The following list indicates the individuals who attended the Tribute. In some cases, the spouse of the veteran attended because the veteran is deceased. Also, it indicates if a veteran has passed away since attending the Tribute. Bios are not listed for those who also attended the Tribute in 2001.
Von Ballew, Navy: Seaman 1/c was assigned to Okinawa Harbor where he served aboard LSTs 38 & 545, and his job was to operate an LCVP. LST 545 transported Japanese prisoners back to Japan.
Bill Bonning, Army: lLT Bonning was a member of the 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division. He made a combat jump into Holland as part of Operation Market Garden. He also saw action at the Battle of the Bulge where he was part of the U.S. defensive in Bastogne thaat was surrounded by the Germans. (D: 8-14-03)
Sid Brong, Navy: Warrant Flight Officer Brong NAS Quonset Point, Rhode Island; NAS Norfolk, Virginia; and was a carrier qualification pilot aboard the U.S.S. Lake Champlain (CV-39).
Walter Bryant, Navy: Radioman 1/c Bryant was assigned to the 2nd Beach Battalion, a special Navy unit that was responsible for the beachhead by controlling beach traffic, fixing boats and landing craft, and assisting the injured and keeping the channel clear. He participated in the invasions of Sicily in 1943, Salerno, Italy in 1943, and Normandy, France, June 6, 1944.
Richard Deitchman, Navy: Lieutenant (j.g.) Deitchman served w/ Squadron VC-80. Flying an Avenger torpedo-bomber, he saw action at the battles of Leyte, Mindoro, and the Philippines. At the second battle of the Philippines, he dived his plane thru enemy fire and scored a direct torpedo hit on the stern of an enemy heavy cruiser, stopping it dead in the water.
Fred Miller, Navy: Petty Officer 1/c Miller was in the 129th Naval Construction Battalion, Seabees. He welded and repaired heavy equipment. He served in the Philippines, and he also served during the Korean War.
Joseph Komenda, Air Corps: SGT Komenda was an instructory at the Finance School at Lowry Field, Denvr Colorado. He was also stationed at Tachikawa Air Base in Japan serving with the 13th Air Service Group, 5th Air Force.
Paul Lewis, Navy: Pety Officer 2nd Class Lewis was a Motor Machinist Mate aboard LSM-241 in the Pacific. He saw action at Siapan, Tinian Islands, and the invasion of Iwo Jima.
Oliver Maggard, Jr., Air Corps: 1LT Maggard was a B-24 co-pilot with the 461st Bomb Group, 15th Air Force stationed in Italy. Mr. Maggard and others survived when their plane was shot down over Czechoslovakia. Evading enemy forces, they eventually made it back to their base.
Donald McNair, Navy: Fireman 1/c McNair was stationed at the Norfolk Navy yard where he worked on tugboats and ferryboats that escorted larger vessels.
Ed Moss, Navy: Machinest Mate 2nd Class Moss served in the Pacific aboard the U.S.S. Neosho, a refueling at-sea tanker. After the Okinawa campaign, the Neosho served off the coast of Japan complete with Kamikazes. It anchored one-third a mile from the U.S.S. Missouri as General MacArthur accepted the Japanese surrender.
Harry Myers, Army: Tech 5th grade Myers was a member of the 448th Ordance and 243rd Ordance Maintenance Supply Division in Cherbourg, France & in Goppingen, Germany which was part of the 3rd Army under General Patton. The 448th repaired jeeps, trucks, and 3/4 ton carryalls for the Red Ball Express.
Frank Oblinger, Air Corps: SGT Oblinger was a radio operator on a troop transport airplane in the states, and was stationed at Camp Crowder, Missouri; Lincoln Air Force Base, Minnesota; and Camp Holabird Signal Depot, Maryland.
Earl Records, Navy: Radioman 1/c Records was assigned to VC-13 in the Atlantic. It escorted convoys of merchant ships enroute to the European Theatre, and conducted submarine patrols for German U-boats. It also escorted President Roosevelt to his first meeting with Joseph Stalin, and the squadron captured German U-boat 505 which is on permanent exhibit at the Chicago Museum of Science & Industry.
Aubrey Rogers, Army: SGM Rogers served with the 1st Battalion, 253rd Infantry, 63rd Inf Division. He saw action at Haguenau, France, the battle of Colmar Pocket, and Kressbach known as "Bloody Sunday."
Gerald Stoner, Army: Corporal served with the 80th Infantry Division, 3rd Army and saw action in Northern France, Rhineland, and Ardennes. He participated in the Battle of the Bulge. His company also helped liberate POWs held in Buchenwald, Germany.
The following list indicates the individuals who attended the Tribute. In some cases, the spouse of the veteran attended because the veteran is deceased. Also, it is mentioned if the veterans has passed away since attending the Tribute. Bios are not listed of those who attended in 2001.