Arthur Van Haren Jr.
Recipient of the Purple Heart medal
Arthur Van Haren Jr. (April 9, 1920 – August 11, 1992) was a World War II fighter pilot who is considered the top fighter ace of World War II from Arizona. He may be one of very few highly decorated Hispanic fighter-pilot aces in the history of aerial warfare.
Early life
Van Haren was born in Superior, Arizona. His mother, Rose Valenzuela, was Hispanic. His father, Arthur Van Haren Sr., was a popular boxing judge and baseball umpire who was inducted into the Arizona Sports Hall of Fame. Arthur Jr. shared his father's passion for sports, becoming a star quarterback at Phoenix Union High School and later playing for coach Pop McKale at the University of Arizona in Tucson.
World War II
While attending the University of Arizona, Van Haren Jr. joined the Navy at the beginning of World War II, and was part of the famous U.S. Navy Fighting Squadron Two (VF-2) Rippers.
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