August E. Kujala
Era: World War II
Military Branch: Air Force
August E. Kujala of Angora, Minnesota was inducted into the Army Air Corps on January 21, 1943 at Fort Snelling, Minn.
He was a Technical Sergeant, serving as an airplane and engine mechanic with Squadron A, 3508th Army Air Forces Base Unit in Northern France, Normandy, Southern France, Rhineland and Central Europe.
He became a prisoner of war, and recalls, "I made 22 missions, shot down on my 22nd mission and my 22nd birthday September 17, 1944. I was held captive at Stalag IV in Germany until liberated May of 1945."
Mr. Kujala received the: Air Medal with two oak leaf clusters, Good Conduct Medal, European-African-Middle East Campaign Medal with five bronze battle stars, World War II Victory Medal and two overseas service bars.
He was honorably discharged on October 7, 1945 at Truax Field, Wis..
Source: Hometown Heroes: The St. Louis County World War II Project. 160.
