World War II Honoree

Galen T. Barnes

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

Pawnee, Oklahoma

Honored By

Robert S. Cox

ENTERED MILITARY SERVICE ON DECEMBER 2, 1942. TRAINED IN THE AMERICAN THEATER AT THE AVIATION CADET CENTER AT SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS (PREFLIGHT); COLEMAN ARMY AIR FIELD, TEXAS (PRIMARY); WACO ARMY AIR FIELD, TEXAS (BASIC); FOSTER FIELD AT VICTORIA, TEXAS WITH THE FLYING TRAINING COMMAND; SHERMAN, TEXAS (AIRCREW); TALAHASSEE, FLORIDA; THOMASVILLE ARMY AIR FIELD, GEORGIA; AND MONROE, LOUISIANA. SERVED OVERSEAS IN THE EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN THEATER, INCLUDING IN NORTH AFRICA, SARDINIA, AND ITALY DURING THE WAR. AWARDED THE AIR MEDAL WITH 4 BRONZE OAK LEAF CLUSTERS (5 AWARDS), AMERICAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, AND WWII VICTORY MEDAL. AUTHORIZED THE PRESIDENTIAL (DISTINGUISHED) UNIT CITATION FOR EXTRAORDINARY HEROISM IN ACTION BY HIS UNIT. HONORABLY DISCHARGED IN JULY, 1945 WITH THE RANK OF FIRST LIEUTENANT AND ISSUED THE HONORABLE SERVICE LAPEL BUTTON.