Zeigler, Illinois Website

Staff Sergeant Donald T. Stanley
U.S. Army Air Force 1944

Stanley, Donald T. - After graduation from Royalton High School Don Stanley enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Force in 1942. On March 31, 1943 he was certified as a Radio Operator and in June of that same year he was awarded Silver Wings. Staff Sergeant Stanley was in action in two areas of Europe - with the 459th Bomb Group in the Balkins and the 756th Bomb Squadron in RomeArno. During combat in these two theaters Stanley earned the Air Medal and four Bronze Stars with Oak Leaf Clusters. On July 2, 1944, while flying his last mission before returning to the United States, his B24 liberator was struck by German antiaircraft fire over Budapest, Hungary. He was incarcerated as a Prisoner of War at Stalag Luft IV for a period of 13 months. In 1945, after the surrender of Germany, Stanley was released and he returned to his home in Creek Nation.

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