TINKER AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. -- Tinker’s Honor Guard held a flag folding ceremony Dec. 12 to honor World War II veteran Staff Sgt. Alvis Tinsley, who served with the 367th Bomber squadron, 306th Bomber group (heavy) in 1942. He was killed in action Oct. 8, 1943, over Bremen Germany, after his aircraft took several direct hits from enemy fighters.
Sergeant Tinsley’s great niece, Amber Skelton, brought the flag to Tinker to have it folded. Her 89-year-old grandfather, Thomas Hardee Tinsley, Sergeant Tinsley’s brother, received the 48-star flag that was originally sent to Sergeant Tinsley’s mother from Belgium and later passed on to a sister. “It was a very touching moment to be with our grandfather as he opened the box containing this beautiful piece of WWII history, representing the sacrifice he made, along with the thousands of our brave military,” said Ms. Skelton. “Although most of our family didn’t get the opportunity to meet this amazing man, we are very proud of the accomplishments he made in his short life.”
Sergeant Tinsley was awarded the Air Medal with three oak clusters and the Purple Heart with oak clusters. He is buried at the Ardennes American Cemetery located just outside of Liege, Belgium.