- Name: Calvin Dennis Rima
- Location of Birth: Grand Rapids, Minnesota
- Date of Birth: March 3, 1924
- Date of Death: January 25, 2004
- Parents: Arthur and Goldie Rima
- High School and Class: 1943 - Grand Rapids High School, Grand Rapids, Minnesota
- College:
- Highest Rank: PFC (Private First Class)
- Branch: Army
- Other Branch:
- Date Sworn In: July 20, 1943
- Place Sworn In: Fort Snelling, Minnesota
- Date of Discharge: December 11, 1945
- Place of Discharge: Maxwell Field, Alabama
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Units and Locations:
Start Date End Date Unit(s) and Location(s) Served July, 1943 August, 1943 Fort Snelling, St. Paul, Minnesota August, 1943 1943 Keesler Field, Biloxi, Mississippi 1943 1944 Maxwell Field, Montgomery, Alabama 1944 1944 Wofford College, Spartanburg, South Carolina 1945 December, 1945 Maxwell Field, Montgomery, Alabama - Military Awards:
American Theater
Good Conduct
Victory Medal - Military Highlights:
Per information from Calvin's brother: Merton Rima
After Calvin graduated from High School, he was determined to become a fighter pilot and get into the war. He enlisted and went to Keesler Field in Mississippi for his initial preflight training. He continued his flight training at Maxwell Field in Alabama and also at Spartanburg, South Carolina at Wofford College. It was late in 1944 and the war was winding down. The Allies had destroyed the German Air Force and the Japanese were losing their air power, too. When Calvin completed his pilot training, there was a surplus of pilots so half of his class did not receive commissions or their pilot's wings. Calvin was back to an enlisted Private First Class and spent some time doing maintenance work on B-24's. He was discharged December 11, 1945.
- Wars Involved:
World War II - MIA / POW:
- Civilian Life:
Calvin went to Detroit, Michigan and worked in the auto industry the rest of his life. He died a few days after open heart surgery for a new heart valve. He died on January 25, 2004.
Calvin is buried in Parkview Memorial Cemetery in Livonia, Michigan. - Tribal Affiliation(s):