Jesse David Ward,Jr. was born in Dixie, Ga to J D and Mary E Powell Ward.
He married Frances Johnson of Eufula, AL. He joined the US Army Air Corps Feb 3, 1943 as an Aviation Cadet in Midland, TX. He graduated as a bombardier and was commissioned a 2nd Lt.
By April 28, 1944 J. D. was overseas assigned to the 464th Bomb. Group, 777th Squadron, 55th Bomber Wing in the Fifteenth Air Force stationed at Gioia Airfield in Gioia del Colle, Italy.
On his 10th mission to bomb a railroad marshalling yard in Nimes France his plane Old Gran Dad's Dream piloted by Shack Parrish received a direct flack hit. All 10 crew members perished. A stone momument was erected by a French Association and receives military recognition by France & the U.S.
His daughter Jerry Frances Ward Beamon was born in November 1944 after his death and was invited by the French to a military ceremony many years later.
Lt. J. D. Ward, Jr was returned after the end of WWII to be buried with military honors behind his ancestral home in the Dixie Cemetery in Brooks Co, GA
He married Frances Johnson of Eufula, AL. He joined the US Army Air Corps Feb 3, 1943 as an Aviation Cadet in Midland, TX. He graduated as a bombardier and was commissioned a 2nd Lt.
By April 28, 1944 J. D. was overseas assigned to the 464th Bomb. Group, 777th Squadron, 55th Bomber Wing in the Fifteenth Air Force stationed at Gioia Airfield in Gioia del Colle, Italy.
On his 10th mission to bomb a railroad marshalling yard in Nimes France his plane Old Gran Dad's Dream piloted by Shack Parrish received a direct flack hit. All 10 crew members perished. A stone momument was erected by a French Association and receives military recognition by France & the U.S.
His daughter Jerry Frances Ward Beamon was born in November 1944 after his death and was invited by the French to a military ceremony many years later.
Lt. J. D. Ward, Jr was returned after the end of WWII to be buried with military honors behind his ancestral home in the Dixie Cemetery in Brooks Co, GA
Jesse David Ward,Jr. was born in Dixie, Ga to J D and Mary E Powell Ward.
He married Frances Johnson of Eufula, AL. He joined the US Army Air Corps Feb 3, 1943 as an Aviation Cadet in Midland, TX. He graduated as a bombardier and was commissioned a 2nd Lt.
By April 28, 1944 J. D. was overseas assigned to the 464th Bomb. Group, 777th Squadron, 55th Bomber Wing in the Fifteenth Air Force stationed at Gioia Airfield in Gioia del Colle, Italy.
On his 10th mission to bomb a railroad marshalling yard in Nimes France his plane Old Gran Dad's Dream piloted by Shack Parrish received a direct flack hit. All 10 crew members perished. A stone momument was erected by a French Association and receives military recognition by France & the U.S.
His daughter Jerry Frances Ward Beamon was born in November 1944 after his death and was invited by the French to a military ceremony many years later.
Lt. J. D. Ward, Jr was returned after the end of WWII to be buried with military honors behind his ancestral home in the Dixie Cemetery in Brooks Co, GA
He married Frances Johnson of Eufula, AL. He joined the US Army Air Corps Feb 3, 1943 as an Aviation Cadet in Midland, TX. He graduated as a bombardier and was commissioned a 2nd Lt.
By April 28, 1944 J. D. was overseas assigned to the 464th Bomb. Group, 777th Squadron, 55th Bomber Wing in the Fifteenth Air Force stationed at Gioia Airfield in Gioia del Colle, Italy.
On his 10th mission to bomb a railroad marshalling yard in Nimes France his plane Old Gran Dad's Dream piloted by Shack Parrish received a direct flack hit. All 10 crew members perished. A stone momument was erected by a French Association and receives military recognition by France & the U.S.
His daughter Jerry Frances Ward Beamon was born in November 1944 after his death and was invited by the French to a military ceremony many years later.
Lt. J. D. Ward, Jr was returned after the end of WWII to be buried with military honors behind his ancestral home in the Dixie Cemetery in Brooks Co, GA
Inscription
US AIR FORCE
Lieut J. D. Ward Jr
Sept 29 1920
May 27 1944
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