He received a Distinguished Service Cross, three Silver Stars, Six Distinguished Flying Crosses, 15 Air Medals, three Purple Hearts and numerous National Defense, Theater and Battle Citations.
McGuire also was a Medal of Honor recipient and has an Air Force base in New Jersey named in his honor.
As a local resident, the young man was quite active, known for fast driving and shenanigans, he later was an engineering student at Georgia Tech. It was that background that he brought to the United States military as a fearless pilot and one who worked with aircraft engineers to help improve the nations fighter aircraft.
In addition to being honored at the Sebring Regional Airport, McGuire is one of the Florida Medal of Honor recipients who will he honored at the Florida Medal of Honor Memorial, which is set to officially open in December of this year.
McGuire’s story can be found in Charles Martin’s book – “The Last Great Ace.”
