Thomas W Floyd

Thomas William Floyd (Bill)
Bill Floyd was born on a farm southeast of Bismarck, Il, about 4 1/2 miles, in 1922 to Carl and Ruth Floyd at his grandparent’s home.
He went to a one room school, Grange Hall, about 1 mile north of his home. His family moved to Cheneyville, Il for a couple years as his Dad worked for the railroad, then moved back to the home place near Bismarck.
He graduated from Grange Hall school, then went to Bismarck High School when he graduated in 1941.
He had a brother, Kenneth, and 2 sisters, Marjorie, and Ruby Jane, an infant, who preceded him in death.
When Bill graduated from high school in the same year as my brother, Joe Hall, jobs were very scarce. He joined the CCC (Civilian Conservation Corp) after high school graduation.
Then on Dec 7, 1941 Japan attacked Pearl Harbor, and soon Bill joined the United States Air Force. He was trained very quickly, and wound up as a Belly Gunner on a B17 in England, and flew about 30 missions over Germany, France, etc. He was about to get out of the service after that many missions, but another company had lost so many planes, he and others volunteered to fly 6 more missions for that company. His commander said that was enough, and he flew no more missions. He told me about seeing many of his buddy’s planes shot down. After the war ended, he was discharged and got to come home.
Bill was an excellent student and he went to college on the GI bill and became a teacher. He retired from Eastern Il Univ. He was a brave American, and never bragged about his service to his country.
My brother, Joe and I were neighbors to Bill. We spent a lot of time together playing, fishing, hunting rabbits. So many memories!
I write this as a tribute to Bill.
Robert G Hall