Donald Armstrong - Captain
- Air Medal with V (for valor) (Somalia)
- Purple Heart
Biography
Captain Don Armstrong was born to John Henry Armstrong and Eve Mae Crider on February 25, 1915. He grew up in Brooklyn, Iowa. Don was married to Helen Ruth Kubacky Armstrong.
After graduating from Iowa State in 1940, he enlisted in the Army Air Corps on September 5, 1940 at Fort Des Moines, Iowa. He made second lieutenant on September 13, 1941 and first lieutenant on October 6, 1942. Finally, the Air Corps promoted to Captain on July 12, 1943 with the 45th Troop Carrier Squadron, 326th Troop Carrier Group. He served in the Middle East theater before taking part in the invasion of Sicily. He was the navigator of the lead plane which carried paratroopers into the combat zone.
Don went missing in action at Gela, Sicily on July 11, 1943 and was confirmed dead a year later (July 11, 1944). He was posthumously awarded the Air Medal for meritorious achievement and the Purple Heart.
