Edward V. Rossi, born Jan. 1, 1922 in Center Ridge, AR. Enlisted in the USAAF Aug. 31, 1942. Assigned to Keesler Field, MS and graduated from Airplane Mechanics School March 1943. A Graduate of aviation cadets in Rochester, N.Y. in 1943. He was assigned to Gunnery School Tyndall Field, FL. In February, 1944 at Davis-Monthan Field, Tucson, AZ, he was assigned to the 7th Air Force on a B-24J Bomber as a staff sergeant. He was assigned to the South Pacific where he flew 40 combat missions from the Island of Angular (Palau Island Group)
On Jan. 4, 1945 his 15th mission as a nose gunner, they bombed Clark Field, southwest Philippine Islands. They were escorted by P-38s to the target. The flak was very intense and got hit just above the nose turret. He got his first shot at a Zeke at 1 o'clock high and its way down clipped part of the wing of plane information. Also destroyed 87 enemy planes on the ground.
Between Flights he managed 494th Bomb Group baseball team and pitched the team to the Island Championship. Honorably discharged July 26, 1945. Awarded DFC, Air Medal w/Silver OLC and Bronze OLC.
He enrolled at Western Michigan University in Kalamazoo, Michigan and graduated with a BS in January 1950, then signed a pro baseball contract with the Boston Braves.
For 40 years he operated a successful State Farm Insurance Agency in Kalamazoo, Michigan and retired in 1995.
Ed and Jean celebrated their 50th anniversary in Sept. 3, 1999. He has five children and 9 grandchildren and 1 great grandchild.