Harden Robert Bloomquist
Era: World War II
Military Branch: Air Force
Harden Robert Bloomquist
Mr. Bloomquist entered the Army Air Corps as an aviation cadet July 24, 1942.
Discharged October 8, 1943, to accept a commission as Second Lieutenant and navigator with the 315th Troop Carrier Squadron of the 443rd Group, 10th Air Force in the China-Burma-India theater. Discharged as First Lieutenant October 23, 1945, Ellington Field, Texas.
Awarded: Distinguished Flying Cross with Oak Leaf Cluster (for second award), Air Medal with three Oak Leaf Clusters (for subsequent awards), Presidential Unit Citation, American Campaign Medal, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal, World War II Victory Medal, Army of Occupation Medal (Japan).
He also served as a Captain with the 40th Troop Carrier Squadron and 22nd Troop Carrier Squadron of the Fifth Air Force in Tachikawa Air Force Base, Japan at the time the Korean War broke.
Awarded: National Defense Service Medal, Korean Service Medal, Armed Forces Reserve Medal, and United Nations Medal.
Honorably discharged as a Captain on July 31, 1953.
Source: Hometown Heroes: The Saint Louis County World War II Project, page 40.
