World War II Honoree

Robert Eugene Greenwell

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

Morganfield, Kentucky

Honored By

Kathleen M. Greenwell

Relationship

Daughter-in-law

GENE ENLISTED IN THE U.S. ARMY AIR CORPS ON OCTOBER 31, 1942. AFTER COMPLETION OF BASIC TRAINING, HE WAS ASSIGNED TO SMYRNA AIR BASE IN TENNESSEE. GENE WAS LATER ACCEPTED AS AN AIR CADET AND ATTENDED THE UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS IN FAYETTEVILLE. SINCE THERE WAS AN ABUNDANCE OF PILOTS AT THAT TIME, HE DIDN'T COMPLETE THE CADET PROGRAM AND RECEIVE HIS WINGS AS A PILOT, BUT WAS SELECTED FOR GUNNERY SCHOOL. GENE ATTENDED ARMAMENT SCHOOL AT LOWRY FIELD, COLORADO AND AERIAL GUNNERY SCHOOL AT HARLINGEN, TEXAS, WHERE HE RECEIVED HIS WINGS AS A GUNNER. HE WAS THEN ASSIGNED TO THE 714TH SQUADRON, 448TH BOMBARDMENT GROUP OF THE 8TH AIR FORCE AND SERVED AS A BALL TURRET GUNNER ON A B-24 LIBERATOR BOMBER. SOON AFTER HE ARRIVED IN ENGLAND THE WAR ENDED. HIS LAST FEW MONTHS IN THE SERVICE WERE SPENT AT SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH. GENE RECEIVED AN HONORABLE DISCHARGE ON FEBRUARY 24, 1946 AS A STAFF SERGEANT.