Kermit O. Dahlen was born on September 9, 1922, in Center Township, Iowa. He was the son of Oscar Lovinius Dahlen and Marie Elizabeth Johnson Dahlen.

Kermit served in the 335th Fighter Squadron, 4th Fighter Group, as a Second Lieutenant during World War II. On August 18, 1944, he took off from Station 356 airfield in Debden, England, on an escort mission to Munich, Germany. His element was separated from the section leader and wingman while turning into an attacking ME-109 15 miles east of Munich. His aircraft was seen to blow up shortly afterward.

2Lt Dahlen is now buried in the Lorraine American Cemetery, Saint-Avold, France.

Source of information: www.findagrave.com, www.abmc.gov, 4thfightergroupassociation.org