Orville Austin Kirtland Full Narrative

Orville Austin Kirtland was born on June 22, 1919, in Lewiston, Idaho. He grew up in Pullman, Washington, where he was part of the local Pullman Boy Scout troop and participated in plays and musicals. He attended Pullman High School, where he was a member of the student newspaper. Kirtland received his confirmation at St. James Episcopal Church in Pullman, and he graduated from high school in June 1937. During his summer before college, he was an enrollee in the Citizens' Military Training Camp and was a candidate for a commission in the reserve corps. Kirtland attended Washington State College for three years, participated in Debate, and joined the Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity. He was also part of the school's R.O.T.C. program as a noncommissioned officer. In March 1941, he enlisted in the US Army as a flying cadet. Following his pilot training, Kirtland was attached to the 40th Air Squadron of the 35th Fighter Wing and assigned to be part of the defense of Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea. He arrived in Australia in May 1942. Kirtland received his commission as a Second Lieutenant. On July 11, 1942, he and his squadron intercepted Japanese bombers heading for Port Moresby. He was intercepted by Zeroes and disappeared from his men. Initially listed as Missing in Action, by October 1942 his parents were notified that their son was officially Killed in Action after months of searching. His body and plane were never recovered. He is memorialized at the Manila American Cemetery in the Philippines as well as the WSU Veterans Memorial in Pullman.