World War II Honoree

Hal Edwin Groom

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

Perry, Oklahoma

Honored By

OAMC, ROTC Class of 1943

SERVED IN THE ARMY RESERVE OFFICER TRAINING CORPS (ROTC) AT OKLAHOMA AGRICULTURAL AND MECHANICAL COLLEGE (OAMC) IN STILLWATER, OKLAHOMA FROM SEPTEMBER, 1939 TO APRIL 5, 1943. SIMULTANEOUSLY SERVED AS A PRIVATE IN THE ENLISTED RESERVE CORPS WITH THE 1875TH SERVICE UNIT FROM JULY 1942 TO APRIL 5, 1943. INDUCTED AND CALLED TO ACTIVE DUTY ON APRIL 6, 1943. REPORTED TO THE RECEPTION CENTER AT FORT SILL AT LAWTON, OKLAHOMA ON APRIL 12, 1943. ASSIGNED TO OFFICER CANDIDATE SCHOOL, GRADUATED AND WAS COMMISSIONED A SECOND LIEUTENANT. UPON COMPLETION OF PILOT TRAINING, WAS AWARDED HIS SILVER WINGS AND WAS EARMARKED FOR MULTI-ENGINE TRAINING IN THE TYPE AIRCRAFT HE WOULD FLY IN COMBAT. QUALIFIED IN THE C-46 'COMMANDO' TRANSPORT AIRCRAFT. STATIONED AT TURNER FIELD AT ALBANY, GEORGIA IN THE AMERICAN THEATER IN EARLY 1945. ASSIGNED TO MILITARY GOVERNMENT DUTIES IN KOREA WITH OCCUPATION FORCES AFTER THE END OF THE WAR. AWARDED THE AMERICAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, WWII VICTORY MEDAL, AND ARMY OF OCCUPATION MEDAL. HONORABLY DISCHARGED AND ISSUED THE HONORABLE SERVICE LAPEL BUTTON.