World War II Honoree

Glen Ray Winters

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

Pryor, Oklahoma

Honored By

William E. Shaklee

Relationship

College Classmate

HE HAD GRADUATED WITH THE ROTC CLASS OF 1941, BUT WAS TOO YOUNG FOR A COMMISSION AT THE TIME. HE WAS APPOINTED SECOND LIEUTENANT MAY 14, 1942, FROM ROTC, OKLAHOMA A & M COLLEGE, STILLWATER, OKLAHOMA. HE TRANSFERRED TO THE U.S. ARMY AIR CORPS FOR PILOT TRAINING AND GRADUATED WITH THE PILOT CLASS OF 43-F. HE BECAME AN AIRPLANE COMMANDER AND FLEW COMBAT MISSIONS WITH THE 15TH AIR FORCE BEGINNING IN FEBRUARY 1944. HE FLEW MISSIONS ALL OVER SOUTHERN EUROPE INCLUDING THE BALKANS AND PLOESTI. HE WAS AWARDED THE AIR MEDAL WITH TWO OAK LEAF CLUSTERS, EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN THEATRE RIBBON WITH FOUR OAK LEAF CLUSTERS, AND TWO PRESIDENTIAL UNIT CITATIONS. HE RETURNED TO THE U.S. AND BECAME A SQUADRON COMMANDER, LEAVING ACTIVE SERVICE IN DECEMBER 1945.