World War II Honoree

William S. Waltman

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

Grand Rapids, Michigan

Honored By

Steven Schember

Relationship

Son-in-law

B-17 PILOT, STATIONED IN ENGLAND FROM 1943 TO THE END OF THE WAR. HIS PLANE WAS HIT OVER GERMANY BUT HE MANAGED TO GET IT TO SWEDEN, WHERE HE AND HIS CREW WERE HELD FOR SEVERAL MONTHS BEFORE BEING RELEASED AS PART OF A PRISONER EXCHANGE. UPON RETURNING TO FLIGHT DUTY, HIS PLANE WAS ONCE AGAIN HIT OVER GERMANY AND THIS TIME HE WAS FORCED TO BAIL OUT LOSING MOST OF HIS CREW. HE WAS CAPTURED AND SPENT OVER A YEAR IN A GERMAN PRISON CAMP BEFORE BEING LIBERATED NEAR THE END OF THE WAR. RECEIVED THE DISTINGUISHED UNIT BADGE, AMERICAN DEFENSE SERVICE MEDAL, EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, WWII VICTORY MEDAL, AMERICAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, PRESIDENTIAL UNIT CITATION.