The roar of fighter jets could be heard over the Valley Thursday morning to honor a hero among us.

According to air traffic control at the Youngstown-Warren Regional Airport, the reason for the presence of the jets was a funeral flyover for Albert J. St. Clair who was buried with military honors at Newton Falls Cemetery.

The Youngstown Air Reserve Station reports that three U.S. Marine Corps Reserve F/A-18 Hornet aircraft from the Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 112 (VMFA-112), based at Naval Air Station Fort Worth, Texas took part in the salute.

Albert “Junie” St. Clair, who passed away on August 1 at the age of 90, served in the United States Marine Corps during the Korean War between 1952 and 1955.

St. Clair was awarded the Silver Star Medal, which is the United States Armed Forces's third-highest military decoration for valor in combat.

According to the Medal of Honor Project, PFC St. Clair served as a Machine Gunner of the Weapons Company, Second Battalion, Seventh Marines, FIRST Marine Division, in action against enemy forces in Korea on July 8, 1953.

Below is a government account of St. Clair’s actions that led to the Silver Star medal:

During an assault by enemy troops on his sector of the main line of resistance, St. Clair delivered accurate machine gun fire which inflicted many casualties on the hostile troops and forced them to halt the attack. With the main enemy force withdrawing to continue its attack from defensive positions while a hostile unit of approximately squad size moved to the rear area of his position, he quickly removed the machine gun from its mount, rushed from the bunker into the trench line in order to meet the onrushing troops and gallantly fired the machine gun from his arms, causing numerous casualties among the enemy and again forcing their withdrawal. When assured that the attackers had completely withdrawn from the rear position, he placed his weapon in the exposed trench line and remained in the endangered position throughout the night to fire on the enemy. By his aggressive fighting spirit, courageous initiative and steadfast devotion to duty, Private First Class St. Clair served to inspire all who observed him and upheld the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.

You may read St. Clair’s obituary by following this link.