By the age of 26 in 1945, Tech Sgt. Raphael Gonyea (Wolf Clan) was a veteran of numerous combat missions in the European theater. He had joined up in 1942 and became a gunner and radio operator on a B-24 Liberator, flying in 25 combat missions for the Army Air Forces (the braches were one during the war).

During Raphael’s stint of duty his plane was hit twice. The first time was on his seventh bombing mission over Germany. The plane had to make an emergency landing perilously close to the front lines just before Christmas.

His 25th bombing mission over Germany was even more dangerous. Once again the plane was hit by flak with the pilot attempting to get the hobbled plane back over Allied lines. However, it became necessary for the crew to parachute to safety in a small town in Yugoslavia. The same flak that hit his plane also struck his leg, leaving him with an injury that would lead to his Purple Heart.

Exandine Shenandoah (Wolf Clan) was in the Pacific fighting the Japanese during WWII. Enlisting in the Marine Corps in 1941 at age 18, Exandine saw action throughout the South Pacific including Guam and Guadalcanal. Exandine was an MP, military police, with the rank of sergeant. While serving in the Pacific he contracted malaria, which plagued him for the remainder of his life.

Oliver Hill Sr. (Wolf Clan) was a private in the Army during the World War II.

“He really didn’t say much of anything, actually he was told not to talk about it by the Army, and he stayed loyal to that,” said Clint Hill, Turtle Clan Representative. “The only thing I know is that he put up pontoon bridges and that he served in the Philippines.”

Lyman Johns (Turtle Clan) also served.