World War II Honoree

Thomas Earle Nettles

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

South Norfolk, Virginia

Honored By

Judith Nettles Cole

Relationship

Daughter

ENTERED ARMY AIR FORCES AS A VOLUNTEER MARCH 1944 AT THE AGE OF 19 AND SERVED 25 MONTHS. TRAINED IN MISSISSIPPI AND THEN STATIONED AT KESSLER FIELD IN BELLEVILLE, ILLINOIS. TRANSFERRED TO RANTOUL AIR BASE, ILLINOIS AND THEN TO WASHINGTON, D.C. WITH THE HEADQUARTERS OF THE OFFICE OF STRATEGIC SERVICES. HE WAS A TELETYPE OPERATOR AND WORKED UNDERGROUND RECEIVING CODED MESSAGES FROM OVERSEAS. DREW SIDEARMS TO BE DROPPED BEHIND LINES IN BURMA, BUT THE WAR ENDED.