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World War II Honoree

World War II Veteran

Harold Lee Washington

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

Chicago, Illinois

Honored By

Charles Henry Atkinson

Branch Seal
Activity During WWII

IN 1942, HE WAS DRAFTED INTO THE UNITED STATES ARMY FOR THE WAR EFFORT AND AFTER BASIC TRAINING, SENT OVERSEAS AS PART OF A RACIALLY-SEGREGATED UNIT OF THE U.S. ARMY AIR CORPS UNIT OF ENGINEERS. AFTER THE AMERICAN INVASION OF THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS IN 1944, ON LEYTE ISLAND AND LATER THE MAIN LUZON ISLAND, HE WAS PART OF A UNIT BUILDING RUNWAYS FOR BOMBERS, PROTECTIVE FIGHTER AIRCRAFT, REFUELING PLANES, AND RETURNING DAMAGED AIRCRAFT. EVENTUALLY, HE ROSE TO THE RANK OF FIRST SERGEANT IN THE ARMY AIR CORPS.