World War II Honoree

John William Waller

Branch of Service

U.S. Navy

Hometown

Sullivan, Missouri

Honored By

Pearl Thomas

He enlisted in the U.S. Navy as a naval aviator. While attending flight school at Naval Air Station Iowa, he played football for the Iowa Seahawks, a U.S. Navy team that played NCAA football. Received a lieutenant’s commission and was transferred to the Naval Air Station in Pensacola, Florida, for training in aircraft carrier flight operations. After completing his training at Pensacola, he stayed on as a flight instructor and commanded a training squadron there. In 1943, he was transferred to Naval Air Station Atlanta to instruct British pilots in the use of American aircraft. He completed his service in the Navy in 1946.