World War II Honoree

Robert E. Akers

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

Flora, Illinois

Honored By

Robert Medley Gatewood

ENTERED ACTIVE SERVICE IN THE AIR CORPS AS A DRAFTEE ON DECEMBER 21, 1943 AT CHICAGO, ILLINOIS. COMPLETED BASIC TRAINING AND QUALIFIED IN THE MILITARY OCCUPATIONAL SPECIALTY OF GROUND AIRCRAFT OBSERVER (518). DEPARTED THE U.S. ON DECEMBER 19, 1944 BOUND FOR THE PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS. OPERATED IN THE CHINA-BURMA-INDIA THEATER AND PARTICIPATED IN THE CHINA OFFENSIVE, THE CENTRAL BURMA AND THE CHINA DEFENSIVE CAMPAIGNS. RETURNED TO THE U.S. ON NOVEMBER 1, 1945 AND ASSIGNED TO THE 1077TH ARMY AIR FORCES BASE UNIT AT BOWMAN FIELD, LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY WHERE HE WAS HONORABLY DISCHARGED AS A PRIVATE 1ST CLASS ON FEBRUARY 5, 1946. EARNED THE GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL, AMERICAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, ASIATIC-PACIFIC CAMPAIGN MEDAL WITH 3 BRONZE BATTLE STARS AND THE WWII VICTORY MEDAL.