Medal of Honor recipient Robert Edward Femoyer (October 31, 1921 – November 2, 1944) was born in Huntington. He joined the Enlisted Reserve Corps on November 11, 1942, and went on active duty in February 1943. After finishing basic training at Miami Beach and aircrew training at the University of Pittsburgh, he attended the Mississippi Institute of Aeronautics to become a pilot. However, he did not pass his pilot training test.

Femoyer continued to train and graduated from the Army Air Force’s Flexible Gunnery School in Fort Myers, Florida, and from the Navigation School at Selman Field, Florida. By September 1944, he was a second lieutenant assigned to the 711^th Bombardment Squadron of the 447^th Bomb Group.

Just six weeks later, on November 2, 1944, Femoyer served as the navigator on a B-17 bomber during a mission over Merseburg, Germany. The plane was hit by enemy fire, and he was badly wounded. Even though he was losing a lot of blood, he refused medical help so he could keep navigating. For more than two and a half hours, he guided the plane safely back to England, changing its route six times to avoid more enemy attacks. Thanks to his skill and bravery, the entire crew survived. Femoyer died 30 minutes after the plane landed.

For his incredible courage and sacrifice, Femoyer was awarded the Medal of Honor on May 9, 1945, by President Harry S. Truman. On July 16, 1945, he was added to the honor roll of the National Jewish Welfare Board’s Bureau of War Records, which includes Jewish soldiers and sailors who served during World War II. He also received several other awards, including the Purple Heart, Air Medal, and the World War II Victory Medal. Femoyer was a member of Virginia Tech’s Class of 1944. In 1949, the university built a residence hall named Femoyer Hall in his honor. Over the years, the building served many purposes, housing classrooms, the Naval ROTC unit, and later the Student Success Center. Femoyer Hall was torn down in 2021, but his memory continues to inspire others.

To this day, Robert Edward Femoyer is one of only 11 Eagle Scouts to have received the Medal of Honor.