Foil: 6 Panel: Distinguished Flying Cross Society Column: 4 Line: 7

Wall of Honor Level:
Air and Space Friend

Honored by:
Ms. Benita Barbiere

Orval Henry Kaiser entered the Army Air Corp on October 27, 1943 at age 18 and received basic training at Jefferson Barracks in St. Louis, MO. After additional training in seven states, he was sent to Tinian Island in the Pacific to serve with the 20th Air Force, 313 Wing, 9th Bomb Group, 99th Squadron. The 9th Bomb Group flew 75 combat missions, 2,012 sorties, and dropped 11,376 tons of bombs and mines. Under plane commander James Curry, Orval was the radar/observer on the B-29 Bomber, "Daring Donna."
During his two years of service, he served campaigns in the Eastern Mandates, the Western Pacific, and the Air Offensive, Japan. The decorations he received include 3 Bronze Stars for the campaigns listed above, a Distinguished Flying Cross with one OLC, and an Air Medal with 2 OLCs. Orval also received an Asiatic Pacific Campaign ribbon, an American Theater Campaign ribbon, a victory ribbon, and one overseas bar. The final missions of dropping food and supplies to POW camps were the most gratifying. He also was recalled during the Korean War and was assigned to Castle AFB and 15th HQ at March AFB.
Orval Kaiser served his country well and returned home to his high school sweetheart, Ruth Lynn. They have two daughters, Benita and Rhea, and five granddaughters, Kristen, Marisa, Mindy, Megan, and Michelle. Two beloved grandsons, Michael and Keith, have gone on before him. Orval and Ruth celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary on January 2, 2005.
Orval has attended reunions on the 9th Bomb Group and looks forward to his first visit to the National Air and Space Museum's Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center, as well as the World War II Memorial in Washington, DC. He is a wonderful husband, father, grandfather, and countryman.