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Wall of Honor Level:
Air and Space Friend

Honored by:
Ms. Sandra Dwyer

Everett Chris "Sundy" Sunderman, the fourth son of Echol Everett and Minnie Mae Sunderman, was born in St. Mary, Pleasant Co., West Virginia and moved to Putnam, Texas in 1926, entering the second grade there. He graduated from Putnam High school where his mother worked as a cook in the cafeteria.
He graduated from Howard Payne University, in Brownwood, Texas and majored in history. He had a football scholarship there and served as quarterback. The day after he graduated, he took the exam for the army in Dallas after jumping trains to get there. He had 10 cents in his pocket and the exam took 2 days so the army put him up in barracks overnight. He was sworn into the US Army on November 1, 1941 in front of the Dallas, Texas courthouse.
Career Highlights: Air Force Pilot (B-17; B-29; B-36; B-52;KC-135); He was called to active duty with the Army Air Forces November 23,1941 and received his wings at Vitorville, California in May, 1942. Everett Chris "Sundy" Sunderman was sent to Australia where he piloted Flying Fortresses and earned six air metals including the Purple Heart for being wounded in action. He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross on Feb. 14, 1943 for engaging the Japanese enemy over Dadang in Northern New Guinea, drawing anti-aircraft fire so that other bombers in the formula could make their runs without interference. He lost an engine and nearly the other before successfully bringing the plane back to the base. The DFC was given to him by Lt. Gen. George C. Kenny, commander of the Allied Air Forces in the Southwest Pacific area. He was also honored by the Texas Legislature and Speaker of House Price Daniel with H.R.S. No., 130 adopted on March 4, 1943. His campaign ribbons bearing 3 stars signifying he was in three major campaigns include the Bismarck Sea Battle, the Solomon's Campaign, and the Papuan Battle.
After a short time as a civilian running a flight school, Everett Chris Sunderman was called back to serve during the Korean War. He stayed in the Air Force after that until retirement in 1970 earning the rank of Colonel.
Colonel Sunderman served in the Strategic Air Command. He was commander of troops in three wars. He culminated his service as Wing Commander, Deputy Base Commander of Clark Air Force Base in the Philippine Islands.
After retirement, he moved to Ft. Worth where he and his wife Lottie raised pecans.