Born on July 22, 1911 in Webster City, Iowa. During World War II, Colonel Marion Malcolm commanded the 52nd Fighter Group, equipped with P-51 Mustangs, in Italy from August 1944 until the end of the war. He received credit for shooting down a German Messerschmitt Bf 109 on April 16, 1945, during a fighter sweep into Bavaria and Austria. He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross with Oak Leaf Cluster and Air Medal with four Oak Leaf Clusters. Colonel Malcolm saved the lives of two children from drowning during his long military career. Then a Second Lieutenant, Air Reserve, US Army, he was awarded the Soldier's Medal with the following citation (War Department General Orders No. 5, June 30, 1937): "For heroism displayed at Lake St. Clair, Selfridge Field, Mt. Clemens, Michigan, on March 3, 1937. Upon learning that a child had fallen through the ice on the lake about 50 yards from shore and was in grave danger of drowning, Lieutenant Malcolm, disregarding his own personal safety, broke through the thin ice, swam to the child, and succeeded in bringing her safely to shore." On April 16, 1956, Colonel Malcolm, who was working on his boat in Shalimar Bayou near Eglin Air Force Base, Florida, saved the life of a two-year old girl who had fallen into the water. After volunteers discovered the girl floating in the bayou and dragged her to shore, Colonel Malcolm quickly performed CPR on the child, resuscitating her and saving her life. He was later awarded the President's Medal of the National Safety Council for his life-saving actions that day. Colonel Malcolm retired from the US Air Force in May 1961.
Source: Find a Grave