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| Sgt. Stanley Pearson was a B-25 mechanic for the 447th Bombardment Squadron in Italy. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/83676345/stanley-olaf-pearson https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:B-25J-10-_43-27425_447th_Bomb_Squadron_-_111_-_1944.jpg |
Stanley Olaf Pearson never had a chance to reach 100 years old today. Instead, he sacrificed his life for our freedom.
He was born on August 2, 1919 in Minnesota. His parents Ole and Selma were born in Sweden and Minnesota, respectively. His father worked as a farmer and later as a cedar yard timber checker. Still later he was employed as a road construction foreman. Stanley had one younger brother. By 1940 Stanley was still living at home, having completed four years of high school and was working as a truck driver. He married Olga Rise at some point after this.
He volunteered for the Army Air Forces in January 1942. He became a sergeant in the 447th Bombardment Squadron, 321st Bombardment Group, 12th Air Force, which was equipped with B-25 Mitchells. Sgt. Pearson served with the ground crew as a mechanic. The 321st BG was sent to Algeria in March 1943. It focused on operational targets, first in North Africa and later in Sicily, Italy, and the Balkans. Its base was moved to Gorttaglie, Italy in October 1943. It moved twice more by January 1944 and a further change to Guadon Airfield was made in February.
Sgt. Pearson was killed on February 19, 1944 when the B-25 he was flying in crashed while moving personnel to the new airfield in bad weather. Originally the plane was listed as missing.
His grave is at Fairview Cemetery in Kelliher, Minnesota. The VFW post in Kelliher is named in his honor. His widow remarried and died in 2011.
Last year on this date I profiled Silver Star hero Virgil Sowders, 45th Infantry Division. You can read about Virgil here.
On behalf of the fallen, if you would like to see more people become aware of this project to honor the WW2 fallen, be sure to share with others on Twitter, Facebook, etc. Thanks for your interest!
I created this video to explain why I started this project: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vXt8QA481lY.
Please consider joining the public Facebook group to increase the exposure of this project. Go to: WW2 Fallen 100
Thank you Stanley, For your heroically putting your life on the line for us all! You are a member of the greatest Generation! Raised during the depression; which fought for our freedom. The lucky one got to continue that fight at home. Making us the greatest nation on Earth! I am sorry that your Family had to live the rest of their lives without you! God Bless you and all of your Family!!
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