AS A MEMBER OF THE 8TH AIR FORCE, 95TH BOMB GROUP, 335TH SQUADRON, HE PARTICIPATED IN 31 MISSIONS OVER ENEMY OCCUPIED EUROPE. HE FLEW A TOTAL OF 249 HOURS AND 5 MINUTES IN COMBAT AGAINST THE ENEMY AS LEAD WAIST GUNNER ON B-17'S. HE WAS WOUNDED ON JULY 11, 1944 ON A MISSION OVER MUNICH, GERMANY. HE WAS AWARDED THE AIR MEDAL, 1ST OAK LEAF CLUSTER, 2ND OAK LEAF CLUSTER AND THIRD OAK LEAF CLUSTER TO THE AIR MEDAL, THE DISTINGUISHED FLYING CROSS AND THE PURPLE HEART.