World War II Honoree
World War II Veteran
John Cyrus Gilbreath, Jr.
Branch of Service
U.S. Army Air Force
Hometown
Clinton, Oklahoma
Honored By
Robert S. Cox
ENLISTED IN MILITARY SERVICE IN MARCH, 1942. SERVED OVERSEAS AS A CONTROL TOWER OPERATOR IN THE ASIATIC-PACIFIC THEATER, INCLUDING ON TINIAN ISLAND IN THE MARIANA ISLANDS IN THE NORTH WESTERN PACIFIC OCEAN. HIS BASE HOUSED B-29 'SUPERFORTRESS' VERY HEAVY BOMBER AIRCRAFT THAT FLEW MISSIONS TO JAPAN, INCLUDING AGAINST TOKYO. IT WAS FROM TINIAN THAT B-29'S DELIVERED ATOMIC BOMBS ON JAPAN THAT ENDED THE WAR. AWARDED THE GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL, AMERICAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, ASIATIC-PACIFIC CAMPAIGN MEDAL AND WWII VICTORY MEDAL. HONORABLY DISCHARGED IN NOVEMBER, 1945, AND ISSUED THE HONORABLE SERVICE LAPEL BUTTON.