Robert E. Femoyer, B-17 Radio Operator Who Saved 25 Men

Oct 07 , 2025

Robert E. Femoyer, B-17 Radio Operator Who Saved 25 Men

Robert E. Femoyer’s voice cracked through the static cracks of a dying B-17. Blood stained his uniform, veins bursting beneath the weight of mortal wounds. Still, he whispered coordinates, guiding his stricken bomber home through flak and fury. Each transmission chipped away at his life—but saved the lives of countless crew. There, in the belly of hell, he chose duty over death.

Born Under Faith and Duty

Robert Ely Femoyer came from Morgantown, West Virginia—rooted in quiet faith and unyielding resolve. Raised in a household where scripture wasn’t just read but lived, his life echoed Proverbs 3:5–6: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart… and He will make straight your paths.”

A star athlete and scholar, Femoyer enlisted in the Army Air Forces in 1942. His sense of purpose went beyond medals; it was anchored in redemption and sacrifice. The radio operator for the 96th Bombardment Group, he held fast to the conviction that every call, every signal, was a lifeline.

The Day the Sky Turned Blood Red

November 2, 1944. The target: Merseburg, Germany—a crucible of anti-aircraft fire and Luftwaffe fighters. Femoyer was aboard B-17 "Shoo Shoo Shoo Baby," their mission grappling with flak bursts that tore at their formation.

Minutes into the raid, a burst ripped through his right side. The pain was searing fire. Yet, wounded and bleeding fast, Femoyer refused mercy or aid. He crawled back to his radio, clutching to the one duty that could pull his crew from the edge.

Through blinding pain, he kept relaying their position. Each coded word battered his strength but kept the bomber group’s path true. His voice cracked against the static; his resolve did not falter.

He knew the price. Still, he bore the war inside him with grim grace.

Medal of Honor: The Words That Save

Femoyer’s Medal of Honor citation details a soldier who “unhesitatingly refused aid and remained at his station.” It credits him with saving the lives of 25 men and ensuring the success of that critical mission.

“When no further aid could be given, he refused to leave his post, quietly bearing his wound, yet refusing assistance.” — Medal of Honor citation, War Department, June 20, 1945 [1].

Colonel James Stewart, the famed actor and commander of the 96th BG, spoke of Femoyer:

“His calm voice saved lives. When everything was chaos, he was the unbreakable link.” [2]

Femoyer died two days later, a silent witness to sacrifice beyond the battlefield’s roar. His courage wasn’t forged in heroics alone, but in the choice to stay—when escape was pain and death was certain.

Legacy Etched in Blood and Faith

Robert Femoyer’s story isn’t one of glory. It is a testament to the indomitable spirit that whispers even when the body screams to fall silent. His wounds became his witness.

His sacrifice reminds us of Romans 5:3–4—“tribulation produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.”

Veterans carry scars—some marked on skin, others branded deep in the soul. Femoyer’s journal entry from eternity speaks to those fighting unseen battles: True valor lies not in the absence of fear, but in choosing the right path, regardless of cost.

His blood paved a path for others to survive. His voice—vanishing in death—still speaks the language of sacrifice.

He is not forgotten.

Sources

1. U.S. Army Center of Military History, Medal of Honor Recipients: World War II 2. Terry Cashio, James Stewart: Behind the Scenes of the 96th Bomb Group