World War II Honoree

Walter Monroe Coble

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

San Antonio, Texas

Honored By

Son & Daughter and Family

AVIATION CADET ON DECEMBER 8, 1941. HE COMPLETED TRAINING AT BROOKS FIELD, TEXAS, AND WAS COMMISSIONED A RATED PILOT ON JANUARY 14, 1943. HE SUSTAINED SERIOUS INJURIES BAILING OUT OF P-39 IN NOVEMBER, 1943, AND RETURNED TO DUTY IN APRIL, 1944. HE VOLUNTEERED FOR THE 157TH AIR COMMANDO SQUADRON OF THE 3RD AIR COMMANDO GROUP IN JUNE, 1944. HE LANDED IN NEW GUINEA AND LATER PARTICIPATED IN AN INVASION ON LUZON. HE WAS PROMOTED TO OPERATIONS OFFICER AND LATER TO COMMANDING OFFICER OF HIS UNIT, EVACUATING WOUNDED, INSERTING AND RECOVERING GUERILLAS, AND DROPPING SUPPLIES TO FORWARD TROOPS. HE PARTICIPATED IN THE OCCUPATION AS CARETAKER OF A JAPANESE AIRCRAFT FACTORY AT SHOWA, JAPAN.