Timeline
Birth - 31 Jan 1914
Fern, Clarion, Pennsylvania
Birth - 1914
Pennsylvania
1939 - 1945 World War II
Conflict Period
World War II
Branch
Air Force
Rank
Staff Sergeant
Service Dates
1942 - 1945
Wall Coordinates
Section U Site 10
Status
USAAF Veteran
MOS
99000-Basic Airman
MOS Group
990-Special Identifiers
served-for
United States of America
Award - 1942 - Age: 28 years
Woman's Army Service Corps 1942-1945
Award - 1942 - Age: 28 years
American Campaign Medal
Award - 1944 - Age: 30 years
Asiatic/Pacific Campaign Medal
Award - 1945 - Age: 31 years
Army Good Conduct Medal
Award - 1945 - Age: 31 years
Asiatic/Pacific Campaign Medal
Award - 1945 - Age: 31 years
World War II Victory Medal
Casualty - 15 May 1945
New Guinea
Non Hostile- Died while Missing
Air Loss, Crash - Land
Military Service - Age: 29 years
Service Number
A-306040
Served For
United States of America
Enlistment - 22 Aug 1942 - Age: 29 years
Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
Aviation Cadet
Award
World War II Victory Medal
American Campaign Medal
Army Presidential Unit Citation
Army Good Conduct Medal
Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal
Stationed
Des Moines, Iowa, New Guinea
Death - 15 May 1945
13 May 1945
Balim Valley, Dutch New Guinea (now Papua New Guinea, Indonesia)
Plane Crash
Crash was May 13 but she did not die until May 15
Burial - 13 May 1959
Honolulu, Honolulu, Hawaii
National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific
Burial
National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacifi...
Other Facts
Mother
Sue E. Besley
Also Known As
Earlene or Earley Besley
Father
Rueben Earl Besley
Full Name
Laura Earlene Besley
Mother
Susannah Pearle "Susie" Edinger Besley
Gender
Female
Gender
Female
Place of Residence
Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
Race or Ethnicity
Caucasian
Gender
Female