World War II Honoree

Donald James Draper

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

Grand Rapids, Michigan

Honored By

Donald James Draper

Relationship

Self

ENLISTED IN ARMY AIR FORCE CADET PROGRAM ON MARCH 24, 1944 AT FORT SHERIDAN, ILLINOIS. CALLED TO ACTIVE DUTY ON AUGUST 17, 1944 AND RECEIVED BASIC TRAINING, AMARILLO, TEXAS. THE COLLEGE PRE-FLIGHT PROGRAM, USUALLY FOLLOWING BASIC TRAINING, WAS CURTAILED BECAUSE OF THE NEAR END OF THE WAR WITH GERMANY. WAS ASSIGNED TO A NEW CADET PROGRAM, ON-THE-LINE-TRAINING, AND SENT TO PECOS AIR FORCE BASE, TEXAS. THIS PROGRAM WAS TERMINATED AFTER ABOUT SIX MONTHS, ALONG WITH THE CADET STATUS OF THE TRAINEES. NEXT ASSIGNMENT WAS SERVING VARIOUS TASKS IN HEADQUARTERS COMPANY, 3706TH ARMY AIR FORCE BASE UNIT, SHEPPARD FIELD, TEXAS. PLACED ON INACTIVE STATUS SEPTEMBER 2, 1945 AND RECEIVED AN HONORABLE DISCHARGE ALSO AT SHEPPARD FIELD, OCTOBER 28, 1945 WITH THE RANK OF CORPORAL.