World War II Honoree

John A. Godar

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

Hardin, Illinois

Honored By

Jane L. Godar

Relationship

Daughter

Date of entering service October 28, 1941. Date of discharge August 28, 1945. Served in Army and Army Air Corps. Training at Aberdeen, Maryland: October 28 - November 28, 1941 (basic training);November 28, 1941 for 8 weeks Carpenter School; January 24, 1942 for 4 weeks ordnance training; -- munitions handler. Division/outfit at time of honorable discharge 274th Army Air Force Base Unit at Herington, Kansas. During service: February 13, 1941 -- 715TH Ordnance Company Aviation Air Base March 14, 1942 -- 760th Ordnance Company April 1, 1942 -- 97th Bomb Group, 342nd Bomb Squad October 4, 1942 -- back in 760th Ordnance Company April 6, 1943 -- 99th Bomb Group May 19, 1943 -- split into maintenance company March 2, 1944 --1432 S & M Ordnance Company Places Stationed: October 28, 1941 Aberdeen, Maryland (training) February 13, 1942 MacDill Field, Tampa, Florida March 14, 1942 Sarasota, Florida June 10, 1942 Kettering, England (Grafton Underwood), ordnance September 8, 1942 Pole Brook, England, ordnance November 27, 1942 sailed from Liverpool, England on 'Samaria' for North Africa December 12, 1942 Biskra, Algeria, Air Field Ordnance April 6, 1943 Naverine in charge of bomb dump February 29, 1944 left Maison Blanc by plane to Catania, Sicily March 1, 1944 Air base near Bari and Manduria, Sicily in charge of bomb dump June 4, 1944 Venusa Air Base in charge of bomb dump Special recognitions, ribbons, medals received: Good Conduct Medal American Defense Service Ribbon European-African-Middle Eastern Theater Ribbon 3 bronze battle stars 4 overseas service bars 1 service stripe December 20, 1941 -- Experts Medal Marksmanship with 45 caliber pistol December 26, 1943 -- Soldier's Medal; General Order accompanying medal reads: "FOR HEROISM ON 26 JUNE 1943, NEAR AIR BASE AT ***, ALGERIA. A TERRIFIC EXPLOSION WAS CAUSED BY THE DETONATION OF SEVERAL FIVE HUNDRED (500) POUND BOMBS. BEING AT OR NEARBY THE SCENE THE ABOVE ENLISTED MEN WERE EITHER KNOCKED DOWN, STUNNED AND/OR INJURED, BUT IMMEDIATELY UPON RECOVERY THEY CARRIED OTHER SERIOUSLY WOUNDED CASUALTIES TO A PLACE OF SAFETY. THEY THEN RETURNED TO EXTINGUISH GRASS FIRES IN THE VICINITY OF BURNING VEHICLES CONTAINING UNEXPLODED BOMBS. BEING TRAINED MUNITIONS WORKERS THEY REALIZED TH E GRAVE DANGER OF ADDITIONAL EXPLOSIONS BUT CONTINUED TO WORK DURING THE TIME OF A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. EACH INDIVIDUAL DISPLAYED COURAGE BEYOND THE NORMAL CALL OF DUTY AND THEIR SERVICES CONTRIBUTED TO THE SAVING OF LIVES AND MUCH GOVERNMENT PROPERTY. THIS ACT REFLECTS GREAT CREDIT UPON THEMSELVES AND THE ARMED FORCES OF THE UNITED STATES. BY COMMAND OF BRIGADIER GENERAL BARTON." Ranks: April 3, 1942 -- 4th Class Specialist June 1, 1942 -- Corporal Technician July 7, 1943 -- Sergeant Technician (T4) August 24, 1943 -- Buck Sergeant (regular sergeant) May 14, 1944 -- Staff Sergeant