World War II Honoree

Thomas P. 'Tom' Garvin

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

Kearney, Nebraska

Honored By

Robert S. Cox

ENTERED MILITARY SERVICE IN JUNE, 1943 AFTER GRADUATING FROM HIGH SCHOOL. SELECTED FOR THE ARMY AIR FORCES AVIATION CADET PROGRAM. UPON SUCCESSFUL COMPLETION OF TRAINING, AWARDED HIS SILVER PILOT WINGS AND COMMISSIONED A SECOND LIEUTENANT IN JUNE, 1945. SERVED AS AN INSTRUCTOR PILOT ON AT-6 'TEXAN' TRAINER AIRCRAFT IN THE AMERICAN THEATER AT PERRIN FIELD AT SHERMAN, TEXAS WITH THE GULF COAST TRAINING CENTER DURING THE WAR. REASSIGNED OVERSEAS IN AUGUST, 1946 AND SERVED WITH OCCUPATION FORCES IN JAPAN. ASSIGNED TO THE 35TH FIGHTER GROUP, 314TH COMPOSITE WING, AS PART OF THE FAR EAST AIR FORCES. STATIONED AT IRUMAGAWA, JAPAN WHICH LATER BECAME JOHNSON AIR FORCE BASE AND FLEW P-51 'MUSTANG' FIGHTER AIRCRAFT. AWARDED THE GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL, AMERICAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, WWII VICTORY MEDAL, AND ARMY OF OCCUPATION MEDAL WITH 'JAPAN' CLASP. CONTINUED IN U.S. AIR FORCE SERVICE AFTER THE WAR UNTIL HIS RETIREMENT WITH THE RANK OF COLONEL. ISSUED THE HONORABLE SERVICE LAPEL BUTTON.