#VeteranOfTheDay Army Air Corps Forces Veteran Allen S. Sabol

Today’s #VeteranOfTheDay is Army Air Forces Veteran Allen S. Sabol. Allen served during World War II.

Allen began basic training in Texas, where he learned the skills needed to become a cadet pilot and later to become a nose gunner in a B 24 air craft. He soon joined Lt. Both’s crew and was sent out for more training before being shipped off to England on the Queen Elizabeth. It was here where he joined the 856^th Squadron and went on his first mission – which involved flying planes over enemy territory. On August 4, 1944, Allen’s plane crashed in Germany where the local police took away his escape kit and put him and the 10-person crew that survived into solitary confinement. During his interview with the Veterans History Project, Allen details the cruel ways in which the Germans treated them: forcing them to walk hundreds of miles, receiving little food, living in poor conditions, and sleeping in open fields of snow which led to many troops dying from the harsh conditions. Allen miraculously survived and went on to spend a year in the hospital to recover from war injuries. After leaving the service, Allen got married and had two children.

Thank you for your service, Allen!

Nominate a Veteran for #VeteranOfTheDay

Do you want to light up the face of a special Veteran? Have you been wondering how to tell your Veteran they are special to you? You’re in luck! VA’s #VeteranOfTheDay social media feature is an opportunity to highlight your Veteran and his/her service.

It’s easy to nominate a Veteran. All it takes is an email to newmedia@va.gov with as much information as you can put together, along with some good photos. Visit our blog post about nominating to learn how to create the best submission.

Graphic By Lilian Vo: Lilian Vo is an undergraduate senior at George Mason University studying Global Affairs and Intelligence Analysis.