World War II Honoree

Joseph W. Porter

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

Louisville, Illinois

Honored By

James B. Porter

Relationship

Brother

ENTERED ACTIVE SERVICE AS A DRAFTEE ON 18 MAY 1944 AT FORT SHERIDAN, ILLINOIS. SELECTED FOR THE ARMY AIR FORCES; COMPLETED BASIC TRAINING; COMPLETED THE FLEXIBLE GUNNERY SERVICE SCHOOL AT BUCKINGHAM ARMY AIR FIELD, FORT MYERS, FLORIDA, AND QUALIFIED IN THE MILITARY OCCUPATIONAL SPECIALTY OF AIRPLANE ARMORER-GUNNER (MOS 612). DEPARTED THE CONTINENTAL U.S. ON 1 MAY 1945, BOUND TO THE ASIATIC-PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS, THE FIRST OF THREE DEPLOYMENTS IN THAT AREA, SERVING THE SECOND TWO DEPLOYMENTS AS A MEMBER OF THE 789TH BOMB SQUADRON, 467TH BOMB GROUP FLYING B-29 ‘SUPER FORTRESSES’ HOME-BASED AT CLOVIS ARMY AIR FIELD, NEW MEXICO. FINAL RETURN TO THE STATES WAS 7 MAY 1946. HONORABLY DISCHARGED AS A SERGEANT ON 8 JUNE 1946 AT THE SEPARATION CENTER, FORT LEAVENWORTH, KANSAS. EARNED THE GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL, AMERICAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, ASIATIC-PACIFIC CAMPAIGN MEDAL, AND THE WWII VICTORY MEDAL.