Eugene Wayrynen
Era: World War II
Military Branch: Army
WYRYNEN, Eugene
Eugene Wayrynen was born in Rice River Township in Aitkin County in 1919. He later moved to McGregor.
Mr. Wayrynen enlisted in the Army Air Corps on November 13th 1942, and was a Staff Sergeant and a waist gunner on a B-17 called "Rosie's Riveters." He and his crew were on their 12th mission on May 12th 1944, when they were hit by flak and had to bail out. He was wounded three times in this incident. All the crew survived the attack but were captured by Germans.
He spent most of the rest of the war in Stalag Luft IV. Late in the war, the POWs were forced to march long distances on what they called the "shoe leather express." During one such walk, he traded his watch to a farmer for a loaf of bread. He was liberated on May 2nd 1945.
He received the Purple Heart, Prisoner of War Medal, Flight Medal with two oak leaf clusters, Good Conduct Medal, European Theater of Operations Medal and World War II Victory Medal.
Mr. Wayrynen was honorably discharged on October 12th 1945. After the war he returned home and married Laverne and they started a family.
Mr. Wayrynen's two oldest sons later served with the 101st Airborn Division during the Vietnam War. Dale Wayrynen was killed in action on May 18th 1967, and was awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions that day. Dave Wayrynen was a gunner on a helicopter flying Green Berets on missions. His craft was shot down twice but he was recovered safely each time.
Albert J. Amatuzio Research Center | Veterans Memorial Hall (vets-hall.org)
