World War II Honoree

James A. Greenwell

Branch of Service

U.S. Marine Corps

Hometown

Morganfield, Kentucky

Honored By

Mary Lee Thomas

Relationship

Daughter

ENLISTED IN THE MARINE CORPS RESERVE, AVIATION BRANCH AT OPA LOCKA NAVAL AIR STATION IN MIAMI, FLORIDA PRIOR TO THE ATTACK ON PEARL HARBOR. CALLED TO ACTIVE DUTY SOON AFTER ENLISTING AND WAS SENT TO CORPUS CHRISTI, TEXAS FOR TRAINING AS AN AIRCRAFT MECHANIC. IN LATE DECEMBER 1941, HE ARRIVED AT PAGO PAGO ON THE ISLAND OF TUTUILA, AMERICAN SAMOA, WITH A LARGE CONTINGENT OF MARINE TROOPS. WHILE AT PAGO PAGO, HE SERVED WITH VARIOUS MARINE FIGHTER SQUADRONS (VMF) FOR SEVERAL YEARS MAINTAINING THEIR AIRCRAFT. HE ALSO SERVED ON GUAM. NEAR THE END OF THE WAR, HE RETURNED TO THE STATES FOR FLIGHT TRAINING AND ALTHOUGH HE LEARNED TO FLY, DIDN'T WIN HIS WINGS BECAUSE THE MARINE CORPS HAD A SURPLUS OF PILOTS AT THAT TIME. WHEN HOSTILITIES ENDED, HE HAD BEEN IN THE SERVICE FOR OVER 5 YEARS. RECEIVED AN HONORABLE DISCHARGE FROM THE MARINE CORPS WITH THE RANK OF TECHNICAL SERGEANT.