Bonner, John, Jr., 1st Lt

He was known as "Johnny."  At seventeen, he turned professional with the first professional rodeo cowboys association.   A junior at Texas A&M on December 7, 1941, then during the Christmas break, he volunteered for, and was accepted into Army Air Corps Cadet Training in January, 1942.   At age nineteen, he received his wings and commission.  To his chagrin, he was "plowed back" as an Instructor Pilot at Goodfellow Field, San Angelo, Texas, in the BT-13.  Eighteen months and 1000 hours later, he was transferred to England and the 355th Fighter Group, the "Steeple Morden Straffers."  Before he was twenty-three, he was a combat element leader in the P-51, striking targets deep into Germany.  Gen Tooey Spaatz personally awarded him his first Air Medal.  At war's end, he returned to San Angelo and its ranching industry.  To know him was to know one who personified Tom Brokaw's "Greatest Generation."