Voorhees S. Root Jr.

Korean War
Service #AF34260469
Unit13 BOMB SQ 3 BOMB WING
RankStaff Sergeant U.S. Air Force
Date of DeathFebruary 21 1951
StatusMissing In Action
Memorialized
Courts of the Missing
Court
8
Air Medal
Distinguished Flying Cross
Korean Service Medal
National Defense Service Medal
Purple Heart
Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation
Republic of Korea War Service Medal
United Nations Service Medal
For his leadership and valor, Staff Sergeant Root was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross with Oak Leaf Cluster, the Air Medal with 17 Oak Leaf Clusters, the Purple Heart, the Korean Service Medal, the United Nations Service Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Korean Presidential Unit Citation and the Republic of Korea War Service Medal.
Notes
Staff Sergeant Root was the tail gunner on a B-26B Invader bomber with the 13th Bomber Squadron, 3rd Bomber Group. On February 21, 1951, while on a combat mission, a 1,000 pound bomb prematurely exploded destroying four B-26Bs. His remains were not recovered. His name is inscribed on the Courts of the Missing at the Honolulu Memorial.