World War II Honoree

Mervyn John Platt

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

Trenton, New Jersey

Honored By

A Grateful American

DRAFTED INTO THE ARMY AIR CORPS IN 1942. HE GRADUATED FROM OFFICERS CANDIDATE SCHOOL IN 1943 AND THEN SERVED IN THE CHINA-BURMA-INDIA THEATER (CBI) IN 1943. AS ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER, HE WAS INVOLVED IN THE FIRST B-29 BOMBER RAID ON JAPAN FROM CHINA, AND THE SECOND AIR ATTACK ON JAPAN AFTER MAJOR JAMES DOOLITTLE'S FAMOUS CARRIER-BASED RAID. HE WAS SUBSEQUENTLY STATIONED IN OKINAWA AS COMMANDING OFFICER IN THE 346TH STATION COMPLEMENT SQUADRON IE SHIMA, ASIATIC PACIFIC THEATRE. RECEIVED THE FOLLOWING DECORATIONS AND AWARDS DURING HIS MILITARY SERVICE: ASIATIC PACIFIC CAMPAIGN MEDAL WITH SIX BRONZE SERVICE STARS, WWII VICTORY MEDAL, DISTINGUISHED UNIT CITATION, NATIONAL DEFENSE SERVICE MEDAL, AIR FORCE RESERVE SERVICE MEDAL AND AIR FORCE LONGEVITY SERVICE AWARD RIBBON WITH THREE BRONZE OAK LEAF CLUSTERS.