Hoover C. Baucom
Gives His Life

-T/Sgt Hoover C. Baucom (above), son of Mr. & Mrs. Grover C. Baucom of Monroe, Route 3, has been officially listed as killed in action over Germany October 19, 1944, after having previously been listed as missing.. He was killed two days before he would have reached his 21st birthday. He was a radio gunner on a B-24 Libertar bomber in the Eighth Air Force, and had won the Air medal, three Oak Leaf clusters, and the Distinguished Flying Cross. He entered the service April 19, 1943, and went overseas in June, 1944. He is survived by his parents, four sisters, Mrs. Brice Sells of Flint, Mich., Mrs. Murray Williams and Mrs. Laban Williams of Monroe and Mrs. Jesse Slagle of Charlotte, and a brother, Lynn Baucom, of the home.

Sgt. Hoover C. Baucom was born Oct. 25, 1923.

He received his education at Benton Heights, and Unionville, and entered into service April 19, 1943 at Fort Bragg.

He was then transferred to Scott Field Ill. Radio School, June 17,1943.

Hoover graduated from Scott Field as R.O.M. Nov. 22, 1943

The transferred to Harlingen Texas for Flexible Gunnery, Nov. 25, 1943

Graduated form gunnery, Jan. 15, 1944.

He arrived home for ten days furlough, Jan. 20, 1944.

He was transferred to Fresno California, Feb. 4, 1944, and was assigned to Muroc, Calif. as radio operator and gunner on a B-24 Liberator Bomber, and was on his 53rd mission when his plane was shot down, Oct. 19, 1944.

Sgt. Baucom was buried in Niederscelbach Cemetary Grave No. 9, and after the war was over, his body was taken to Margraten Holland, and on October 8th, 1948, his body was returned hom aboard the U. S. Army Transport Carroll Victory, and was buried in Memorial Park, Oct. 27th, 1948.

He was awarded the Air Medal, three Oak Leaf Clusters, and the distinguished Flying Cross.

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