GOODFELLOW AIR FORCE BASE, Texas -- A memorial honoring over 20,000 World War II veterans with ties to the Concho Valley was dedicated during a ceremony along Rio Concho Drive in San Angelo, Aug. 19.
The Heroes on the Concho memorial features panels bearing the names of local WWII veterans and a bronze statue depicting a WWII Airman. The memorial was created through a community effort to preserve the stories and service of the generation that answered the nation's call during WWII.
For Goodfellow Air Force Base, the memorial also represents a direct connection to the installation's history.
U.S. Air Force Col. Matthew Norton, 17th Training Wing commander, spoke during the dedication, highlighting how San Angelo's support for the military helped establish what would become Goodfellow AFB.
"When global conflict erupted across Europe, Asia and the Pacific,” said Norton. “President Franklin D. Roosevelt recognized that the United States had to prepare.”
In late 1940, San Angelo civic leaders traveled to Randolph Field, Texas, to present the war department with a proposal to establish a pilot training base in West Texas. The city offered access to infrastructure, railway service and 640 acres of land through a long-term lease.
By February 1941, Goodfellow Field welcomed its first class of pilot cadets.
More than 10,000 pilots trained at Goodfellow during the war. The installation's wartime history also includes graduates and leaders who went on to distinguish themselves during the conflict.
Norton highlighted San Angelo native and Goodfellow graduate Capt. Jack Mathis, who was mortally wounded during a bombing mission over Germany, March, 1943. Despite his wounds, Mathis returned to his bomb position and successfully released his payload, saving his crew. He was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor.
Norton also recognized Lt. Col. Leon Vance, who commanded the 49th Bombardment Squadron at Goodfellow. On the eve of D-Day, Vance continued leading his formation after being severely wounded before ditching his aircraft in the English Channel and helping ensure the survival of his crew. He was also posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor.
"The legacy of Goodfellow during World War II is also written in the supreme sacrifices of individual heroes," said Norton.
The memorial also recognizes the broader contributions of the Concho Valley community.
U.S. Rep. August Pfluger highlighted local leaders such as Brig. Gen. Earl Rudder, a native of Eden, Texas, who commanded the 2nd Ranger Battalion during the D-Day invasion, and Gen. Ira Eaker, who grew up in Eden and commanded the Eighth Air Force.
Pfluger also recognized Phil George, a local WWII veteran who later served during the Korean and Vietnam wars and became a longtime coach, athletic director and community leader in San Angelo.
"This memorial is a tribute to the service and sacrifice of Concho Valley's World War II veterans," said Pfluger. "It stands not as a monument to war, but as a monument to what ordinary people did when their country needed them most."
The names on the memorial represent veterans who called San Angelo and surrounding communities home. Organizers said additional names may be added as information is submitted and verified.
The project began as a community effort to establish a permanent memorial for local WWII veterans. More than 150 individuals and organizations contributed to bringing the project to completion.
For Norton, the memorial represents more than a marker of the past. It reflects a relationship between Goodfellow and San Angelo that began more than 85 years ago and continues through the installation's mission today.
"Today at the 17th Training Wing, we strive to live up to that standard of courage," said Norton. "We strive to honor the legacy of the visionary civic leaders who welcomed us to this city more than 85 years ago."
As the ceremony concluded, attendees were invited to view the bronze Airman statue and search the memorial's panels for the names of family members and other local veterans.
QR codes at the memorial allow visitors to search for veterans by name and identify the panel where their name is displayed.
The memorial's organizers emphasized that the site is intended to preserve the names and stories of the men and women who served, ensuring their legacy remains part of the Concho Valley community for generations to come.
"This beautiful memorial is a testament to the fact that San Angelo's gratitude extends far beyond the gates of Goodfellow," said Norton. "On behalf of the men and women of the 17th Training Wing, thank you, San Angelo, for keeping their stories alive.”