Horace S . Carswell , Jr . Horace Seaver " Stump " Carswell , Jr . ( July 18 , 1916 – October 26 , 1944 ) was a Medal of Honor recipient as a Major in the United States Army Air Corps who served in World War II . He is the namesake of Carswell Air Force Base near Fort Worth , Texas . Education . Horace attended North Side High School , where he played football , with his high school highlight being the winning touchdown he scored on Armistice Day in a game against the Wichita Falls team in 1933 . After graduation from North Side , Horace attended college at Texas A & M University for a year as a member of the class of 1938 , and then began attending Texas Christian University ( since four of his uncles were Methodist preachers ) where he graduated in August 1939 with a bachelor ' s degree in physical education . On a double date while still at TCU , Horace met a co - ed featured in one of the yearbook ' s beauty pages , by the name of Virginia Ede . Virginia was from a ranching family from the west Texas town of San Angelo . Military career . After the German invasion of Poland , he decided to join the United States Army Air Forces . He was appointed a flying cadet in Dallas , Texas on March 26 , 1940 , and trained at Tulsa , Oklahoma , and Randolph and Kelly Fields , Texas , getting his commission and wings toward the end of 1940 . He instructed at Randolph and Goodfellow Fields in Texas , with promotion in February 1942 , to first lieutenant . He attended the Army Air Force Combat Crew School at Hendricks Field , Florida . He was an instructor and flight commander with bomb squadrons at Davis Monthan Field , Arizona ; Biggs Field , Texas . In December 1942 he was promoted to Captain . In January 1943 , he was assigned to the 356th Bomb Squadron at Clovis Army Air Field , New Mexico , where he was promoted to Major ( United States ) in April . The next month he was transferred to Headquarters 302nd Bombardment Group . During this period Virginia gave birth to their only child , Robert Ede Carswell , at Clovis Army Air Field in September 1943 . Shortly thereafter he was transferred to Langley Field , Virginia , in operations and group command assignments . Major Carswell went to the Pacific Theater of Operations in April 1944 , as pilot and operations officer of the 374th Bombardment Squadron in the 308th Bombardment Group of the 14th Air Force . Death . He was flying a B - 24 Liberator on the night of October 26 , 1944 , on a single - aircraft night mission against a Japan ese convoy in the South China Sea . He elected to make a second low - level run over a thoroughly alerted convoy and scored two direct hits on a large tanker . His co - pilot was wounded , and his aircraft had two engines knocked out , a third damaged , the hydraulic system damaged , and a fuel tank punctured . He managed to gain enough altitude to reach land , where he ordered the crew to bail out . Eight did , but the bombardier ' s parachute was too badly damaged to use . Instead of bailing out , Carswell stayed with the bombardier and the wounded co - pilot , and attempted a crash landing . The badly damaged aircraft crashed against a mountain , and all three aboard were killed . Carswell was buried at a Catholic mission in Tungchen , China . He was survived by his wife and son . Carswell Memorial Park – where his remains now rest – in Oakwood Cemetery , Fort Worth is named in his honor . Military awards . He was posthumously awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross , the Distinguished Service Cross , the Air Medal , and the Purple Heart . These medals were presented to his wife , Virginia , on December 20 , 1944 , and July 21 , 1945 . Major Carswell also received the Medal of Honor posthumously on February 4 , 1946 . Medal of Honor citation . Rank and organization : Major , 308th Bombardment Group , U . S . Army Air Corps . Place and date : Over South China Sea , October 26 , 1944 . Entered service at : San Angelo , Tex . Birth : Fort Worth , Tex . G . O . No . : 14 , February 4 , 1946 . Citation : He piloted a B - 24 bomber in a one - plane strike against a Japanese convoy in the South China Sea on the night of 26 October 1944 . Taking the enemy force of 12 ships escorted by at least 2 destroyers by surprise , he made 1 bombing run at 600 feet , scoring a near miss on 1 warship and escaping without drawing fire . He circled . and fully realizing that the convoy was thoroughly alerted and would meet his next attack with a barrage of antiaircraft fire , began a second low - level run which culminated in 2 direct hits on a large tanker . A hail of steel from Japanese guns , riddled the bomber , knocking out 2 engines , damaging a third , crippling the hydraulic system , puncturing 1 gasoline tank , ripping uncounted holes in the aircraft , and wounding the copilot ; but by magnificent display of flying skill , Maj . Carswell controlled the plane ' s plunge toward the sea and carefully forced it into a halting climb in the direction of the China shore . On reaching land , where it would have been possible to abandon the staggering bomber , one of the crew discovered that his parachute had been ripped by flak and rendered useless ; the pilot , hoping to cross mountainous terrain and reach a base , continued onward until the third engine failed . He ordered the crew to bail out while he struggled to maintain altitude and , refusing to save himself , chose to remain with his comrade and attempt a crash landing . He died when the airplane struck a mountainside and burned . With consummate gallantry and intrepidity , Maj . Carswell gave his life in a supreme effort to save all members of his crew . His sacrifice , far beyond that required of him , was in keeping with the traditional bravery of America ' s war heroes . Honors . On February 27 , 1948 , Fort Worth Army Airfield was renamed Carswell Air Force Base in his honor . There are also Carswell Avenues at Elmendorf Air Force Base , Alaska and Lackland Air Force Base , Texas named in his honor . A frame containing an artist ' s rendition , a specimen Medal of Honor and the citation is on display at Texas A & M University in the Memorial Student Center . A large bronze bas relief plaque hangs in the Sanders Corps of Cadets Center on the campus of Texas A & M University .