Tribute to Homer L. Reynolds
460th Bomb Group Insignia
Branch of Service: US Army Air Corps
Unit: 460th Bomb Group, Fifteenth Air Force
Homer was born June 9, 1922 in Geneseo, Kansas, the son of Elmer Oaks and Gladys Teater Reynolds. He grew up in El Dorado, Kansas and graduated with the Class of 1940. He married Marjorie Mae Dunlap in 1941. Marjorie died in 2001. He then married Marion Ruck Jackson and she preceded him in death in 2005. He retired from Baker Hughes Oilfield Sales and Service.
Before entering the service, Homer worked a short time in Kansas City modifying the B-25 bombers that Colonel James Doolittle and his force used for the daring raid on Tokyo, Japan in April, 1942. Homer served his country during World War II in the 460th Bomb Group, Fifteenth Air Force. He served as a gunner aboard B-24 bombers. During one of his missions, his plane was shot down and he became a prisoner of war in Germany. He served his time as a POW in Stalag Luft III for 13 months. Homer served in the same unit as local philanthropist Clifford Stone and both were POW's during the same time period. Homer earned the Purple Heart and the Prisoner of War Medal. A memorial bench to his service can be found at the Veteran's Memorial in front of the Butler County Courthouse in El Dorado, Kansas.
The above medals from left to right are: Purple Heart, Prisoner of War (front), Prisoner of War (back)
Homer had 5 brothers that also served during World War II and all made it home after the war. Three of the brothers served in the Navy and two served in the Army. Despite Homer's time as a POW, he survived and lived a good long life.
Submitted by George D. Reynolds (brother)
Updated 11/22/09