World War II Honoree

Duane Grounds

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

Hooker, Oklahoma

Honored By

Robert S. Cox

ENLISTED IN MILITARY SERVICE AND WAS SWORN IN ON NOVEMBER 11, 1942. SELECTED FOR THE AVIATION CADET PROGRAM. COMPLETED THE PILOT TRAINING PROGRAM, AND WAS EARMARKED FOR FOLLOW-ON FIGHTER AIRCRAFT TRAINING. AWARDED HIS SILVER PILOT WINGS AND WAS COMMISSIONED A SECOND LIEUTENANT ON APRIL 15, 1944. COMPLETED TRANSITION FLYING TRAINING IN THE P-51 'MUSTANG' FIGHTER AIRCRAFT. SERVED AS A FIGHTER PILOT IN THE EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN THEATER. FLEW 40 COMBAT MISSIONS IN THE EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS BEFORE THE END OF THE WAR. AWARDED THE AIR MEDAL, AMERICAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, AND WWII VICTORY MEDAL. HONORABLY DISCHARGED IN 1946 AND ISSUED THE HONORABLE SERVICE LAPEL BUTTON.