World War II Honoree

James S. Hemphill

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

Cedar Ridge, Iowa

Honored By

Ms. Bernice Hemphill

SERVED WITH THE 15TH AIR FORCE IN ITALY. FLEW 40 MISSIONS IN A B-17. ON A RETURN FLIGHT, THE PLANE WAS ALL SHOT UP, HIS CO-PILOT WAS KILLED. HE TOLD THE CREW TO JUMP, THEY REFUSED. THEY HAD TO LIGHTEN THE PLANE, BY 2000 POUNDS. HIS TAIL GUNNER WAS ABLE TO REMOVE BALL TURRET. THEY ARRIVED HOME 12 HOURS LATE. MY HUSBAND WAS OFFERED A PROMOTION, HE REFUSED, SAYING THEY SHOULD PROMOTE THE TAIL GUNNER TOO. MY HUSBAND TOLD THEM WITHOUT THE TAIL GUNNER'S PROMOTION, THEN FORGET HIS, AND THEY DID. HE WAS SELECTED TO HAVE FURTHER TRAINING AND GOT TO JAPAN. THE WAR ENDED.