Jerry Debes in uniform with brother Robert Debes in Beaumont TX 1943

The collection consists of letters, newspaper clippings, military reports and documents and original photographs, certificates, a small group of callings cards, and memorabilia. The collection focuses on the military career and death of a first generation American pilot, Jerry C. Debes, of Syrian heritage, in the European Theater of World War II and the subsequent efforts of his family to honor his memory.

The collection divides itself naturally into two main chronological parts containing several series in each. The first group (1942-1949) is focused on Debes’ military career and his family’s efforts to discover the circumstances of his death. It also includes materials concerning the Jerry Debes memorial Headstone placed by the American Battle Military Commission in the Lorraine American Cemetery in St. Avold, France. It also includes personal and military–oriented photographs. Other memorabilia are the US Air Force‘s Air Medal and Purple Heart medal in their respective cases, two copies of Jerry Debes’ Purple heart certificates and Jerry Debes’ calling cards.

The second part is devoted to the efforts of Dr. Robert Debes to discover the exact circumstances of his brother’s death due to friendly fire in late 1980’s. It includes Dr. Debes’ successful project to have his brother’s name listed on the Roll of Honor at the American Memorial Chapel in St. Paul’s Cathedral in London, England as well as the donations of materials to the Lone Star flight Museum in Galveston, Texas, the Air Force Historical Research Agency at the Maxwell Air Force Base in Alabama, and Rice University in Houston, Texas.

It is important to note that most of the documents are not original but photographed copies. Original materials are indicated in the Finding Aid. The photographs and memorabilia are all original.