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TSGT Forrest Lee Vosler

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TSGT Forrest Lee Vosler Famous memorial Veteran

Birth
Lyndonville, Orleans County, New York, USA
Death
17 Feb 1992 (aged 68)
Titusville, Brevard County, Florida, USA
Burial
Arlington, Arlington County, Virginia, USA GPS-Latitude: 42.9639, Longitude: -75.1936
Plot
Section 60, Grave 4924
Memorial ID
View Source
World War II Medal of Honor Recipient. Served during World War II in the United States Army Air Corps as a Technical Sergeant in the 358th Bomber Squadron, 303nd Bomber Group. He was awarded the CMOH for his bravery on December 20, 1943. His citation reads “For conspicuous gallantry in action against the enemy above and beyond the call of duty while serving as a radio operator-air gunner on a heavy bombardment aircraft in a mission over Bremen, Germany, on 20 December 1943. After bombing the target, the aircraft in which T/Sgt. Vosler was serving was severely damaged by antiaircraft fire, forced out of formation, and immediately subjected to repeated vicious attacks by enemy fighters. Early in the engagement a 20-mm. cannon shell exploded in the radio compartment, painfully wounding T/Sgt. Vosler in the legs and thighs. At about the same time a direct hit on the tail of the ship seriously wounded the tail gunner and rendered the tail guns inoperative. Realizing the great need for firepower in protecting the vulnerable tail of the ship, T/Sgt. Vosler, with grim determination, kept up a steady stream of deadly fire. Shortly thereafter another 20-mm. enemy shell exploded, wounding T/Sgt. Vosler in the chest and about the face. Pieces of metal lodged in both eyes, impairing his vision to such an extent that he could only distinguish blurred shapes. Displaying remarkable tenacity and courage, he kept firing his guns and declined to take first-aid treatment. The radio equipment had been rendered inoperative during the battle, and when the pilot announced that he would have to ditch, although unable to see and working entirely by touch, T/Sgt. Vosler finally got the set operating and sent out distress signals despite several lapses into unconsciousness. When the ship ditched, T/Sgt. Vosler managed to get out on the wing by himself and hold the wounded tail gunner from slipping off until the other crewmembers could help them into the dinghy. T/Sgt. Vosler's actions on this occasion were an inspiration to all serving with him. The extraordinary courage, coolness, and skill he displayed in the face of great odds, when handicapped by injuries that would have incapacitated the average crewmember, were outstanding”. His Medal was awarded to him on September 6, 1944 by President Franklin D. Roosevelt. Following his discharge in October 1944 and a lengthy recovery period, he attended college and earned a bachelor's degree. He then spent a 30-year career with the Veteran's Administration in Syracuse, New York, counseling other veterans and performing community service.
World War II Medal of Honor Recipient. Served during World War II in the United States Army Air Corps as a Technical Sergeant in the 358th Bomber Squadron, 303nd Bomber Group. He was awarded the CMOH for his bravery on December 20, 1943. His citation reads “For conspicuous gallantry in action against the enemy above and beyond the call of duty while serving as a radio operator-air gunner on a heavy bombardment aircraft in a mission over Bremen, Germany, on 20 December 1943. After bombing the target, the aircraft in which T/Sgt. Vosler was serving was severely damaged by antiaircraft fire, forced out of formation, and immediately subjected to repeated vicious attacks by enemy fighters. Early in the engagement a 20-mm. cannon shell exploded in the radio compartment, painfully wounding T/Sgt. Vosler in the legs and thighs. At about the same time a direct hit on the tail of the ship seriously wounded the tail gunner and rendered the tail guns inoperative. Realizing the great need for firepower in protecting the vulnerable tail of the ship, T/Sgt. Vosler, with grim determination, kept up a steady stream of deadly fire. Shortly thereafter another 20-mm. enemy shell exploded, wounding T/Sgt. Vosler in the chest and about the face. Pieces of metal lodged in both eyes, impairing his vision to such an extent that he could only distinguish blurred shapes. Displaying remarkable tenacity and courage, he kept firing his guns and declined to take first-aid treatment. The radio equipment had been rendered inoperative during the battle, and when the pilot announced that he would have to ditch, although unable to see and working entirely by touch, T/Sgt. Vosler finally got the set operating and sent out distress signals despite several lapses into unconsciousness. When the ship ditched, T/Sgt. Vosler managed to get out on the wing by himself and hold the wounded tail gunner from slipping off until the other crewmembers could help them into the dinghy. T/Sgt. Vosler's actions on this occasion were an inspiration to all serving with him. The extraordinary courage, coolness, and skill he displayed in the face of great odds, when handicapped by injuries that would have incapacitated the average crewmember, were outstanding”. His Medal was awarded to him on September 6, 1944 by President Franklin D. Roosevelt. Following his discharge in October 1944 and a lengthy recovery period, he attended college and earned a bachelor's degree. He then spent a 30-year career with the Veteran's Administration in Syracuse, New York, counseling other veterans and performing community service.

Inscription

MEDAL OF HONOR
TSGT USAAC
WORLD WAR II
SS (SILVER STAR) PH (PURPLE HEART)




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  • Maintained by: Find a Grave
  • Added: Sep 21, 2000
  • Find a Grave Memorial ID:
  • Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/12676/forrest_lee-vosler: accessed ), memorial page for TSGT Forrest Lee Vosler (29 Jul 1923–17 Feb 1992), Find a Grave Memorial ID 12676, citing Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Arlington County, Virginia, USA; Maintained by Find a Grave.