World War II Honoree

Melvin Arnold Cooper

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

Montrose, Colorado

Honored By

Lou Cooper

Relationship

Wife

SERVED IN THE SOUTH PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS, FLYING RECONNAISSANCE MISSIONS. HE WAS A CERTIFIED PILOT IN THE B-25, B-17 AND B-29 BOMBERS. ENTERED AND COMPLETED CADET PRE-FLIGHT AVIATION TRAINING (CLASS OF 44 K) AT SHEPPARD FIELD, TEXAS. COMPLETED PRIMARY FLIGHT TRAINING AT CUERO, TEXAS AND BASIC FLIGHT TRAINING AT GREENVILLE, TEXAS. GRADUATED FROM ADVANCED FLIGHT SCHOOL IN FREDERICK, OKLAHOMA WITH HIS COMMISSION, PILOT WINGS AND THE RANK OF 2ND LIEUTENANT. AWARDED THE AIR FORCE COMMENDATION MEDAL, AMERICAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, AMERICAN DEFENSE SERVICE MEDAL AND THE WWII VICTORY MEDAL.