 Francisco Mercado Jr.

Francisco Mercado Jr. (February 17, 1920 – September 23, 2005) was a member of the United States Army Air Forces (USAAF) and recipient of the Distinguished Flying Cross who earned his membership to the exclusive "Caterpillar Club" having saved his life by parachuting over England while returning from a mission with a crippled B-24 during World War II.Mercado was born in East Los Angeles, California and baptized as David Mercado.