World War II Honoree

Henry Grady Beaird, Jr.

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

Tuscaloosa, Alabama

Honored By

Charles A. Beaird

Relationship

Son

HE SERVED 19 MONTHS IN ASIATIC-PACIFIC THEATERS OF OPERATION WITH 3RD AIR COMMANDO GROUP, 8TH FIGHTER SQUADRON, 49TH FIGHTER GROUP. HE FLEW AS THE 1ST PILOT ON C-47 TYPE AIRCRAFT IN CARGO AND PERSONNEL MISSIONS. FOR A PERIOD OF 7 MONTHS HE WAS AN ASSISTANT GROUP OPERATIONS OFFICER FOR THE 49TH FIGHTER GROUP FLYING P-51 MUSTANGS. RECEIVED THE FOLLOWING MEDALS: DISTINGUISHED UNIT BADGE WITH 4 OAK LEAF CLUSTERS, ASIATIC-PACIFIC CAMPAIGN MEDAL WITH 7 BRONZE SERVICE STARS, AMERICAN THEATER CAMPAIGN MEDAL, ARMY OF OCCUPATION MEDAL, WWII VICTORY MEDAL, AND PHILIPPINE LIBERATION MEDAL WITH 2 BRONZE SERVICE STARS. HE WAS PART OF THE AMERICAN OCCUPATION FORCE THAT WAS STATIONED IN CHITOSE, JAPAN. WAS STATIONED IN THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS DURING WWII. ENTERED THE WAR ON AUGUST 4, 1944. DATE OF SEPARATION WAS OCTOBER 22, 1946.