Sponsored by:

Navy Federal Credit Union
Harvey
R.
Vanderslice
KIA (WWII)
1915

–

1944-06-02

Born:

Boyertown

, 

Pennsylvania

Home:

Williamsport

, 

Pennsylvania

Buried: 

East Coventry Township

, 

Pennsylvania

Cemetery:

East Coventry Mennonite Cemetery

On February 3, 1943, the B24 Liberator in which Harvey Vanderslice was serving, was shot down over Choiseul in the Solomon Islands. The plane dove 13,000 feet in flames and eventually was able to level off at 100 feet above the water. Vanderslice and five crewmen spent the next 10 days in a rubber boat on the open seas. Eventually they landed on a small island, where they were cared for by the natives until rescued on March 5.

Awards Received

  • Silver Star

    Service:

    United States Army Air Forces

    Rank:

    Second Lieutenant (Air Corps)

    Division:

    Far East Air Force

    Action Date:

    World War II
    Headquarters, U.S. Army Forces in the South Pacific Area, General Orders No. 120 (May 19, 1943)

    (Citation Needed) – SYNOPSIS: The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Second Lieutenant (Air Corps) Harvey R. Vanderslice (ASN: 0-789033), United States Army Air Forces, for gallantry in action against the enemy while serving as a member of the Air Crew of a B-24 Liberator Bomber in the Far East Air Force, in aerial operations in the Southwest Pacific Theater of Operations, in 1942 and 1943. The gallant actions and dedicated devotion to duty demonstrated by Second Lieutenant Vanderslice, without regard for his own life, were in keeping with the highest traditions of military service and reflect great credit upon himself and the United States Army Air Forces.