The 8th AF suffered one-half of the U.S. Army Air Forces' casualties in World War II (47,000-plus casualties with more than 26,000 deaths) Did the 8th Air Force have more casualties than the Marines? "); display: inline-block; height: 24px; width: 24px; transform: rotateZ(-180deg);"> The Eighth Air Force suffered more killed in action during World War II than the Marine Corps.
On Dec. 20, 1941, U.S. Navy Seaman 2nd Class Cecil H. Thornton's family received notification that their 21-year-old son was missing in action and presumed dead following the Dec. 7, 1941, attack on Pearl Harbor. Seaman Thornton was among 429 sailors aboard the USS Oklahoma who died in the attack. For over 80 years, his unidentified remains were interned in the Punch Bowl, but recently his remains were identified. On Monday, March 11, 2024, U.S. Navy Seaman 2nd Class Cecil H. Thornton was laid to rest in his family cemetery in Rogersville, Alabama with full military honors. The U.S. Navy detail that served as pallbearers was led by a Rear Admiral. Another Lauderdale County boy comes home.
