Born High Point North Carolina. Enlisted US Army Air Corps 1940. Stationed Hickam Field Pearl Harbor 1941. Survived Japanese attack 7 Dec 1941. Pilot Training Williams Field Arizona 1942. Assigned to European Theater 1943. Was shot down by enemy fire during a reconnoissance mission near Eisenach on 21 Nov 44 in P-51D 44-14328. Sustained severe injuries. Broke both arms and legs. Picked up by Luftwaffe and spent rest of the war as POW in prison hospital at camp Stalag 9c Bad Sulza Saxe Weimar 51 11. Remained on active duty following the wars end in 1945. Last assignment was Deputy Base Commander at Strategic Air Command Barksdale Air Force Base. Retired from Active USAF Service January 1, 1964 as Colonel.