
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- At 94-years-old, Lt. Col. James Corrigan, still remembers every detail of his years in the U.S. Air Force.
Lt. Col. Corrigan spent 20 years in the Air Force and flew 32 combat missions.
On one of his first combat missions his B-17 Bomber caught on fire over England. Lt. Col. Corrigan recalls everyone grabbing their parachutes and jumping out, but he says not all his crew members made it out alive.
"You feel bad about it, but there is nothing you can do about it. The next day you have to get up and go to work," he said.
Lt. Col. Corrigan has an array of military medals hanging on his wall, including the Purple Heart. Many of the others he says he received for flying so many combat missions.
His grandchildren, undoubtedly, say they are proud he is their grandfather.
"He's always been a great grandfather and a role model all my life," said his youngest grandchild, Tim Nagy.
Lt. Col. Corrigan says he enjoyed his military days and says it is an honor when people recognize what he and so many others did for our country.
"It is nice to know we aren't forgotten," he said.
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Created: 11/8/2009 9:23:47 PM 



