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EDMUND L. DECKER
CLASS OF 1938

A Student Assignment – A Northeast Hero Discovered

It was written by Honorary Viking, Audrey Calovich

I am a senior at Notre Dame de Sion High School. Nearly a year ago I wrote an essay, “The Trip of a Lifetime” as part of the application for “Normandy: Sacrifice for Freedom Albert H. Small Student & Teacher Institute”. Each year, Mr. Small, a WWII veteran, sponsors 15 student/teacher teams selected from the United States and its territories. Normandy Scholars spend a semester studying WWII and D-Day in preparation for a trip to Washington, DC and Normandy, France. Each student chooses a “Silent Hero” to research. The US serviceman must be from the student’s state and buried in the Normandy American Cemetery. In December I learned that I would be one of the 2015 Normandy Scholars. I will never forget my Normandy Institute experience. I discovered Edmund Lamont Decker, born in 1920 in Kansas City’s Northeast neighborhood. His name stood out on the list of fallen heroes (all of them deserve this honor). Tracing Edmund’s life has broadened my understanding of history, and made him a part of my family. A high-spirited boy, he was popular at Northeast High School. He graduated in 1938, worked as a clerk at Skelly Oil and Western Auto, and attended Park College. In August 1941, he went to Canada, risking his citizenship by joining the Royal Canadian Air Force. He trained on spitfires and was sent to the war in England. In 1943, he transferred to the United States Army Air force as Flight Officer Decker. On D-Day, F/O Decker flew his P-47 Thunderbolt on a strafing mission over France. Rare film footage shows bullet from his plane ripping across a German supply train. A letter written to his Aunt Dell McFerrin on June 7th boasts of downing an enemy aircraft. On June 8th, he was strafing a German convoy. While low over the target, he was hit by ground fire. He lost control of his plane, flew through power lines, and crashed. He hit his target and four German soldiers, but he lost his life.

Being in Normandy, where countless died to liberate Europe, brought Decker’s story to life. We viewed black and white photographs of the places we were visiting, comparing our current locations to how they looked during the German occupation and the battle. We immersed ourselves in the stories of our servicemen. The cliffs overlooking Omaha Beach are breathtakingly beautiful, as are the graves of thousands of men who were lost in the battles. Standing by Edmund Decker’s grave, listening to the waves crash, while viewing the sea of white crosses, I felt very close him—he has become a dear friend. As we honored our Silent Heroes, it became apparent that we, this new generation, must keep history alive. The sacrifices made by these men must be recognized and honored. As, former British Prime Minister Gordon Brown said at the 65th anniversary of D-day “…in the thin light of gray dawn, more than 1,000 small craft took to a rough sea on a day that will be forever a day of bravery. On that June morning, the young of our nations stepped out on those beaches below and into history. As long as freedom lives their deeds will never die.” It has been a privilege and an honor to memorialize Northeast Alumni, Edmund L. Decker. I have received much so more than I have given.