| Memorial Corner O'Fallon, Illinois |
| October 2005 |
| Lt. Dale Willard United States Army Air Corps World War II +++ (1923-1944) |
| Dale Willard was born at Willard’s Station, O’Fallon Township on May 13, 1923, the only child of Frederick and Elizabeth (Jung) Willard. After graduating from O’Fallon Township High School with the class of 1941, he attended Tri-State College in Angola, Indiana as an engineering student. In November 1942, while still in college, he enlisted in the Army Air Corps. After training, he was transferred to Maxwell Field in Montgomery, Alabama. On October 2, 1943, he married Iris Yaeger of New Baden. The next year, on March 12, 1944 he graduated as B-24 bomber pilot at Stuttgart, Arkansas and was commissioned a lieutenant. In October 1944, he left for overseas duty in Europe. Two months later, on December 4, he was killed when his plane crashed in Italy. He was 21 years old. He was survived by wife, parents and grandmother Mary Jung. Lt. Willard was temporarily buried in Europe but was later moved to College Hill in Lebanon. He gave his life that we might live free! Biography and photo courtesy of O’Fallon Historical Society Memorial Corner flag raising, Saturday October 1, 2005 |
