Veterans' Memorial Project

Charles William Cross

Rockford, IL

World War II

College: Engineering

Graduation Year: Attended 1939-1942

Service Branch: Army

Rank: Second Lieutenant

Date of Birth: 08/04/1921

Date of Death: 02/29/1944

Affiliations: Phi Kappa Sigma

Lieutenant Cross left the University in 1943 to enter the service. He was an aerial reconnaissance pilot with the Division Artillery, American Division and disappeared in the Bougainville jungle (Papua/New Guinea) in February, 1944. The pilot and his companion, a Fijian lieutenant, crashlanded into the jungle while on their 13th reconnaissance mission, and wandered without food for 12 days until Lt. Cross collapsed. When the Fijian returned later with a rescue party, Lt. Cross had disappeared. He is listed as Missing in Action or Buried at Sea on the Tablets of the Missing at Manila American Cemetery, Manila, Philippines. He was posthumously awarded the Air Medal, Legion of Merit, and Purple Heart.

-taken from Illinois Alumni News, June, 1946 and Web site above

Further information: https://www.abmc.gov

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