World War II Honoree

James L. Mullins

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

Shawnee, Oklahoma

Honored By

Robert Medley Gatewood

ENTERED ACTIVE SERVICE AS A DRAFTEE ON DECEMBER 10, 1943 AT CHICAGO, ILLINOIS. SELECTED FOR THE AIR CORPS, COMPLETED BASIC TRAINING, AERIAL GUNNERY SCHOOL AT HARLINGEN, TEXAS, AND QUALIFIED IN THE MILITARY OCCUPATIONAL SPECIALTY OF AIRPLANE MECHANIC – GUNNER (748). DEPARTED THE CONTINENTAL U.S. ON OCTOBER 13, 1944 BOUND FOR THE EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS. ORIGINALLY BASED IN ITALY FLYING WITH 15TH AIR FORCE UNITS, PARTICIPATED IN AIR COMBAT OPERATIONS IN THE NORTHERN APENNINES, PO VALLEY, RHINELAND, CENTRAL EUROPE, AND AIR COMBAT BALKANS CAMPAIGNS. RETURNED TO THE STATES ON JUNE 7, 1945 AND ASSIGNED TO THE 2618TH ARMY AIR FORCE BASE UNIT, (PILOT SCHOOL) SHEPPARD FIELD, WICHITA FALLS, TEXAS. HONORABLY DISCHARGED AS A STAFF SERGEANT ON NOVEMBER 2, 1945 AT SAME STATION. EARNED THE AIR MEDAL WITH 2 OAK LEAF CLUSTERS, GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL, AMERICAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN CAMPAIGN MEDAL WITH SILVER STAR, AND THE WWII VICTORY MEDAL.