Colonel GEORGE LAVEN, JR. received the Distinguished Service Cross for extraordinary heroism on September 3, 1942. Col. Laven participated in the first pursuit attacks made at Kiska Island, Alaska. Flying over 600 miles over open water, for a period of eight hours, he destroyed a four-engine flying boat, strafed Japanese gun installations and a small boat in the harbor. He, while under heavy enemy anti-aircraft fire, also discovered and reported an unknown submarine net in the Kiska Harbor.

Colonel Laven joined the Legion of Valor in 1945 and was a LIFE MEMBER.