1st Lt. Myron W. “Bill” Wheat, Jr.
A fighter pilot in the US Army Air Corps from 1943-1946, Bill Wheat was assigned to the 86th Fighter Bomber Group (527 squadron) in the European theater of World War II. He flew a P-47 on 75 missions in Italy, France and Germany, and served as Flight Leader, responsible for the conduct of the mission. For extraordinary service, 1st Lt. Wheat received the Distinguished Flying Cross; a Distinguished Unit Citation; the Air Medal with 3 Oak Leaf Clusters; and the European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with 3 Bronze Stars for participation in North Apennines, Rhineland and Central European campaigns.
A cum laude graduate of the Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, MO, Dr. Wheat joined the University of Florida College of Medicine in 1958 as Asst. Professor of Surgery, and Chief of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery. In 1959, Dr. Wheat and his team performed Florida’s first open-heart surgery. Under his direction, the University of Florida cardiovascular surgery service initiated open-heart surgery at its teaching hospital, and formed of one of the leading diagnostic, heart surgery and heart research teams in the Southeast. He attended medical school on the G.I. Bill.
Dr. Wheat became an internationally-recognized heart surgeon and pioneer in the field of aggressive treatment and therapies for heart disease. Born March, 1924 in Sapulpa, Oklahoma, to Myron William and Mary Lee (Hudiburg) Wheat, Dr. Wheat is a 3rd great-grandson of Col. Joseph Hardin Sr., a Revolutionary War patriot. Throughout his life, Dr. Wheat raised horses, AKC hunting dogs, and participated in field trials.
1st Lt.  Myron W. “Bill” Wheat, Jr. is honored by Penelope, Pamela, Chip, Douglas & Christopher Wheat; Justin Langer; & Elijah Wheat.