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Contact Info
Home Town Valley, Nebraska
Last Address Melbourne, Florida
Date of Passing Mar 29, 1998
Location of Interment Arlington National Cemetery (VLM) - Arlington, Virginia
Early in his career he was a fighter pilot andlater was unit commander and staff officer. His final assignment was as Executive Officer with the U.S. Representative NATO Standing Group in the Office of the Secretary of Defense at the Pentagon from Jul 1963 until he was medically retired Oct 22, 1964.
Headquarters, 9th Air Force, General Orders No. 264 (November 9, 1944)
CITATION:
The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 2, 1926, takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Flying Cross to Captain (Air Corps) Marvin Edwards Childs (ASN: 0-26300), United States Army Air Forces, for heroic achievement while participating in aerial flight in the European Theater of Operations on 17 August 1944. Demonstrating superb flying skill and courage he led his flight of _-38 type aircraft to attack an enemy anti-aircraft emplacement. Under his bold leadership the flight destroyed the gun position, thus enabling the balance of the squadron to inflict heavy damage on a motor convoy hauling vital material. His brave and daring actions were responsible in large measure for the destruction of vital enemy equipment, and are in keeping with the highest traditions of the Army Air Forces.
Description The American Theater was a minor area of operations during World War II. This was mainly due to both North and South America's geographical separation from the central theaters of conflict in Europe and Asia. Thus, any threat by the Axis Powers to invade the mainland United States or other areas was considered negligible, allowing for American resources to be deployed in overseas theaters.
This article includes attacks on continental territory, extending 200 miles (320 km) into the ocean, which is today under the sovereignty of the United States, Canada, Mexico, and several other smaller states, but excludes military action involving the Danish territory of Greenland, the Hawaiian Islands, and the Aleutian Islands. The most well known battles in North America during World War II were the Attack on Pearl Harbor (the first attack on US soil since the Battle of Ambos Nogales), the Aleutian Islands Campaign, the Battle of the St. Lawrence, and the attacks on Newfoundland.