Reed Presents Posthumous Distinguished Flying Cross to Family of Local WWII Hero

CRANSTON, RI - U.S. Senator Jack Reed today hosted a special military honors ceremony for the family of Mr. Daniel Rapoza, Sr. During World War II, Sergeant Daniel Rapoza served as a flight engineer on B-24L #44-41440, assigned to the 10^th Air Force, 7^th Bombardment Group, 493^rd Bombardment Squadron. His plane crashed in the mountains during a search mission looking for an Allied B-29 aircraft and all aboard were reported killed in action.

During today's ceremony in Cranston, Senator Reed honored Mr. Rapoza's heroic service and thanked his family members from Tiverton for preserving the story of their father and grandfather's service during World War II and presented them with several medals that Sgt. Rapoza earned during World War II, including the Distinguished Flying Cross, Purple Heart, and Air Medal.

Congress established the Distinguished Flying Cross on July 2, 1926. It may be awarded to any Navy, Marine Corps, or Coast Guard personnel, while serving in the capacity of the Armed Forces, who distinguish themselves for heroism or outstanding achievement while participating in aerial flight. The Purple Heart medal is a solemn distinction presented to service members who have been wounded or killed as a result of enemy action while serving in the U.S. military. The Air Medal is awarded for sustained performance while participating in aerial flight under combat conditions.

Born to parents, Jacintho and Emily Rapoza, in March of 1923, Mr. Rapoza grew up, went to school, and worked alongside his family throughout Southeastern Massachusetts as a farmer, machinist, and manufacturer. He was 19 when he joined the U.S. Army Air Corps in February 1942, just about two years after marrying his wife, Lena, who gave birth to their son, Daniel Rapoza Jr., while Mr. Rapoza was in training.

After being trained as an airplane mechanic at the Curtiss-Wright Technical Institute in Glendale, California, Technical Sergeant Daniel Rapoza served as the flight engineer on B-24L #44-41440, assigned to the 10^th Air Force, 7^th Bombardment Group, 493^rd Bombardment Squadron.

On November 5, 1944, Sgt. Rapoza's bomber was part of a six plane formation that departed Pandaveswar, India in search of a missing B-29 that had not returned from a mission over the Bay of Bengal. During the mission, Mr. Rapoza's B-24L Liberator was seen pulling away from the rest of the planes and did not return to the base. A subsequent search later that month found that the plane crashed approximately twenty miles southwest of Udala, Burma, on top of the Banjhikusame Mountain Range, and no crew members survived.

In recognition of Mr. Rapoza's extraordinary and meritorious achievements as an engineer gunner flying missions throughout the Pacific during the Second World War, Senator Reed, a U.S. Army veteran and Ranking Member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, presented Mr. Daniel Rapoza, Jr. with military honors that were posthumously awarded to his father, including:

• Distinguished Flying Cross;
• Purple Heart;
• Air Medal;
• Good Conduct Medal;
• Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal;
• World War II Victory Medal;
• Honorable Service Lapel Button WWII;
• Marksman Badge with Pistol Bar, and;
• Marksman Badge with Carbine Bar

"We are forever proud of men like Sgt. Daniel Rapoza and grateful to members of the Greatest Generation and their families. Mr. Rapoza was just 19 when he joined the Army Air Corps during a defining moment in history. During the war, he bravely flew hundreds of hours of missions over the Pacific as an Engineer Gunner. I am honored to present his family with the military awards that he earned. On behalf of a grateful nation, we express our enduring gratitude for Mr. Rapoza's tremendous service and sacrifice," said Senator Reed.

"For many decades we were not able to access my father's military records," said Mr. Daniel Rapoza, Jr. "I appreciate the work of Senator Reed in helping to find them, attain these medals, and bring some closure to our family."

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