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World War II Honoree

Killed in World War II

John E. Hesselbarth

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

Abilene, Kansas

Honored By

Grateful American

Branch Seal
Activity During WWII

FIRST LIEUTENANT; SERVED WITH 3RD BOMBARDMENT GROUP, 90TH BOMB SQUADRON. POSTHUMOUSLY AWARDED THE SILVER STAR MEDAL FOR A COMBAT MISSION ON 24 MAY 1942 FOR GALLANTRY IN ACTION AT LAE, NEW GUINEA. HE WAS A CREW MEMBER OF A B-25C AIRCRAFT, PARTICIPATING IN A BOMBING RAID AGAINST ENEMY INSTALLATIONS. THE PLANE WAS ATTACKED BY SEVERAL ZERO FIGHTERS. THOUGH OUTNUMBERED, HE DROPPED BOMBS ON THE TARGET AND FOUGHT THE ENEMY UNTIL HIS PLANE WAS DESTROYED IN THE VICINITY OF LAE AIRDROME, NEW GUINEA.