| Last Name: |
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Picture
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| First Name: |
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| Born/Died |
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| Hometown: |
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| Squadron: |
| First Squadron and Headquarters |
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| Position: |
| Outlying Radio Station Master |
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| Decorations: |
Bronze Star, Presidential Unit Citation, WWII China
War Memorial Medal, Victory Medal WWII, American and Asiatic Pacific
Campaign Medals
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| Pre AVG: |
1936-Kenosha, Wisconsin High School graduate. 1937-38-Civilian
Conservation Corps 1939- U.S. Army Air Corps. 1940-Air Corps Technical
School (Radio Operator and Mechanic) 39th Pursuit Squadron (Bell
AirCobras) 31st Pursuit Group, Selfridge Field Michigan. Rank,
Corporal. Honorable discharge June 14, 1941, to join American
Volunteer Group.
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| AVG Service: |
Left for Rangoon, Burma, July 11, 1941, aboard Java Pacific Line, the
Jaegersfontaine. After arrival at Kydo Airdrome near Toungoo, Burma, was
assigned to First Squadron and installed aircraft radios in our P-40
fighter planes. On November 4, 1941, our squadron left for Kunming,
China in a convoy. My truck carried 50 caliber ammunition and
arrived November 14, 1941. Was assigned to install an early warning
radio station at Iliang, with a cook and interpreter. When rat
bites became infected months later, returned to Kunming for treatment,
and then was assigned to the Yunnanye station on the Burma Road until
end of AVG contract.
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| Post AVG, WWII: |
On July 4, 1942, left Kunming on China National
Aviation Corp. aircraft, for Karachi and eventually Bombay, India,
for Capetown, South Africa and the USA. After sick leave for
hepatitis, enlisted in U.S. Marine Corps, December 14, 1942.
While at U.S. Marine Air Station, Cherry Point, NC, went on a War
Bond Drive with Medal of Honor decorated Captain Joe Foss of the
USMC. We flew to Naval and Marine air stations and visited
several large cities nearby. Joined VMB-413, the first twin
engine bomber in Marine Aviation which was a B-25 aircraft
designated Marine PBJ. The squadron left by troop ship for
Sterling Island in the Treasury group, from which VMB-413 engaged in
radar night bombing of the Rabaul Air and Naval Bases. The
squadron later moved for operations from Munda and Emiru Islands
closer to Rabaul. In late 1944, returned to the US by way of
the Admiralty Islands by troop ship. At El Toro Marine Air
Station, was honorably discharged on September 27, 1945, as Master
Tech Sergeant or Communications Chief.
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| Post War Career: |
In October 1945, enrolled in Lawrence College in
Appleton, WI. Earned a Bachelors degree in June 1949.
For a short time, worked as an auto insurance investigator in
Waukegan, IL. Secured a position with the US Civil Service at
the Naval Electronics Supply Office in Great Lakes, IL. Later
transferred to the US Air Force Materiel Command of the Civil
Service at Dayton, OH. Was assigned as inspector of emergency
radio assembly at Kingston Products in Kokomo, IN. Took a position
in 1953 at Delco Radio of GM in Kokomo, as production and process
engineer. The company later was known as Delco Electronics of General Motors.
After 27 years, I retired in 1980 and live in Greentown, IN with
wife Fleeta and daughter Susan.
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