WWII – Keeper Of The Flame

September 19, 2023 (updated September 21, 2023) Published by Randy Murray

Floyd Junior “Puff” Pugh

12/31/1920 – 3/16/09
Branch: Army Air Corps
Rank: Colonel
Unit: 8th Air Force
Outfit: 2nd Air Division
Service Dates: 1942 – 1972
County: Pettis
City: Sedalia, MO
Conflicts/Significant Events: World War II, Korea,Vietnam. After the attack on Pearl Harbor Puff enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Corps (which later became the United State Air Force) on Aug 6, 1942 in Des Moines, IA. During his career as a pilot in the USAF he flew B-24’s, B-25’s, B-29’s, B-36’s, B-47’s and B-52’s. He logged over 10,000 flying hours. From 1970 until his retirement Sep 1, 1972 he served as Base Commander at Whiteman Air Force Base. His many awards included Distinguished Flying Cross, Bronze Star, Meritorious Service Medal, Air Medal with Three Oak Leaf Clusters, Presidential Unit citation with One Oak Leaf Cluster, and the Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal.

Story uploaded: Saturday, September 29, 2007 / updated Tuesday, September 19, 2023

September 19, 2023 Published by Randy Murray

Edwin Leroy Homan

10/6/1930 – 1/18/09
Branch: Army Air Corp
Rank: Corporal
Unit: Military Police
Service Dates: 1947 – 1950
County: Pettis
City: Sedalia, MO
Story uploaded: Saturday, October 27, 2007 Updated Monday, September 18, 2023

George W. Henderson

September 4, 2023 Published by Randy Murray

George William Henderson

2/4/1912 – 10/15/2008
Branch: Navy
Rank: Carpenter 1st Class
Unit: USS Mattaponi
Service Dates: 1942 – 1945
County: Pettis
City: Sedalia, MO
Conflicts/Significant Events: World War II, Atlantic and Mediterranean Theaters, Casablanca
Story uploaded: Friday, September 28, 2007 / Updated: Monday, September 4, 2023

August 7, 2023 Published by Randy Murray

Birl Shelby Stewart

3/16/1921 – 8/17/2010
Branch: Army
Rank: Corporal
Unit: 438th
Outfit: AAA Battalion
Service Dates: 1942 – 1945
Veteran Station: ETO
City & County: Branson, Lawrence
Conflicts/Significant Events: World War II, Invasion of Normandy
Interviewed at the Missouri Veterans Home in Mt. Vernon, Mo. Story uploaded: Thursday, May 3, 2007 / Updated July 31, 2023

July 24, 2023 Published by Randy Murray

Charles William “Dub” Boswell

10/2/1918 – 11/19/2016
Branch: Army
Rank: 1st Class
Unit: 861 Anti-Aircraft
Service Dates: 1941 – 1945
Veteran Station: South Pacific
County: Audrain
Conflicts/Significant Events: World War II, Philippines Leyte, Okinawa,
Story uploaded: Wednesday, June 6, 2007 / Updated: Sunday July 23, 2023

July 17, 2023 Published by Randy Murray

Victor P Bauer
“Vick”
12/12/1922 – 7/5/2013
Branch: Army Air Corp & Infantry
Rank: T-5
Unit: Chemical Weapons
Service Dates: 1943 – 1946
County: St. Charles
City: O’fallon, MO
Conflicts/Significant Events: WWII
Story uploaded: June 2010 / Updated: July 13, 2023

July 12, 2023 (updated July 13, 2023) Published by Randy Murray

Jesse E. Ballew Sr.

8/7/1926 – 8/24/2015
Branch: Navy
Rank: Seaman 1st Class
Unit: USS Wilkes Barre
Service Dates: 1943 – 1947
County: Lafayette
City: Lake Lafayette, MO
Conflicts/Significant Events: World War II, Forward Assault of Okinawa and Japan, Diverted Japan during the invasion of Iwo Jima, Helped rescue the USS Bunker Hill, Present for the Japanese Surrender Ceremony & Occupation Of Japan
Story uploaded: Thursday, October 4, 2007 / Updated: Wednesday, July 12, 2023

USS Wilkes Barre

Transfer of wounded from USS Bunker Hill

June 22, 2023 Published by Randy Murray

Robert R. “Bob” Cosgrove

1/12/1925 – 12/13/2013
Branch: Navy
Rank: Lt. Commander
Unit: various ships
Service Dates: 1943 – 1967
Veteran Station: Franklin
County: Franklin
Enlisted
Conflicts/Significant Events: World War II, Korean War, Vietnam War, Pacific, Inchon Invasion, Wonsong River Patrol Force
Story uploaded: Thursday, June 14, 2007 / Updated: Thursday June 22nd, 2023

May 16, 2023 (updated May 16, 2023) Published by Randy Murray

Oliver Coleman Estes

6/11/1919 – 5/24/2012
Branch: Army
Rank: Combat Engineer
Outfit: 106th Infantry Division
Service Dates: 1943 – 1945
County: Greene
Conflicts/Significant Events: World War II, Captured in the Battle of The Bulge, POW in Germany until the end of the War. His story was featured in the book “Hell Frozen Over”
Story uploaded: Thursday, August 20, 2009 / Updated: Monday, May 15, 2023

April 22, 2023 (updated April 24, 2023) Published by Randy Murray

Kenneth Wayne Thomason

3/3/1922 – 3/9/2015
Branch: Army Air Corps 12th Air Force
Unit: 350th Fight Group
Outfit: 347th Squadron
Service Dates: 1942 – 1945
Veteran Station: Mediterranean Theater
County: Johnson, Mo.
Conflicts/Significant Events: Was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for flying 141 missions in World War II in North Africa, Casablanca, Sicily, Sardinia, Corsica, Southern France.
He recalls one particular mission, Christmas Eve, over the Po Valley in Italy, where he destroyed an enemy fighter airstrip and planes, crippling the enemy’s air power.
On another occasion, he bailed out over the ocean when an engine malfunctioned, qualifying him as a member of the Caterpillar Club, or those who had “hit the silk” in a bailout and survived.
Story uploaded: Thursday, May 24, 2007 / updated: Monday April 24th, 2023