Field to bear name of Jeannette war hero William Shomo

William Shomo proved himself a warrior nearly 65 years ago in the skies over the South Pacific.

Now, he is being honored on a battlefield of a different sort for his bravery during World War II.

Jeannette school directors have voted to name the football field at McKee Stadium in memory of Shomo, a Medal of Honor recipient and Jeannette High School alumnus.

Shomo was awarded the nation's highest military honor after shooting down seven Japanese planes in a single mission on Jan. 11, 1945. Shomo, who died in 1990, was a 1936 graduate.

"(School Director) Bill Brasco made the recommendation to the board," said Superintendent Sharon Marks. "He thought it was important we honor him as a school district."

Capt. Shomo was flying a visual-reconnaissance mission in Japanese airfields with his wingman, 2nd Lt. Paul Lipscomb of Fort Worth, Texas.

Cruising at about 200 feet in P-51 Mustangs, the pair came upon a dozen Japanese fighters protecting a twin-engine bomber and attacked. Within 12 minutes, Shomo shot down six of the fighters and the bomber, while Lipscomb scored three victories.

The Medal of Honor citation says his "extraordinary gallantry and intrepidity in attacking such a far superior force and destroying seven enemy aircraft in one action is unparalleled in the southwest Pacific area."

Brasco said a feeling of patriotism came over him at a city Veterans Day concert, prompting a thought to honor Shomo.

"So I brought it to the board and not one board member batted an eyelash," Brasco said. "They thought it was a good idea."

Gary McCullough, Shomo's nephew, said he has tried for 25 years to have some sort of recognition in Jeannette for his uncle. The news excited him.

"It really makes me feel good," McCullough said. "He was a great guy. You'd sit down and talk to him and you'd listen. ... He'd feel good about this. He'd be proud."

Jim Shomo, one of William's six children, also was touched by the honor to be bestowed upon his dad.

"It's a nice tribute," he said. "Jeannette has such a good football team. It will be good publicity. I think he would be very honored, having grown up in Jeannette."

Jim Shomo said he looks forward to taking his seven children — only two of whom got to meet their grandfather — to the stadium.

Shomo was the subject of a DVD developed by Ron Terpko of San Jose, Calif., a 1961 Jeannette graduate and Ron Orynich of Boca Raton, Fla., a member of Jeannette's class of 1960.

"Isn't that wonderful?" Terpko exclaimed about Shomo's latest honor. "I was really, really excited to hear that. It seems like it's a long time coming."

Terpko said sales of the DVD "come and go," but it's a subject in which he'll continue to be involved.

"I've never given up on Shomo and I probably never will," he said.