World War II Honoree

Milton Dank

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Honored By

Friends of American Heroes

He proudly served his country in the U.S. Army Air Forces during WWII as a glider pilot. He survived 5 years of combat missions including Operation Dragoon into the South of France and Operation Market Garden into the Netherlands. On his way to France on August 15, 1944 a stray shot from the USS Tuscaloosa blasted through a section of his glider's tail obliterating a stabilizer that gives it its lift on the right side. It dropped 150 feet as he fought for control and managed to land in a field. In June 1945 he was stationed at Fort Dix, New Jersey and offered a choice of an honorable discharge or a promotion to Captain and transfer back to the Pacific Theater of Operations. He chose the honorable discharge and left as a Lieutenant. HE WAS AWARDED THE AIR MEDAL WITH 2 OAK LEAF CLUSTERS, BRONZE ARROWHEAD, DISTINGUISHED UNIT BADGE AND EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS RIBBON WITH 7 CAMPAIGN STARS.