World War II Honoree

Jesse Lee Bills, Jr.

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

Wichita Falls, Texas

Honored By

Felicia Bills

Relationship

Granddaughter

AFTER LONG TRAINING IN RADIO AND RADAR REPAIR ON AIRCRAFT, SERVED ON THE SS MAJOR GENERAL H. A. DARGUE. THIS SHIP WAS PART OF A TOP SECRET MISSION CALLED IVORY SOAP INVOLVING SEVERAL SHIPS (IT WAS DECLASSIFIED IN 1997). SET SAIL OCTOBER 1944 FROM NEW ORLEANS, JOINING A CONVOY AT GUANTANAMO BAY TO SET THROUGH THE PANAMA CANAL. THEY SPLIT OFF AND SAILED FOR ENIWETOK IN THE MARSHALL ISLANDS, THEN TO SAIPAN IN THE MARIANA ISLANDS, WHERE THEY ENCOUNTERED HEAVY ACTION AND REPAIRED AIRCRAFT. FINALLY, WENT TO IWO JIMA AND WORKED ON THAT AIRFIELD.