FORREST L VOSLER MEDAL OF HONOR MEMORIAL GRAVE STONE

TECHNICAL SERGEANT, U.S. ARMY AIR CORPS, 358TH BOMBER SQUADRON, 303D BOMB GROUP, OVER BREMEN, GERMANY, 20 DECEMBER 1943. AFTER BOMBING THE TARGET, THE AIRCRAFT IN WHICH T/SGT. VOSLER WAS SERVING WAS SEVERELY DAMAGED BY ANTI AIRCRAFT FIRE, FORCED OUT OF THE 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 WOUNDED 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 GUN 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-AIR 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 CREW MEMBERS COULD HELP THEM INTO THE DINGY. 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 CREW MEMBER, WERE OUTSTANDING FOR CONSPICUOUS GALLANTRY AND INTREPIDITY ABOVE AND BEYOND THE CALL OF DUTY T/SGT. VOSLER WAS AWARDED THE CONGRESSIONAL MEDAL OF HONOR.