World War II Honoree

Ellis Franklin Cooley, Sr.

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

Hillsville, Virginia

Honored By

Major Michael G. McGrady, USMC (Retired)

ENTERED SERVICE ON FEBRUARY27, 1943. TRAINED AT MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA, HIRAM COLLEGE, HIRAM, OHIO, SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS, EL RENO, OKLAHOMA, ENID, OKLAHOMA, WACO, TEXAS, FORT WORTH, TEXAS AND TONAPAH, NEVADA. EMBARKED FOR THE SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATRE OF OPERATIONS ON FEBRUARY 26, 1945 WITH ENGAGEMENTS IN THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS AND BORNEO. MEDALS EARNED: FLYING MEDAL WITH TWO OAK LEAF CLUSTERS, AND FIVE BATTLE STARS. RETURNED TO THE U.S. ON OCTOBER 12, 1945 AND WAS DISCHARGED FROM MCCLELLAN FIELD, SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA ON DECEMBER 19, 1945 WITH THE RANK OF FIRST LIEUTENANT.