World War II Honoree

James Bundy Wham

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

Centralia, Illinois

Honored By

Sarah Cary

Relationship

Daughter

AFTER COMPLETING 1 YEAR OF LAW SCHOOL AT THE UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS, ENTERED ACTIVE SERVICE AS A DRAFTEE ON JUNE 29, 1941 AT CHICAGO, ILLINOIS. COMPLETED BASIC TRAINING AND ASSIGNED TO CLERICAL DUTIES WITH THE TRIAL JUDGE ADVOCATES OFFICE, 63RD AIR BASE SQUADRON, GARDNER FIELD, CALIFORNIA. VOLUNTEERED AND WAS ACCEPTED FOR OFFICERS CANDIDATE SCHOOL FROM WHICH HE GRADUATED AND WAS HONORABLY DISCHARGED FROM THE ARMY AIR FORCES TECHNICAL TRAINING COMMAND AS A CORPORAL ON JUNE 23, 1942 AT MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA. ENTERED ACTIVE SERVICE THE NEXT DAY AS A 2ND LIEUTENANT, TRANSPORTATION OFFICER, ASSIGNED TO THE 7TH TROOP CARRIER SQUADRON, 62ND TROOP CARRIER GROUP, AT FLORENCE, SOUTH CAROLINA. DEPARTED THE U.S. ON AUGUST 31, 1942 ON HMS QUEEN ELIZABETH BOUND FOR DUTY IN ENGLAND AND THEN NORTH AFRICA BY DECEMBER 5, 1942. APPOINTED COMMANDER OF HEADQUARTERS SQUADRON AND GROUP ADJUTANT OF THE 62ND TROOP CARRIER GROUP ON JANUARY 26, 1943; SQUADRON EXECUTIVE OFFICER OF THE 51ST TROOP CARRIER SQUADRON, 62ND TROOP CARRIER GROUP, ON MAY 8, 1944 AND GROUP AIR INSPECTOR, 62ND TROOP CARRIER GROUP ON MARCH 9, 1945; SERVING VARIOUSLY IN THOSE CAPACITIES (ALL WITHIN THE 51ST TROOP CARRIER WING) IN ALGERIA, TUNISIA, SICILY AND ITALY UNTIL AUGUST 11, 1945. CITED BY THE 51ST TROOP CARRIER WING’S COMMANDING OFFICER, BRIGADIER GENERAL T. J. MANNING: ‘I COMMEND YOU ON THE EXEMPLARY MANNER IN WHICH YOUR DUTIES HAVE BEEN PERFORMED AS THE AIR INSPECTOR OF THE 62ND GROUP.’ PARTICIPATED IN THE TUNISIA, SICILY, NAPLES-FOGGIA, ROME-ARNO, SOUTHERN FRANCE, AIR OFFENSIVE EUROPE (AIR COMBAT), NORTHERN APENNINES, AND PO VALLEY CAMPAIGNS. EARNED THE BRONZE STAR MEDAL (12TH AIR FORCE AWARD), AMERICAN DEFENSE SERVICE MEDAL, AMERICAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN CAMPAIGN MEDAL WITH 1 SILVER AND 3 BRONZE BATTLE STARS AND THE WWII VICTORY MEDAL. HONORABLY SEPARATED FROM ACTIVE DUTY AS A MAJOR ON DECEMBER 30, 1945 AT THE SEPARATION CENTER, FORT SHERIDAN, ILLINOIS.