Lieutenant Vincent Aubrey VanDersarl

Air Medal w/ 1 Oak Leaf Cluster

Vincent Aubrey VanDersarl was born in Dawson NM on March 23, 1922 to Mr and Mrs JJ VanDersarl. He was raised in this community outside Raton NM and in 1940 graduated from Dawson HS. The next fall he enrolled at NMAMC. After one year he departed and in September 1942 he enlisted in the USAAF. He was trained as a pilot and in January 1944 was awarded his wings at Marfa TX. In June 1944 he married the former Lillian Pellacio of Raton. He was soon shipped to the China Burma India Theater and assigned the 9th Squadron, 3rd Combat Cargo Group, then flying in direct support of combat operations in the area. On December 9, 1945, Lt VanDersarl was pilot aboard C47A #42-93365. The plane was lost and never recovered. Today Lt VanDersarl is memorialized on the Tablets of the Missing at Honolulu Memorial Cemetery. Lt Vincent Aubrey VanDersarl was 22 years old at the time of his death.