World War II Honoree

Lewis L. 'Babe' Eubanks

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

Pauls Valley, Oklahoma

Honored By

Robert S. Cox

VOLUNTEERED FOR MILITARY SERVICE AND SERVED IN THE EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN (EAME) THEATER WITH THE 389TH BOMBARDMENT GROUP (HEAVY), 8TH AIR FORCE. HIS GROUP PARTICIPATED IN THE AIR COMBAT-EAME, AIR OFFENSIVE-EUROPE, SICILY, NAPLES-FOGGIA, NORMANDY, NORTHERN FRANCE, RHINELAND, ARDENNES-ALSACE (BATTLE OF THE BULGE), AND CENTRAL EUROPE CAMPAIGNS. HIS UNIT OPERATED PRIMARILY AGAINST STRATEGIC TARGETS IN FRANCE, THE LOW COUNTRIES AND GERMANY. FLEW ON 25 MISSIONS OVER EUROPE INCLUDING IN THE INTENSIVE AIR CAMPAIGN AGAINST THE GERMAN AIRCRAFT INDUSTRY DURING 'BIG WEEK' (FEBRUARY 20-25, 1944). AWARDED THE AIR MEDAL, AMERICAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, AND WWII VICTORY MEDAL. HIS GROUP WAS AWARDED THE PRESIDENTIAL (DISTINGUISHED) UNIT CITATION FOR EXTRAORDINARY HEROISM IN ACTION DURING THE ATTACK AGAINST OIL REFINERIES IN PLOESTI, RUMANIA ON AUGUST 1, 1943. HONORABLY DISCHARGED WITH THE RANK OF FIRST LIEUTENANT AND ISSUED THE HONORABLE SERVICE LAPEL BUTTON.