Branch of Service
U.S. Army Air Force
Hometown
Maricopa, Arizona
Honored By
Orville L. Kline
Rank: Technical Sergeant. Inducted into the United States Army March 26, 1943 at Salt Lake City, Utah. Upon his graduation from recruit training, he was designated to attend the Flight Aviation Training Program. He served as a B-17 ‘Flying-Fortress’ Bomber Radio Operator, assigned to the 860th Bomber Squadron, 493rd Bomber Group, an element of the U.S. 8th Air Force ‘Mighty Eighth’ Army Air Forces. His unit was based at the Debach Royal Air Force Station Location: Woodbridge, England. Tuesday, September 12, 1944 he was killed in action, on a bomb run to an Ordnance Depot at Magdeburg, Germany. Personnel from a Graves Registration Company buried him in the Neuville-en-Condroz Battlefield Cemetery Liege, Belgium. In the post-war era, this Airman’s family requested that he be buried with Military Honors at the Gann Cemetery New Potter, Arkansas. This American Patriot received the following decorations posthumously: Air Medal and the Purple Heart. The Air Medal was awarded to the Sergeant for meritorious achievement while participating in aerial flight, and the Purple Heart for his Heroism and ultimate sacrifice.