World War II Honoree

Vaughn Welty

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

Flora, Illinois

Honored By

Robert Medley Gatewood

ENLISTED AND ENTERED ACTIVE SERVICE ON 23 JUNE 1941 AT EAST SAINT LOUIS, ILLINOIS. COMPLETED BASIC TRAINING AND QUALIFIED FOR THE MILITARY OCCUPATIONAL SPECIALTY OF ADMINISTRATIVE TECHNICAL CLERK (405). DEPARTED THE CONTINENTAL U.S. ON 6 AUGUST 1942 BOUND FOR DUTY IN ENGLAND, EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS. ASSIGNED TO THE NEWLY ACTIVATED 325TH PHOTOGRAPHIC WING (RECONNAISSANCE), 8TH AIR FORCE, BASED AT HIGH WYCOMBE, ENGLAND AND PARTICIPATED IN THE NORTHERN FRANCE, ARDENNES, RHINELAND AND CENTRAL EUROPE CAMPAIGNS. EARNED THE GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL, THE AMERICAN DEFENSE MEDAL, THE AMERICAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, THE EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN CAMPAIGN MEDAL WITH 4 BRONZE BATTLE STARS AND THE WWII VICTORY MEDAL. HONORABLY DISCHARGED FROM THE HEADQUARTERS SQUADRON, 325TH RECONNAISSANCE WING (RE DESIGNATED) AS A SERGEANT ON 23 OCTOBER 1945 AT THE SEPARATION CENTER, FORT SHERIDAN, ILLINOIS.