Contains a lengthy, detailed biography of Cahoon's personal and military experiences, written by his nephew, Douglas W. Cahoon. It documents his early childhood, family life, education, and artistic training. Majority of the memoir details Cahoon's military yearsâcovering his induction, basic training, flight training, and his initial overseas assignment as a fighter pilot on an aircraft carrier. Describes his involvement in the attacks on Saipan, the Philippines, Formosa (Taiwan), Iwo Jima, Tokyo, and Okinawa, the last of which was to be his final campaign as his airplane was shot down off the coast after a bombing run. Also describes his living conditions throughout the war, his involvement with the LDS Church, his thoughts and feelings on combat, his artistic dreams, and his interactions with other members of his flight team. His relationship with his wife (their courting and marriage) is a major theme throughout the work and excerpts from correspondence between the two is abundant. The document discusses the events surrounding Cahoon's disappearance, how his death affected his family, and shares many of his friends' thoughts on their relationship with him. Also contains a list of his decorations and a chronology of his life. Includes two newspaper articles: one documenting the work of Cahoon's nephew in writing the biography and the other describing Cahoon's last flight. Also includes nine photocopies of Cahoon's war-scene paintings and photographs showing him with his flight team and in his cockpit. Also contains a sequential pictorial (four photocopied photographs) showing a Japanese kamikaze attack on the U.S.S. Essex.
