Medals
Received: AIR MEDAL, AM, AMERICAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL - WORLD WAR
II, Good Conduct, EUROPEAN THEATER/W/3 BRONZE STARS (ROME ARNO - AIR
DEFENSE ETO - AIR COMBAT - BALKANS) MIDDLE EAST CAMPAIGN MEDAL (EAME) (ETO), PRISONER
OF WAR MEDALS,
Military
Job: Armor, Tail Gunner (MOS 612)
Company:
U.S. Postal Service
Occupation
after War: Postmaster, Farmland Ind.
Bio:
Wayne Hitchcock was elected and installed as National Commander of the
American Ex-Prisoners of War on September 27, 1987, at the 50th National
Convention held in Tacoma, WA after serving in all the chairs and
several years on the legislative committee, the past 3 years as
chairman.
Hitchcock, reared on a farm in Indiana, graduated from a small country
high school, attended Ball State University, Muncie, IN for a short
time, entering the service in 1942. Assigned to the Army Air Corps, he
was sent to Aerial Gunnery School, Buckingham Air Base located near Ft.
Myers, Florida and remained there for a time as an instructor, later
joining a combat crew and trained for overseas duty in B-24s. Upon
arriving in Foggia, Italy, his crew was assigned to B17s. Hitchcock,
flying as tail gunner, was shot down, April 3, 1944, over Hungary on his
14th mission and after a few infamous box car rides, spent the next 13
months in Stalag 17B, Krems, Austria. The camp was evacuated April 8,
1945 and the prisoners were marched across Austria and liberated on May
3, 1945 by Patton's 3rd Army.
Returning to Indiana, Hitchcock became a home builder, land developer
and real estate broker, later returning to government service and
retiring after 30 years, the last 23 as postmaster. He and his wife,
Joanna (Jo) retired to Florida in 1979. Since retirement, they both have
donated full time to the American Ex-Prisoners of War Organization. He
has held office and/or served on essential committees at the department
and national level sin 1982. This past year he served as senior Vice
Commander, National Legislative Chairman and Legislative Reporter.
A life member of the VFW, American Legion, DAV and American Ex-Prisoners
of War, a member of the Methodist church, spent 20 years as Boy
Scoutmaster and a 50 year member of Lions International. k Hitchcock was
awarded, among others, the Air Medal with one Oak Leaf, European
Campaign Medal with 3 Stars and the Prisoner of War Medal.
Hitchcock was instrumental in obtaining funds for the National Prisoner
of War Museum at Andersonville, GA. The museum was dedicated on April 9,
1998 during his term as Commander. Also he was privileged to speak along
with President Clinton on Veterans Day (November 11, 1997) at the
Arlington National Cemetery.
Hitchcock and his wife of 56 years have traveled extensively throughout
the word and are the parents of one daughter, one son (now deceased), 5
grandchildren and one great grandson.
Message to Future Generations:
MESSAGE DELIVERED 11/11/97 AT ARLINGTON CEMETERY: President Clinton,
Acting Secretary Gober, Superintendent Jack Metzler, General Foley,
honored guest and commanders of the veteran's organizations. We may live
in peaceful times, but it was not always so and may not be in the
future. The honored veterans who gave their lives and those who survived
remind us of our countries heritage, and responsibility to serve in
times of war. Veteran's organizations by their our very existence, stand
for a kind of character that must be preserved forever. This is
necessary if our nation, or any nation, is to survive and remain strong.
We answered a call during WWII, Korea, Vietnam and other conflicts that
threatened our ideals and beliefs. We did our duty as fighting and went
home. Some recovered from the wounds of war, and built new lives for
themselves and loved ones. Many gave up what they could never recover
and still linger in pain and suffering. Many only lost time at home with
sweethearts, wives, husbands, parents and children. Some gave up careers
or advancements they would never later achieve. Many gave their lives!
But in doing so, let us think that life for others became much more
meaningful. As solders, we lived for the hope of peace beyond all
battles and sacrifices. We lived beyond the moment's inequities and
inconveniences. We lived for the future more than the present. We lived
for others rather than for ourselves. Today the American Soldier
represents for all the world a kind of character that neither this
nation nor the entire planet ever dare to be without. What has made us
strong and great is our willingness to sacrifice today for what tomorrow
can bring in both peace and war. Let us remember always, that whenever
the world freedom is at stake, we must rise again like we did for WWII.
It matters not the wounds of battle or the lingering pain that always
follows. What matters most is our commitment and devotion to our
countries freedom. Sometimes at great cost to ourselves we must defend
our nation when these ideals are threatened. This justifies the
sacrifice for the American fighting men. My prayer for all time is that
our country, AMERICA, still embodies all these values in the future.
Wounds will heal, pain will cease, but what we fought and suffered for
will live forever, as long as those who come after us share that same
devotion
