Korea
Lieutenant Junior Grade Lear was the pilot of a F9F-5 Pantherjet fighter aircraft with Fighter Squadron 154 aboard the carrier USS PRINCETON (CVA-37). On April 28, 1953, while on a combat mission over Hodo Pan-do, Korea, his aircraft was struck by anti-aircraft fire and crashed.
For his leadership and valor, he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Air Medal with 2 Gold Stars, the Navy Commendation Ribbon, the Purple Heart, the Combat Action Ribbon, the Korean Service Medal, the United Nations Service Medal, the National Defense Service Medal and the Korean War Service Medal.
He is also identified on the Korean War Memorial in Dayton, Ohio.
Russel "Rusty" Jackson Lear was born Russel Jackson Cox and later changed his last name to that of his stepfather, Johnny Lear. He had one brother, Henry Walter Cox (1917-?) who fought on Guadalcanal with the U. S. Marine Corps, and one sister, Ernestine Agnes Cox Herren (memorial no. 110430288). Rusty's biological father was Andrew Harrison Cox (1888-1978).
Korea
Lieutenant Junior Grade Lear was the pilot of a F9F-5 Pantherjet fighter aircraft with Fighter Squadron 154 aboard the carrier USS PRINCETON (CVA-37). On April 28, 1953, while on a combat mission over Hodo Pan-do, Korea, his aircraft was struck by anti-aircraft fire and crashed.
For his leadership and valor, he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Air Medal with 2 Gold Stars, the Navy Commendation Ribbon, the Purple Heart, the Combat Action Ribbon, the Korean Service Medal, the United Nations Service Medal, the National Defense Service Medal and the Korean War Service Medal.
He is also identified on the Korean War Memorial in Dayton, Ohio.
Russel "Rusty" Jackson Lear was born Russel Jackson Cox and later changed his last name to that of his stepfather, Johnny Lear. He had one brother, Henry Walter Cox (1917-?) who fought on Guadalcanal with the U. S. Marine Corps, and one sister, Ernestine Agnes Cox Herren (memorial no. 110430288). Rusty's biological father was Andrew Harrison Cox (1888-1978).
Inscription
CALIFORNIA
LIEUTENANT (JG)
WORLD WAR II KOREA
DISTINGUISHED FLYING CROSS
AIR MEDAL & 2 GS
AR COM - PURPLE HEART
Family Members
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