SGT 90 AAF BOMB SQ, World War II
Sergeant Atkins was the son of Mr. and Mrs. J. A. Atkins and was born in Draper on Feb. 2, 1918. He received his education in Draper and on Dec. 24. 1939 was married to Beatrice Carter. Dan was always a loyal and devoted husband.
He enlisted in the Army Jan. 18, 1942 at Keesler Field, Miss. and then was sent to Australia for further training. As he and his buddies came down the gangplank, a photographer noticed a soldier with a picture of his girl hung conspiciously on the outside of his pack. The picture was printed in the N. Y. Sunday News which had nationwide circulation. This soldier boy was Dan and, although the picture was unnamed, having only the caption "The Girl He Left Behind Come: Along," when the papers came to Draper everyone recognized him instantly. When his training in Australia was completed, he was sent to New Guinea with a bomber squadron.
On August 7, 1943 he volunteered to go out on a special mission as a tail gunner in the place of a buddy who was ill. During the mission the plane crashed and all aboard were killed instantly. Dan was buried on a small island nearby.
(Published in The Advisor: Monthly Magazine Vol. 28 – No. 271)
Find A Grave contributor billy commented:
His body was the only one recovered and was sent home (4)yrs later to be buried at Woodlawn Cemetery according to one of his relative's.
Greensboro Daily News Friday, Jan 14, 1949 Greensboro, NC Page: 32
...Armed forces dead interred in temporary military cemeteries in New Guinea and the Philippine Islands are among those brought back to this country. A total of 78 remains were returned upon instructions of next of kin residing in North Carolina. They are:
... Sgt. Daniel W. Atkins, air force...
Be sure to click on SEE MORE under the photos to see the 2 photos of him.
SGT 90 AAF BOMB SQ, World War II
Sergeant Atkins was the son of Mr. and Mrs. J. A. Atkins and was born in Draper on Feb. 2, 1918. He received his education in Draper and on Dec. 24. 1939 was married to Beatrice Carter. Dan was always a loyal and devoted husband.
He enlisted in the Army Jan. 18, 1942 at Keesler Field, Miss. and then was sent to Australia for further training. As he and his buddies came down the gangplank, a photographer noticed a soldier with a picture of his girl hung conspiciously on the outside of his pack. The picture was printed in the N. Y. Sunday News which had nationwide circulation. This soldier boy was Dan and, although the picture was unnamed, having only the caption "The Girl He Left Behind Come: Along," when the papers came to Draper everyone recognized him instantly. When his training in Australia was completed, he was sent to New Guinea with a bomber squadron.
On August 7, 1943 he volunteered to go out on a special mission as a tail gunner in the place of a buddy who was ill. During the mission the plane crashed and all aboard were killed instantly. Dan was buried on a small island nearby.
(Published in The Advisor: Monthly Magazine Vol. 28 – No. 271)
Find A Grave contributor billy commented:
His body was the only one recovered and was sent home (4)yrs later to be buried at Woodlawn Cemetery according to one of his relative's.
Greensboro Daily News Friday, Jan 14, 1949 Greensboro, NC Page: 32
...Armed forces dead interred in temporary military cemeteries in New Guinea and the Philippine Islands are among those brought back to this country. A total of 78 remains were returned upon instructions of next of kin residing in North Carolina. They are:
... Sgt. Daniel W. Atkins, air force...
Be sure to click on SEE MORE under the photos to see the 2 photos of him.
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