Paul J. Gerken was born on December 27, 1921 in Ohio. He was the son of Carl William Gerken and Caroline Badenhop Gerken. Gerken was the co-pilot of B-24J "Shy Ann" #44-40985, assigned to the 10th Air Force, 7th Bombardment Group, 436th Bombardment Squadron. The Squadron was being used to fly fuel and supplies from India over the Himalayas to the Chinese and United States Army Air Forces based in China. The plane was headed for Suichwan when it crashed taking off from Luliang China. All aboard were killed. He is now buried in the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific, Honolulu, Honolulu County, Hawaii, USA. He also has a cenotaph located in Saint John's Cemetery, Ridgeville Corners, Henry County, Ohio.

Paul was one of over 2000 Americans who lost their lives defending China from their Japanese invaders from 1941-1945. He is commemorated on the The Monument to the Aviation Martyrs in the War of Resistance Against Japan in Nanjing, China.

Source of information: www.findagrave.com