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Biography
 
Gerald Duval - 1943 Gerald Duval
Gerald Duval Air Gunner radio operator - S/Sgt-1943 Gerald Duval 1999....US ARMY Retired
 
Last Name: 
DUVAL		 First Name Middle Initial:
GERALD		 Nick Name:
'JERRY'
Street:  City & State: PANAMA CITY BEACH, FL E-Mail:  xra@earthlink.net
Zip: 32407 Phone:  Spouse: THELMA J.
Conflict: WW II Service Branch: Army Air Corp Unit: 459 BG  759 BS 15AF
Theater:  ETO Where Captured: Austria Date Captured: 04/02/44
Camps Held In: LUFT 1 AND LABOR CAMPS laid in the first labor camp without medical aid ..except for a limp body cast. No Red Cross.. food or medicine were supplied. The Camp was near a Battery of Flak Guns. This was not in accordance with the Geneva Convention. How Long Interned: 421 days
Liberated / repatriated: liberated Date Liberated: 05/28/45 Age at Capture: 20
Medals Received: Purple Heart Medal, Air Medal, Presidential Unit Citation, Prisoner Of War Medal, ETO Campaign Medal, Good Conduct Ribbon
Military Job: RADIO OPERATOR AND GUNNER Company: STUDENT-RETURNED US ARMY...UNDER COMBAT DISABILITY WAIVER
Occupation after War:  RETIRED FROM ARMY WORKED AS POLICE ID TECH, .DIST MGR RADIO SHACK, OWNED PRIVATE INV AGENCY.

 

Bio:

The feeling of being pinned to the fuselage of a rapidly spinning bomber was one of impending doom. There was no way I could break the grip that mother nature applied. From the small window near the camera hatch I could see the world suddenly go into wild gyrations. The whoosh whoosh of the rapidly spinning aircraft testified to the fact that we were out of control. There was no chance of recovery. Try as I might I could not raise my chin from my chest where it was pressed so firmly. If I were on the flight deck at my regular duty station there may have been a chance. The mountain tops were getting closer. I could see them better as I said goodbye to my Mom. Instinctively at a time like this the goodbyes are always for Mom. She is the closest blood tie. When death is staring you in the face, it's always Mom who is there with you. I realized that without a parachute and unable to open the camera hatch I did not stand a chance.
Suddenly a strange kind of peace came over me. I no longer struggled to survive. I was resigned to my fate. There was blood on the faces of my crew members. They appeared in a state of shock. Everything was moving in slow motion, the mountain tops were getting closer........Goodbye Mom!!!!

 

Message to Future Generations:

The Message Gerald Duval would like to leave to future generations is in his book "Wings and Barbed Wire".  Printed Version can be previewed at www.1stbooks.com and ordered via the website.  It is also on sale at www.amazon.com and www.barnesandnoble.com. Urge your local library to order a few copies. The toll free number at 1st Books  is 1-888-280-7715.

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