SSG Richard Kuper's Service Unifom
Richard Kuper 10th Air Force Jacket
Kuper's Soldier Medal
Born 7 October 1922 in Cincinnati, Ohio, Dies 30 May 1994 (Cincinnati, OH). Richard registered for the draft on 30 June 1942 in Reading, Ohio and enlisted in the US Army Air Force on 25 January 1943. After basic and advanced training he was assigned to the 492nd Bomb Squadron, 7th Bombardment Group, 10th Air Force and deployed to the Asiatic-Pacific Theater. His duty station was at the Tezpur Air Base in Assam, India.
The Tezpur Air Base supported combat operations primarily for B-17 and B-24 bombers.
On the evening of 28 July 1945, "Lovable Lorena", B-24J aircraft tail number 44-41222, attempted to make a night flight to carry 3900 gallons of aviation gasoline over the Himalayas to China. The B-24 crashed and burned on takeoff. SSG Kuper immediately and with complete disregard for his own safety, entered the burning aircraft and assisted in the removal of the trapped crew members. For his act of heroism, he was awarded the Soldier's Medal on 12 December 1945.
SSG Kuper returned to the US in January 1946 and received an honorable discharge.
(1) Wool Ike Jacket Uniform with Staff Sergeant Strips, (2) overseas bars, and ribbon bar of his awards/decorations (Soldier's Medal, Good Conduct, American Campaign Service, Asiatic-Pacific Theater with 1 Bronze Campaign Star, World War II Victory)
(1) Solidier's Medal and Presentation Case
(1) Good Conduct Medal
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