I'm sorry this is a day late... meet my Great-uncle Leo KIA WWII

[Omaha Steve]

I was watching Air Force on TCM the other night. Leo's flight that tried to land DURING the attack on Pearl Harbour is in the movie. It's in Tora, Tora, Tora too.

I went to the cemetery to see dad and plant a cheap flag. They will be throwing it away next Monday. I bragged about their great-granddaughter that made the Dean's List again at her University. Very good for a freshman. Mom and dad would have been so proud. That and grilling kept me busy yesterday. I plain forgot to post this.

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/104203723/leo-m.-eminger

1st Lt in the US Army Air Forces World War II.

Leo M. Eminger was the son of Paul George Eminger (1870-1965) and Maggie E. Guffey (1872-1944). He was one of at least eleven chlldren, including a twin sister, Cleo.

Leo attended New Mexico State College [a.k.a. NM A&M, now New State University (NMSU) in Las Cruces, NM]. At school (1838 yearbook), he was a member of the Ag club; a pledge to The New Mexico Chapter of Alpha Zeta (an honorary agricultural fraternity); and a corporal in R.O.T.C. Company A, 1st Platoon.

Leo enlisted enlisted in the Air Corps as an Aviation Cadet in the Regular Army on December 31,1940 at Santa Fe, NM: Education: 4 years college. Occupation: Actors & Actresses. Single. Height: 68". Weight: 135 pounds. Subsequently, Leo was a navigator on a flying fortress, and was one of the fliers that landed a plane at Pearl Harbor during the Japanese attack on Dec 7, 1941. Although he survived Pearl Harbor, he went missing in action in the southwest Pacific on September 24, 1942, and was later listed as dead. At the time of his death, Leo M. Eminger was a 1st Lt in the US Army Air Forces. The U.S. Veterans Gravesites, ca. 1775-2006 indicate that Leo is buried in Floyd Cemetery in Floyd, New Mexico 88118. However, the U.S. Rosters of World War II Dead, 1939-1945 state "unrecoverable".

Eminger served with the 11th Bombardment Group, 42nd Bombardment Squadron. On September 24, 1942 he was navigator on B-17E #41-2420, nicknamed 'Bessie the Jap Basher' along with three other bombers on a mission against surface ships at Shortland harbor in the Solomon Islands. They seriously damaged a cargo ship, then came under attack from about twenty Zero fighters. Barker's plane took damage and was last seen descending to sea level with fighters pursuing it. The pilot managed to keep it in the air for 290 miles before finally ditching it off Domo Cove at Guadalcanal.

At least two of the crew (the pilot Captain Charles E Norton and gunner Sgt Bruce Osborne) managed to make it to shore but both later died. The plane's wreckage was located by US forces in 1944 and no bodies were aboard. The fate of the rest of the crew was never determined, and they were all officially declared dead January 7, 1946.

Eminger received the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Air Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster and the Purple Heart. Because his body was not recovered, his name is inscribed on the Tablets of the Missing at the Manila American Cemetery in the Philippines.

[Irish_Dem]

1. Your uncle is commemorated in perpetuity at the Manila American Cemetery.

My uncle is there too. KIA during WWII.

The Manila American Cemetery and Memorial is a large military cemetery in Manila, Philippines, specifically in Fort Bonifacio, Taguig. It's the largest American military cemetery outside the United States, housing the remains of over 17,000 American servicemen and women who died during World War II, primarily in operations in the Philippines and New Guinea. The cemetery also honors those missing in action with a "Wall of the Missing".


https://weremember.abmc.gov/#!/print/certificate/231723

https://www.abmc.gov/video/manila-american-cemetery/?utm_campaign=Website

https://weremember.abmc.gov/#!/s?v=G&a=c&q=*&type=16&criteria=title%3Deminger

https://weremember.abmc.gov/#!/details?id=231723

[underpants]

2. Thank you Leo

[SheltieLover]

3. Many thanks, Leo

[Permanut]

4. Great tribute to 1st Lt.Leo Eminger..

This Navy vet offers a salute in thanks to Lt. Eminger for making the ultimate sacrifice.

And thanks for posting this, Omaha Steve.

[FirstLight]

5. wow...the picture hits home how YOUNG these soldiers usually were!

Thanks for sharing. May he RIP

[Irish_Dem]

6. Leo was only 25 years old when he died.

[FirstLight]

10. damn :(

My youngest is 22 and he's been contemplating military for a while. Makes me so nervous I just wish that there were more options he could consider...but no education or real skills make it hard to make enough to live on, and he's got a GF and a 2yr old

[Irish_Dem]

11. He can get some training/education and then go back to civilian life.

Back in the day, the US Air Force was considered the safest branch of service.

[AltairIV]

7. America's Finest, never to be forgotten.

A tragic loss of a young life. Thank you for your service, sir.

[Clouds Passing]

8. A hero and a good New Mexican. Your Uncle Leo...

Thank you 🙏🏼

[HAB911]

9. Salute to Leo

[Harker]

12. It's an honor.

[surfered]

13. 🫡🇺🇸

[JMCKUSICK]

14. Thank you OmahaSteve for sharing such

an important story. So many of us have now been introduced to 1st LT Leo M. Eminger. He is a hero of WWII that will only be known through sharing like yours.
As I suggested to NCgayguy last week regarding an AIDS thread, a thread honoring your parents or grandparents, brothers, and sisters for their sacrifice would be well received and thoroughly appreciated by generations of readers.
Let this be the start.

[red dog 1]

15. K&R

Thank you, Leo

[MustLoveBeagles]

16. Respect

[Omaha Steve]

17. Kick