World War II Honoree

Billy Ward 'Bill' Gwinn

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

Tulsa, Oklahoma

Honored By

Robert S. Cox

CALLED TO ACTIVE MILITARY SERVICE IN 1943. APPLIED FOR AND WAS SELECTED FOR AIRCREW TRAINING IN THE AVIATION CADET PROGRAM. UPON SUCCESSFUL COMPLETION OF THE PILOT TRAINING PROGRAM, WAS AWARDED HIS SILVER PILOT WINGS AND COMMISSIONED A SECOND LIEUTENANT. THEN SELECTED FOR FOLLOW-ON TRAINING AS A FIGHTER PILOT. SERVED AS A P-47 'THUNDERBOLT' FIGHTER PILOT OVERSEAS IN THE ASIATIC-PACIFIC THEATER. PARTICIPATED IN OPERATIONS AT IWO JIMA IN THE BONIN ISLANDS, AND IN THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS. AWARDED THE AIR MEDAL, AMERICAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, ASIATIC-PACIFIC CAMPAIGN MEDAL, AND WWII VICTORY MEDAL. ALSO AWARDED THE PHILIPPINE LIBERATION MEDAL FOR SERVICE IN THE LIBERATION OF THE PHILIPPINES. HONORABLY DISCHARGED AND ISSUED THE HONORABLE SERVICE LAPEL BUTTON.