Minnesota

Marine Corps- WWII
1st Leuitenant Wilfred H. Kalmoe

Wilfred H. Kalmoe served his country during the Second World War, with much time spent behind the controls of a SB2C- a Helldiver.  As a United States Marine, Wilfred was a pilot trained in dive bombing maneuvers. Beginning with the Navy and then becoming a Marine, Wilfred gave a total of 4 years of service, never hesitating to do his duty. He calls himself “Lucky” because he was able to do what he loved while there, and lucky because he knows what others went through in battle. Unlike so many other soldiers, he made it home alive. 

Wilfred was part of the VMSB-343 U.S. Marine Corps Squadron calling themselves, “Gregory’s  Gorillas.”  In Oct.1944, they were deployed to Midway Island in the Pacific, where they conducted surveillance over ships and submarines in the area.  In January of 1946 he returned home in Montevideo, MN five months after the war had ended. He met and married his wife Mavis, and raised a family. Wilfred keeps the memories alive by sharing the tales of time spent in flight & years spent at war. Lt. Wilfred H. Kalmoe has been honored with five Distinguished Flying Cross citations and the Distinguished Flying Cross Air Medal for his service during World War II.

Each person who serves our great country is a hero in our eyes.