Interviews

Arther Leach flew F-6F Hellcats off of the carrier USS Yorktown in World War II. His squadron never lost an aircraft due to enemy action and downed more than 90 of the enemy. Art stayed in the US Navy Reserve after the war and was recalled for the Korean War but was never deployed to Korea. During that time he flew F-9F Panthers. 171m   VIDEO

A documentary by Ewa Baska and Magdalena Wrona. Interview in 2005 with Donald J. O'Brien who was awarded a Silver Star for actions in Vietnam as a Combat Medic. Rank: Specialist 5th Class.  MOS: 91 B40, Medical Specialist.  Unit: 2nd BN, 1st Infantry, 196th Light Infantry Brigade.  Dates in Vietnam Service: 1966-1967. 24m VIDEO

Interviewed on 9 May 2019 at the age of 97.  He served in WWII.  He was originally from Louisiana but moved to Morris to take a job at Witze Cafe to replace a person that was drafted.  He soon found himself working at the Joliet Arsenal until he also was drafted.  He was a chemical ordinance NCO.  38m VIDEO

Riz talks of his time in revive WWII and Korea. He was a pilot in the famed Flying Tigers during WWII. He wea in the China-India-Burma Theater.  He went on to open a grocery on Liberty St. In Morris. 61m VIDEO

Richard "Riz" Chiounard
Born: February 11, 1922 Goodland, Indiana
Died: July 19, 2016 age 94 Morris, Illinois

Interred at Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery, Columbarium C3-50 Row C Site 15.

Served as a P-51 Mustang combat pilot in the United States Army Air Corps during WWII and in various Army and Air Force Exchange management positions in the reserves and the Korean Conflict.

Member of John Martin Steele VFW Post 6049 in Morris, the Morris American Legion Post 294, The Knights of Columbus, Morris Moose Lodge 967, and Morris Fraternal Order of Eagles.

Recording of Riz on June 25, 2009, talking to Bill Atkinson at the Grundy County Historical Society Museum. VIDEO 12m

Richard "Riz" Chiounard

Born: February 11, 1922 Goodland, Indiana
Died: July 19, 2016 age 94 Morris, Illinois

Interred at Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery, Columbarium C3-50 Row C Site 15.

Served as a P-51 Mustang combat pilot in the United States Army Air Corps during WWII and in various Army and Air Force Exchange management positions in the reserves and the Korean Conflict.

Member of John Martin Steele VFW Post 6049 in Morris, the Morris American Legion Post 294, The Knights of Columbus, Morris Moose Lodge 967, and Morris Fraternal Order of Eagles.

Rhode  was interviewed  as  part  of  the  Illinois  Veterans  History  Project  at   the  DAV  state  convention  on  June 15, 2013. Rhode served in Army in Veitnam 1968-69.   36m VIDEO    

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