Wayne Morris(1914-1959)

During World War II Morris was a Navy fighter pilot assigned to the aircraft carrier USS Essex. He flew 57 missions in an F6F Hellcat and shot down seven Japanese aircraft, becoming one of the war's first aces. He finished with the rank of Lieutenant Commander and was a recipient of four awards of the Distinguished Flying Cross and two awards of the Air Medal.

Every time they showed a picture aboard the Essex, I was scared to death it would be one of mine. That's something I could never have lived down." On his wartime experiences: "As to what a fellow thinks when he's scared, I guess it's the same with anyone. You get fleeting glimpses in your mind of your home, your wife, the baby you want to see. You see so clearly all the mistakes you made. You want another chance to correct those mistakes. You wonder how you could have attached so much importance to ridiculous, meaningless things in your life. But before you get to thinking too much, you're off into action and everything else is forgotten.