Major Louis Joseph Sebille, USAF

Major Louis Joseph Sebille, United States Air Force. Medal of Honor recipient.

Early Days

On November 21, 1915, a young lad by the name of Louis Joseph Sebille was born to Louis Joseph August Sebille, M.D., and his wife Edna I. Sebille.

Upon graduation from high school, Louis enrolled at Wayne State University in Detroit, Michigan. While there he joined the Gamma Phi Delta Fraternity (ΓΦΔ). He also had an interest in acting, so he joined the Drama Club.

Upon graduation from Wayne State University Louis moved to Chicago, IL, where he worked as a Master of Ceremonies at various nightclubs. While there he used the stage name "Lou" Reynolds.

That's where he was when the Pearl Harbor attacks happened, so he joined the USAAF Army Air Corps two weeks later, managing to get an age waiver because he was just over the cutoff age of 26 for pilots.

By July 1942, he'd received his wings and was commissioned as a Lieutenant. Six months after that, Lt. Sebille was sent to the European theater to fly the B-26 bomber.

The Martin B-26 Marauder was a ground-breaking medium bomber in WWII.

"Lou" Sebille deployed to Europe with the 450th Bombardment Squadron (Medium), 322nd Bombardment Group (Medium). He was assigned to RAF Bury St. Edmunds Air Base.

On January 1943 Louis Sebille was promoted to First Lieutenant. 

The groups first B-26 mission from England took place on May 14, 1943. It was a low level attack against a power station at IJmuiden, Holland, in enemy occupied Europe. The unit's commanding officer, Lt. Colonel Stillam, was killed when his B-26 was shot down.

On May 17, 1943, they went back for another low level mission over Holland, and this time ten aircraft were shot down by antiaircraft artillery with 60 airmen lost.

From that point on they only flew medium altitude attacks.

Then the promotions came, to Captain on August 17, 1943, and then Major on September 7, 1944.

In the European Theater Sebille flew 68 combat missions as a B-26 pilot. 

Post World War II

In April 1945, Major Sebille attended the Airborne Radar Familiarization Course at Orlando, Florida.

He was released from active duty 5 August 1945 with a permanent rank of First Lieutenant, U.S. Army Air Corps, with date of rank retroactive to November 21, 1943.

In September 1945, Major Sebille went to the Command and General Staff School, Fort Leavenworth, Kansas.

But, his career was not yet over. In July of 1946 Lt. Sebelle was recalled to active duty and held a number of staff assignments until assignment to the Air Tactical School at Tyndall Field, Florida.

In September 1948, Maj. Sebille took command of the 67th Squadron, Jet, 18th Fighter-Bomber Group, which was stationed at Clark Air Force Base, Philippines.

Then, along came the Korean War.

The Korean War

Maj. Sebille had married Miss Elizabeth Jane Youn of Chicago, IL, at Barton, Florida on September 26, 1942.

Maj. Sebille and the 67th Squadron were then transferred to Ashiya, Japan. While there Maj. Sebille began flying F-51D-25-NA fighters.

On August 5, 1950, flying an F-51D-25-NA, serial number 44-74394, was attacking a camouflaged area containing a concentration of enemy troops, artillery, and armored vehicles when the aircraft was severly damaged by anti-aircraft fire.

That day, Sebille had led a formation of F-51 Mustangs armed with guns, rockets and 500-pound bombs into enemy territory.

They were ordered to attack a camouflaged area filled with enemy troops, artillery and armored vehicles that were threatening the security of friendly ground troops.

Sebille took a pass at the targets and tried to drop both bombs, but only one released. He went on to strafe the enemy and shoot off some rockets, and at some point, his plane was seriously damaged by anti-aircraft fire. 

One of his wingmen, Capt. Martin Johnson, noticed the damage and warned him against making another pass at the targets.

But Sebille had another bomb to get rid of, and he wasn't done yet.

He dismissed Johnson's advice, instead uttering his last recorded words: "I'll never be able to make it back. I'm going back to get that bastard."

Sebille flew his aircraft - still armed with a 500-pound bomb - directly into several enemy gun batteries. His plane and the targets erupted into a huge ball of fire. 

Postscript

After Maj. Sebille's death Mrs. Sebille and their son Flip were brouight back to the US from the Philippines on the troop ship USNS General Simaon B. Buckner.

Upon arrival they were greeted by Gen. Vandenburg, USAF, March AFB, CA,  on August 24th, 1951.

Louis Joseph (Flip) Sebille III, Mrs. Elizabeth J. Sebille and Gen. Vandenburg, USAF, March AFB, CA, 8-24-51.

For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while serving with the 67th Fighter-Bomber Squadron, 18th Fighter-Bomber Wing, Fifth Air Force in action against enemy forces near Hanchang, Korea, Maj. Sebille was awarded the Medal of Honor (Posthumously).

In a ceremony at March Air Force Base, Riverside, California, August 24, 1951, General Hoyt S. Vandenburg, Chief of Staff, United States Air Force, presented the Medal of Honor to Mrs. Elizabeth J. Sebille, Major Sebille’s widow, and their 17-month-old son, Louis Joseph (“Flip”) Sebille III.

Major Louis J. Sebille, U.S. Air Force, with a Lockheed F-80C-10-LO Shooting Star, 49-590. (U.S. Air Force)

Major Sebille was the first member of the new United States Air Force to be awarded the Medal of Honor since its establishment as a separate military service, 18 September 1947.

In addition to the Medal of Honor, during his military career Major Sebille had been awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross with one oak leaf cluster (two awards), the Air Medal with two silver and one bronze oak leaf cluster (twelve awards), and the Purple Heart.

Major Sebille’s remains are buried at Forest Home Cemetery, Forest Park, Illinois.

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Until next time, keep your eyes safe and focused on what's ahead of you, Hersch!