIR FIELD, NEVADA; AND PYOTE ARMY AIR FIELD, TEXAS. SERVED OVERSEAS AS A RADIO OPERATOR ABOARD B-17 'FLYING FORTRESS' HEAVY BOMBER AIRCRAFT IN THE EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN THEATER DURING THE WAR, STATIONED IN ENGLAND IN THE EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (ETO). SERGEANT HATFIELD WAS KILLED IN ACTION DURING A MISSION OVER COLOGNE, GERMANY IN OCTOBER, 1944. POSTHUMOUSLY AWARDED THE PURPLE HEART FOR WOUNDS RECEIVED IN ACTION, AIR MEDAL, GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL, AMERICAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, AND WWII VICTORY MEDAL.