World War II Honoree

Joe T. Gay

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

Helena, Oklahoma

Honored By

OAMC, ROTC Fire Station Gang

SERVED IN THE ARMY RESERVE OFFICER TRAINING CORPS AT OKLAHOMA A&M COLLEGE AT STILLWATER, OKLAHOMA FROM SEPTEMBER 1940 TO APRIL 5, 1943. SIMULTANEOUSLY SERVED AS A PRIVATE IN THE ENLISTED RESERVE CORPS WITH THE 1875TH SERVICE UNIT FROM JULY 1942 UNTIL APRIL 5, 1943. INDUCTED AND CALLED TO ACTIVE DUTY ON APRIL 6, 1943. REPORTED TO THE RECEPTION CENTER, FORT SILL, AT LAWTON, OKLAHOMA ON APRIL 12, 1943. TOOK INFANTRY BASIC TRAINING AT CAMP ROBERTS AT SAN MIGUEL, CALIFORNIA, WAS PROMOTED TO PRIVATE FIRST CLASS, AND SENT TO THE ARMY SPECIALIZED TRAINING PROGRAM AT OKLAHOMA A&M COLLEGE. TRANSFERRED TO THE ARMY AIR FORCES AND SELECTED FOR THE AVIATION CADET PROGRAM. AFTER COMPLETING THE AERIAL NAVIGATION COURSE, AWARDED HIS SILVER NAVIGATOR WINGS, COMMISSIONED A SECOND LIEUTENANT AND ADVANCED TO UNIT TRAINING. SERVED IN THE EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN THEATER BASED IN ENGLAND AND FLEW NUMEROUS MISSIONS OVER EUROPE. AWARDED THE AIR MEDAL, AMERICAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN CAMPAIGN MEDAL AND WWII VICTORY MEDAL. HONORABLY DISCHARGED AND ISSUED THE HONORABLE SERVICE LAPEL BUTTON.