January Bandstand Notice
LeRoy Bone
LeRoy Wesley Bone
May 10, 1923 – April 2, 1983
U.S. Army Air Force, 728th Bombardment Squadron
Sergeant
The flag flying over the bandstand during the month of January is in honor of LeRoy Wesley Bone.
Bone was employed at the Rohr Aircraft Company in Chula Vista, California, when he entered the Army Air Force in October 1943. He received training at Buckley Field, Denver, CO; Kingman, AZ; and Lincoln, NE before the combat crew was assembled and trained in Rapid City, SD.
At the age of 21, he arrived in England and was stationed at the 8th Bombardment Station in August 1944. He served as a right waist gunner, took aerial photos with a 7-mm camera, was responsible for maintenance of guns, loading of ammunition, and bombs on Flatbush Floogie, a B-17 Flying Fortress of the 452nd Bombardment Group. Over the next several months, he flew 18 missions and his division was cited by the President for historic England-to-Africa Shuttle bombing of Messerschmitt aircraft factories. Flying in what is considered the toughest theatre of aerial warfare.
He was awarded the Air Medal on November 25, 1944, for “meritorious achievement” while taking part in 8th Air Force bombing attacks on vital German industrial targets and on Nazi military strong points, in support of advances by Allies ground forces. The award states, “The courage, coolness and skill displayed by this Enlisted Man upon these occasions reflect great credit upon himself and the Armed Forces of the United States.”
December 13, 1944, he was award his first Oak Leaf Clusters, again for “meritorious achievements” and again on January 5th he was awarded a second Oak Leaf Cluster, again for “meritorious achievements.”
He was awarded the Purple Heart for wounds he received on December 31, 1944, over Germany and sent to England to recuperate. He returned to the United States, July 16, 1945, and was discharged from O’Reilly General Hospital, Springfield, MO, January 16, 1945.
LeRoy returned to Oskaloosa where he continued to recover from his wounds. When he was able, he began working for the Disabled American Veterans Chapter 21. He traveled a territory near Oskaloosa and visited other disabled veterans, helping to insure that they received the care and benefits they deserved. LeRoy also served as President of DAV Chapter 21 for many years. Later in life, he sold cars for Bone and VanZee Motors and for a brief time sold boats for Don Lloyd.
If you are interested in flying the flag of a veteran above the bandstand, contact Shawn Langkamp at Garland-VanArkel-Langkamp Funeral Chapel at 641-672-2181 or www.langkampfuneralchapel.com Contact Us Link.
