▁in ▁the ▁Mar iana ▁Islands ▁and ▁into ▁other ▁bases ▁in ▁the ▁Pacific ▁Theater ▁of ▁Oper ations . ▁ ▁In ▁August ▁ 1 9 4 5 , ▁Sund l un ▁att ained ▁the ▁rank ▁of ▁captain , ▁and ▁left ▁active ▁service ▁at ▁the ▁end ▁of ▁the ▁war . ▁He ▁received ▁the ▁Pur ple ▁Heart , ▁Dist ingu ished ▁F lying ▁Cross , ▁and ▁Air ▁Medal ▁with ▁two ▁o ak ▁leaf ▁clusters ▁from ▁the ▁U . S . ▁military , ▁and ▁in ▁ 1 9 7 7 ▁he ▁received ▁the ▁Che val ier ▁of ▁the ▁L ég ion ▁d ' honneur ▁from ▁the ▁French ▁government . ▁ ▁Despite ▁ending ▁his ▁active ▁service ▁in ▁ 1 9 4 5 , ▁he ▁remained ▁in ▁the ▁U . S . ▁Air ▁Force ▁Reserve ▁and ▁rose ▁through ▁the ▁officer ▁ranks ▁until ▁he ▁retired ▁as ▁a ▁colon el ▁in ▁ 1 9 8 0 ▁after ▁serving ▁with ▁the ▁ 3 7 6 th ▁Tro op ▁Car rier ▁Squadron ▁at ▁Hans com ▁Air ▁Force ▁Base ▁in ▁Massachusetts , ▁and ▁the ▁ 4 5 9 th ▁Tro op ▁Car rier ▁Group , ▁Med ium ▁at ▁Andrew s ▁Air ▁Force ▁Base ▁in ▁Maryland ▁He ▁was ▁a ▁member ▁of ▁the ▁Rh ode ▁Island ▁Command ery ▁of ▁the ▁Military ▁Order ▁of ▁Foreign ▁Wars , ▁a ▁military ▁society ▁of ▁commission ed ▁officers ▁who ▁served ▁during ▁w art ime ▁and ▁their ▁descend ants . ▁ ▁In ▁September ▁ 1 9 4 8 ▁Sund l un ▁fle w ▁sur plus ▁B - 1 7 ▁bom bers ▁from ▁Davis