Flight Officer William E. Kern

Born: 24 January 1921

Parents: William & Jeanette Kern

Siblings: 3 sisters

Home:

    - 1513 South Mango Avenue, Forest Park, Illinois

Education:

    - Saint Bernadine School

    - Proviso Township High School

        - Class of 1939

    - Illinois Institute of Technology

        - left school after two years to enlist

Enlisted:

    - U.S. Army Air Corps

        - 5 January 1942 - Chicago, Illinois

Serial Number: T-00086

Training: 

    - Fort Morgan, Alabama

    - Fort Sumner, New Mexico

    - Victorville Air Field, California

Unit: 79th Transport Squadron, 436th Troop Carrier Group

            - flew C-47 - 

Engagements:

    - Invasion of Sicily

    - Invasion of Italy

    - Invasion of France

        - D-Day - 82nd Airbonre

    - Invasion Southern France

        - towed gliders and dropped paratroopers - 15 August 1944

    - Dropped supplies to troops in Southern Italy also on 15 August 1944      

Killed in Action:

    - 15 August 1944

        - plane shot down - Capraia, Italy

Buried: 

    - Sicily Rome American Military Cemetery, Nettuno, Italy

Medals:

    - Purple Heart

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