Robert Fulgham Adell, Jr.

Robert Fulgham Adell Jr. was born in Los Amates, Guatemala, on the 19th of February, 1923. His mother, Mabel Fulgham, and his father, Robert William Adell, were missionaries at the Friends mission in Guatemala. Adell’s family returned to the United States in November of 1924, when Adell was one. In 1926, Adell’s sister Helen was born in California. The Adell family continued missionary work in Central America throughout Adell’s childhood and returned to the United States in 1932. As a teenager, Adell lived with his family in Los Angeles. While in high school, he worked as a newsboy.

Robert attended Washington State College in April and May 1943 as a pre-flight student in the Army Training program. He stayed in R.C McCroskey Hall with other Army students. Before coming to WSC, he completed preliminary training in Fresno, California. When his class of Air Corps arrived on campus, the students embraced them as their own and invited them to various events. According to an article in the Evergreen, the WSC student newspaper, “weekend memories rationed out by the ‘College Gang’ are appreciated and much looked forward to.” Adell attended at least one party thrown by the college students and was seen dancing with other students. An Evergreen article published after his death stated that his parents told the coordinator of the war training program that his time in Pullman had meant a lot to Adell. 

After leaving Washington State College, Adell continued to train.  He was sent for more training in Santa Ana, California, “with a brilliant squadron which established a scholastic record at that base that still stands.” While at primary training in Hezmet, California, Adell was involved in an accident. He spent six weeks in the hospital and then was sent to complete his training in Douglas, Arizona.

On May 8, 1944, Adell was aboard a plane when it crashed, just seven miles southeast of Tombstone, Arizona. Another passenger was also killed, the commanding officer, Charles O. Armstrong. It was only fifteen days before his scheduled graduation.

After he passed, the Army sent his parents, Mabel and Robert Sr., his wings and commission as a lieutenant. Adell earned the American Campaign Medal and the World War II Victory Medal. He is buried in Rose Hills Memorial Park, in Los Angeles, California.