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Medal of Honor Winner.

Born August 1, 1920 in Ridgewood, N. J. Family broke up, moved with his mother to Sebring. Attended Georgia Tech. Enlisted in the Army Air Corps July 1941. Saw combat flying P-38 fighter planes in New Guinea and Phillipine campaigns, serving the 49th and 475th (Satan's Angels) fighter groups. Shot down over Oro Bay, New Guinea in October 1943, survived a damaged parachute and water landing, was in shark filled water, wounded for nearly one hour before being rescued. Shared a tent and several missions with Charles Lindberg. Became 2nd highest "Ace" of WWII with 38 confirmed kills in more than 240 combat missions. Flew missions on Mindanao, Leyte Negros, and Luzon Islands. On January 7, 1945, he risked an extremely hazardous maneuver at low altitude to save a fellow pilot from attack and crashed.