NAME SERVICE BRANCH RANK OR RATE SERVICE DATES THEATER
Adkins, Donald V. U S Army Lt Colonel 1958-1979 Var/Vietnam
A helicopter combat pilot in Vietnam. Winner of Silver Star for bravery and valor.
Alberty, Damon Conrad U S Army Sergeant 1941-1953 Pacific
Bataan Death March survivor and Japanese prisoner of war. Winner of many awards and medals.
Atkins, George “Bert” U S Navy Lt 1941-1945 Pacific
Engaged in combat across the Pacific aboard destroyer USS Conway DD 507.
Atkinson, Walter G. U S Army Major 1939-1961 Europe
World War II and Korean veteran. A D-Day veteran who landed on Utah beach.
Bailey, Warren G. U S Army Major 1943-1946 Europe
In Europe, stringing communication wire in combat. Goring’s castle was Bailey’s HQ.
Barbee, Ann Collins Royal Air Force Lead Aircraft Woman 1942-1945 Scotland
She loaded fighter aircraft with ammunition and cleaned the machine guns upon return from combat. She watched carefully for the return of “her” pilots from their missions.
Barbee, Boyce B. U S Army Air Corps Sergeant 1942-1945 Europe
He flew 25 missions as a radio operator on a Liberator bomber. Later, he engaged in Top Secret flights of high-ranking persons to meetings in neutral countries.
Barham, Joseph L. U S Army Air Corps Sergeant 1941-1945 US/Egypt
He was a mechanic assigned to King Farouk of Egypt to maintain the US military transport given to Farouk by President Roosevelt.
Baumgardner, A. Sterling U S Army Air Corps Captain 1941-1961 Europe
He flew 31 bombing missions over Europe as navigator on a B-17 Flying Fortress.
Blanchard, Manfred T. DDS U S Army Captain 1944-46 China, Burma, India
A dentist “handling logistics” on the hazardous Burma Road in the middle of a war.
Brown, Robert U S Army Air Corps Master Sergeant 1943-1945 Europe
Member of Bloody 100th Bomb Group. His Group was a special target of the Luftwaffe. Ironically, falsely accused of dereliction of duty because he was not killed in combat.
Bumgarner, John R. M.D. U S Army Medical Corps Major 1941-1945 Pacific
He was a Japanese POW and author of several books on his experiences. He was a doctor without medicine but saved many lives in prison camp.
Burton, Jesse U S Army Air Corps Staff Sergeant 1942-1945 Europe
He flew over Normandy on D-Day in a B-24 as well as 35 bombing missions over Europe
Clark, James E. Jr. U S Army Lt. Colonel 1978-2006 Var/Iraq
He trained US Soldiers in Iraq to, in turn, train Iraqi Soldiers to defend their country.
Collins, William H. (Pansy) U S Army Corporal 1939-1945 U S/Europe
He was a medic in Europe with the 105th Medical Battalion. He saw too many dead soldiers.
Czelusniak, Paul A. U S Navy Torpedoman 1st Class 1943-1945 Pacific
He survived the 8th war patrol and depth charge attacks aboard submarine USS Billfish.
Davidson, James C. U S Army Corporal T-5 1943-1945 Europe
A combat veteran in Europe with five Battle Stars and fighting in the Battle of the Bulge.
Easter, Coy Edward U S Army Staff Sergeant 1944-1946 Europe
His combat companions: hand grenades, M-1 Garand, bayonet, a 45 pistol and 500 rounds of ammunition. He used all of them.
Elliott, George R. U S Army Tech Sergeant 1941-1945 Pacific
A Pearl Harbor survivor. He saw the faces of the Japanese pilots; they were flying so low.
Fleischman, Alvin T. U S Navy Lt. Commander 1942-1946 Pacific
A Navy Supply Officer in WW II. Engaged in many historic battles in the Pacific war.
Griffith, Bethel U S Marine Corps Private First Class 1943-1945 Pacific
Entered the Marines as a boy; came out a man. He had visions of what he did and saw in combat, until his death.
Groseclose, William P. U S Navy Electrician Mate 2 1942-1945 Pacific
He was in combat on a destroyer; steaming, shelling, firing at enemy aircraft and picking up downed pilots. His ship survived a deadly typhoon that sank 3 destroyers.
Harden, Robert A. U S Army Air Corps Captain 1941-1945 Pacific
He flew supply missions to the Chinese troops fighting the Japanese. He bailed out of a B-29 twice due to engine failure. He also flew 19 bombing missions over Japan. Decades later, he had a surprising contact with a Chinese family who helped him after one WW II bailout.
Harris, Robert A. U S Navy Lt. Commander 1942-1946 Pacific
He was a Minesweeper Captain. In combat, typically, no ship goes in before a minesweeper. At Iwo Jima, 20 Landing Craft were blown up around his vessel on the way to the beach.
Hundley, H. Grey U S Navy Ship Fitter 1st Class 1940-1946 Pacific
Joined the Navy in 1940 to see the world. Owns 7 Battle Stars from heavy combat in Pacific.
Lashley, William D U S Marine Corps Staff Sergeant 1943-1946 Pacific
He was in combat on Okinawa as a radar coordinator. 16-inch battleship guns were blazing all day. “My greatest fear was not the enemy but that I would not live up to the standards of the Marine Corps’.
Lewis, Margaret Hinson Woman’s Army Corps Corporal 1944-1946 Europe
Worked at the message center for Supreme HQ for Allied Expeditionary Forces in Frankfort, Germany. It was common to see high profile officers such as Generals Eisenhower (and his famous smile), Patton, and others, during the day.
McGlohon, John A. U S Army Air Corps Sergeant 1941-1945 Var/Pacific
HIROSHIMA-THE ACCIDENTAL WITNESS. He and his fellow crewmembers were at Hiroshima on August 6, 1945, and his aircraft should not have been there. They were accidental witnesses to history. This is not in any history book.
Monsees, John Hilton U S Army Air Corps Sergeant 1942-1945 Europe
He flew 50 combat missions. On his missions he would see what looked like a thunderstorm up ahead; it was flak, hanging there for our B-24 Miss America 44, and us.
Morgan, Robert K. U S Army Air Corps Colonel 1940-1965 Europe/Pac
The pilot of the celebrated Memphis Belle, B-17 bomber. See documentary on internet “Memphis Belle, A Story of a Flying Fortress.” The Belle, is credited as being the first bomber to complete 25 missions in WW II.
Myers, Ralph E. U S Marine Corps Sergeant 1942-1946 Pacific
He flew invading paratroopers to Bougainville. Much combat shrapnel damaged his body and the last of it finally worked out in 1992.
Newman, Phil U S Army Air Corps First Lt. 1942-1946 Europe
Phil Newman’s plane usually was accompanied by “Red Tail” Tuskegee Airmen on his 35 bombing missions. Newman said, “If you thought too much about what you were doing, you could go crazy”. Some did!
Riggs, William E. U S Army Sergeant 1942-1945 Europe
Riggs was in combat across Europe with the Infantry. After the war he joined the Air Force Reserve and rose to Brigadier General in the reserve.
Ritchie, Richard Stephen (Steve) USAF Brigadier General 1964-1999 Var/Vietnam
He played “running back” on a fine Air Force football team. He graduated No. 1 from flight school. He was graduated first in his “Top Gun” class and was a Top Gun instructor. Ritchie is the last Ace (5 air combat victories) accomplishing that feat 8/28/1972. He flew 339 missions with 800 combat hours.
Shinn, Conrad “Gus” U S Navy Lt. Commander 1942-1963 Pacific/US
He was a WW II combat troop pilot who later was the first pilot to land and to take off from Antarctica. Mount Shinn, the third highest mountain in Antarctica at 15,292 feet is named after him.
Shinn, Thomas Pinkney U S Army (WW I) Sergeant 1917-1918 Europe
“TP” is the father of Conrad Shinn (previous article). A copy of the diary from his experience in WW I is included in my archives. I have given several programs based on his diary and the history of the 81st Infantry Division – The Wildcat Division.
Smith, James U S Army Tech. Sergeant 1942-1945 Europe
Smith was assigned to the Buffalo Soldiers – The 92nd Infantry nickname. A name coined by the Indians for black soldiers during the Civil War because the American bison fought so ferociously in battle. Black soldier’s hair reminded Indians of the Bison coat. Smith was a recon soldier, typically in enemy territory, reporting on enemy movements.
Stanfield, William Alvis U S Army PFC/later Major 1943-1945 Europe
Stanfield came ashore at Utah beach on 7/3/44 with the 5th Inf. Division. He was in heavy combat until he was hit by shrapnel and spent 14 months recovering. As a reserve officer Major, he represented the 5th Division at the 40th anniversary of D-Day with President Eisenhower at Normandy.
Starke, Robert J U S Army Air Corps Tech. Sergeant 1942-1945 Pacific
Bob Starke was instructed by Charles Lindbergh in maintenance of the new P-51 fighters in the far east. He was in awe of Lindbergh. Starke was a master at cannibalizing parts from wrecked aircraft to fix reparable ones.
Torbert, Deryl W. U S Army Tech. Sergeant 1943-1945 Europe
Torbert is one of the survivors of the Battle of the Bulge; 12/16/44-1/28/45. He was promoted to squad leader upon the death of his squad leader. He is amazed his life was spared during heavy combat involving the “Battle Babies” of the intrepid 99th Division.
Tuttle, George Warren U S Army Air Corps Sergeant 1942-1945 S.A./Pacific
He was a crewmember of the 4th Photo Reconnaissance Squadron in South America and the Pacific. During WW II, his plane crew was involved in the discovery of Shangri-La, a lost civilization in New Guinea.
Underwood, Howard L. U S Army Air Corps Sergeant 1943-1945 Europe
Underwood wanted to be a pilot but due to surplus of pilots toward end of WW II, he became a Radioman/Gunner aboard a B-25 Mitchell bomber in Italy. He daily watched the Germans in retreat as the war neared its end. However, the German ‘88’ artillery was deadly and his aircraft had to fly through it on the way to bomb targets.
Waynick, James Fletcher U S Navy 1st Class Electronics Tech. 1943-1945 Pacific
Waynick was involved in the battle for Okinawa, offloading assault forces from his vessel the USS Audubon, onto the beach. The next several days, Audubon was a first aid ship helping to deal with the carnage from the battle.
Wilkerson, Robert I. U S Army Corporal 1943-1946 Europe
Wilkerson was assigned to the Land Mine school. A course either passed, or the student was dead. He was transferred to the Army Specialized Training Program to become an officer. ASTP was cancelled and Wilkerson went back to clearing mines and survived the war.
Williams, Ralph R. U S Army Sergeant 1940-1945 Europe
Williams’ National Guard unit was called up in September 1940. He was sent to Europe in June 1943 with the 333 special Service Engineers and worked harder than he ever had in his life: rebuilding, repairing, replacing, with no limit on the work to be done.
Wisecup, Martin U S Army Air Corps Tech. Sergeant 1939-1945 Pacific
Wisecup joined the Air Corps to see the world but on the way survived the attack on Pearl Harbor, December 7, 1941. Midway, Saipan, and Iwo Jima were next in his combat experience.
Woodlief, Jack Elwood U S Army Sergeant 1942-1945 Europe
Woodlief was attached to a Graves Registration unit. It involved recovery, identification, transportation, and burial of allied military personnel. It was heart wrenching work. He met General Patton after preparing for viewing and prayer by Patton for his deceased aide, Richard Jenson.
Zeigler, George E. U S Navy Lt. Commander 1941-1946 United States
Zeigler was involved in ship construction in the US during the war. He worked mostly 7-day weeks. The need for vessels was critical. Some ship design changes were drawn on paper napkins.