Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Mark A. Welsh III (seated center) presented the Prisoner of War Medal to eight Army Air Corps members during a ceremony in the Pentagon, Washington, , April 30, 2014. From the left are Sgt. William G. Blackburn, Tech. Sgt. Alva H. Moss, 1st Lt. Paul J. Gambaiana, Lt. Col. (ret.) James I. Misuraca, Maj. (ret.) James V. Moran, 1st Lt. James F. Mahon, Staff Sgt. John G. Fox, Sgt. George E. Thursby. The eight aviators served in World War II . The eight aviators, all bomber crew members were shot down flying missions over Germany and were held in a prison camp in W
Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Mark A. Welsh III (seated center) presented the Prisoner of War Medal to eight Army Air Corps members during a ceremony in the Pentagon, Washington, , April 30, 2014. From the left are Sgt. William G. Blackburn, Tech. Sgt. Alva H. Moss, 1st Lt. Paul J. Gambaiana, Lt. Col. (ret.) James I. Misuraca, Maj. (ret.) James V. Moran, 1st Lt. James F. Mahon, Staff Sgt. John G. Fox, Sgt. George E. Thursby. The eight aviators served in World War II . The eight aviators, all bomber crew members were shot down flying missions over Germany and were held in a prison camp in Wauwilermoos, Switzerland. The men were originally denied POW status. Army Maj. Dwight Mears, whose grandfather, Lt. George Mears, who was held at the prison, fought diligently for 15 years to get the men recognized as POWs. Then Acting Secretary of the Air Force Eric Fanning authorized the medal for 143 Army Air Corps aviators in October of last year. Jim Varhegyi)
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