News-Info-Alerts

To: ALL

From: Andi Wolos & Bob Necci

(POW-MIA InterNetwork)

Re: Better Late Than Never

Date: July 14, 2001

"WW II Vet Recieves Distinguished Flying Cross
Sgt. Anson Riley has been waiting 57 years for the day he would bask in a war hero's welcome, and that day came Thursday.

The California Army National Guard sought and secured the Distinguished Flying Cross for Riley – a World War II gunner.

"It's the most accepted honor of everybody in the Air Force that died so that I might be alive. And I will cherish that all my life," Riley said.

Riley flew 11 missions in a B-17. His plane was named "Destiny's Child," and he flew underneath in a ball turret.

According to Riley, he was the last man out of his plane when it was shot down over Germany. He continued to fire his gun as his crewmates bailed out. When he parachuted, both his legs were broken.

Riley was a POW until the war's end. And because of his injuries, he spent the rest of the war in a body cast.

The award to his heroism is late but not forgotten.

"It doesn't matter if it was 57 years ago or yesterday. It was still an incredible, heroic event," Maj. Gen. Daniel of the California Air National Guard said."