World War II Honoree

Lester T. Bay

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

Flora, Illinois

Honored By

Robert Medley Gatewood

ENLISTED IN THE AIR CORPS AND ENTERED ACTIVE SERVICE ON 19 JULY, 1941 AT CAMP GRANT, ILLINOIS. COMPLETED BASIC TRAINING AND QUALIFIED IN THE MILITARY OCCUPATIONAL SPECIALTY OF AIRPLANE AND ENGINE MECHANIC (747). DEPARTED THE U.S. ON FEBRUARY 15, 1943 BOUND FOR THE EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS WHERE HE SERVED WITH A UNIT IN SUPPORT OF THE NAPLES-FOGGIA AND ROME-ARNO CAMPAIGNS. RETURNED TO THE U.S. MAY 25, 1945 AND WAS ASSIGNED TO SQUADRON E, 4000TH ARMY AIR FORCES AIR BASE UNIT, AT WRIGHT FIELD, DAYTON, OHIO. HONORABLY DISCHARGED AS A CORPORAL ON OCTOBER 5, 1945 AT THE SEPARATION CENTER, SCOTT FIELD, ILLINOIS. EARNED THE GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL, AMERICAN DEFENSE SERVICE MEDAL, AMERICAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, THE EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN CAMPAIGN MEDAL WITH 2 BRONZE BATTLE STARS AND THE WWII VICTORY MEDAL.