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In observance of Veterans Day, KCII News had the privilege of interviewing a World War II veteran.

Marion Turnipseed served in the United States Air Force, for 33 months. Tunipseed served in North Pickenham and Metfield air bases in England, as part of the European Campaign. He was a flight engineer on a four-engine bomber plane (B-24).

During his service, Tunipseed flew 35 bombing missions. These valiant missions earned him numerous medals, highlighted by medals for each of six completed bombing missions, and a Distinguished Flying Cross for all 35 assignments. He also received the French Knight of the Legion Honor Medal, similar to the United States Congressional Medal of Honor. This medal, created by French General Napoleon Bonaparte, is considered the highest honor the French can bestow upon an individual, for civilian or military merits. 

Turnipseed’s missions left him with many stories to tell, including three near-death experiences. The first occurred during his first mission, a bombing run south of Paris, which meant the navigator would have to circle the city to avoid enemy anti-aircraft fire. Turnipseed, along with a shot aircraft engine, was almost hit by a swooping enemy plane before the co-pilot was able to dive down and save the plane. In the second story, he recounts how he and his crew were returning from Germany when they got too close to Hanover, due to anti-aircraft fire, with a piece of the weaponry’s shell shattering one of the co-pilot’s’ windows. He still has a piece of the weaponry shell that was discovered later. In his third story Turnipseed said, “I remember having trouble breathing, and there is two exhausts on our mask. Sometimes your breath freezes ice on there, and you reach and squeeze that rubber. [That cuts] it off and you’re alright. I looked over at that little gauge on my regulator and it is laying on zero. And that’s all I remembered. They think I passed out about 15 minutes. They got me down out of my turret and hooked me up to oxygen. And when I came to it was 30-40 below zero and my electricity to my heated suit had not worked either. They said I shivered so bad that they thought I was going to shake the plane apart.” 

Turnipseed’s recollection of his time in the military reminded him of what Veterans Day means to him; it reminds him how fortunate he is to still be alive. And, at his age, he is grateful for the opportunity to represent all those who served but are no longer with us. He also reminds us all to honor the flag and attend memorial services for both living and deceased veterans. He told KCII News that he is continually moved by the kind words, honors, and projects bestowed upon him by local schools and businesses in the KCII listening area and beyond.

He currently resides at the United Presbyterian Home in Washington, attends memorial services and American Legion meetings, and will celebrate his 100th birthday December 14th.