The handsome young sergeant from Alabama had enlisted in the Army Air Corps with hopes of being a pilot, only to face disappointment.  So he served instead as a bombardier aboard the B-29, The City of Los Angeles.

On a mission over Japan on April 12, 1945 he recoiled in horror as the white phosphorus marking grenade he had dropped down a specially placed chute, blew back into his face, melting it before landing hear 3 tons of unreleased bombs.  Smoke filled the plane causing it to dive, taking 12 men to what would be certain death.

Blinded, the young sergeant did the unbelievable, feeling through the smoke to find the still flaming flare.  Despite the intense fire that burned at thousands of degrees fareinheight, he hugged the deadly canister to his body.  His whole body now in flames, his face melted and his clothing burned away, he slowly struggled towards the cockpit with the burning flare pressed tightly against his body.  Finally he reached his goal, used his last ounce of strength to throw the deadly flare through an open window, and then collapsed to the floor.  At great personal sacrifice he had done the impossible, saving the lives of his friends.