World War II Honoree

Joe Thomas Reece

Branch of Service

U.S. Navy

Hometown

Idabel, Oklahoma

Honored By

Gene Black

Relationship

Friend

ENLISTED MAY 11, 1945. INITIAL SEPARATION JULY 9, 1946. SERVED AS COMMANDER OF CARRIER DIVISION 14 ABOARD USS MINDORO AND USS PALAU. WAS AWARDED EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN CAMPAIGN RIBBON, WWII VICTORY MEDAL. UPON SEPARATION, RE-ENLISTED IN THE NAVY SERVING UNTIL APRIL 5, 1950. HE THEN ENLISTED IN THE U.S. AIR FORCE, WAS PROMOTED TO TECHNICAL SERGEANT AND SERVED IN AIR PHOTOGRAPHIC AND CHARTERING SERVICE (MATS). HE EARNED 3 OUTSTANDING UNIT AWARDS AND NUMEROUS DECORATIONS, MEDALS AND BADGES. RETIRED FROM SERVICE FEBRUARY 19, 1968.