World War II Honoree

William J. Boyd

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

Flora, Illinois

Honored By

Robert Medley Gatewood

ENTERED ACTIVE SERVICE AS A DRAFTEE ON SEPTEMBER 5, 1942 AS JEFFERSON BARRACKS, MISSOURI. SELECTED FOR THE ARMY AIR FORCES, COMPLETED BASIC TRAINING AND QUALIFIED IN THE MILITARY OCCUPATIONAL SPECIALTY OF SURGICAL TECHNICIAN (861). DEPARTED THE CONTINENTAL U.S. ON JUNE 8, 1944 BOUND FOR THE ASIATIC-PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS. ASSIGNED TO AND SERVED WITH THE 8TH ‘BLACK SHEEP’ FIGHTER SQUADRON, 49TH FIGHTER GROUP IN THE WESTERN PACIFIC, LUZON, SOUTHERN PHILIPPINES, CHINA AIR OFFENSIVE AND THE AIR OFFENSIVE-JAPAN CAMPAIGNS. WOUNDED IN ACTION DURING THIS PERIOD OF DUTY. EARNED THE PURPLE HEART MEDAL, GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL, AMERICAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, ASIATIC-PACIFIC CAMPAIGN MEDAL WITH SILVER BATTLE STAR, WWII VICTORY MEDAL AND THE PHILIPPINE LIBERATION MEDAL WITH 1 BRONZE BATTLE STAR. HONORABLY DISCHARGED AS A CORPORAL ON DECEMBER 16, 1945 AT THE SEPARATION CENTER, JEFFERSON BARRACKS, MISSOURI.