World War II Honoree

Joseph Woody Cochran

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

Blackburn, Pawnee County, Oklahoma

Honored By

Robert S. Cox

ENLISTED IN MILITARY SERVICE IN 1941. TRAINED IN THE AMERICAN THEATER AT VISALIA ARMY AIR FIELD; MERCED ARMY AIR FIELD; WITH THE AAF ADVANCED FLYING SCHOOL AT VICTORVILLE ARMY AIR FIELD; AND AT SACRAMENTO, ALL IN CALIFORNIA; AND AT THE CONTRACT PILOT SCHOOL, PRIMARY AT ALBANY, GEORGIA. SERVED OVERSEAS IN THE ASIATIC-PACIFIC THEATER DURING THE WAR, INCLUDING IN AUSTRALIA; NEW GUINEA; THE SOLOMON ISLANDS; AND IN THE BATTLE OF THE BISMARCK SEA. THE BATTLE WAS FOUGHT BETWEEN LAND-BASED ALLIED AIRCRAFT AND A JAPANESE CONVOY OF 16 SHIPS. THE SHIPS WERE ATTEMPTING TO REINFORCE THE JAPANESE GARRISONS IN NEW GUINEA FROM THEIR STRONGHOLD AT RABAUL, ON NEW BRITAIN ISLAND IN THE BISMARCH ARCHIPELAGO. ALLIED AIRCRAFT, USING CONVENTIONAL AND LOW-LEVEL BOMBING AND STRAFING TECHNIQUES, SANK A NUMBER OF TRANSPORT SHIPS AND 4 JAPANESE DESTROYERS, AND KILLED SOME 3,000 ENEMY TROOPS, FROM MARCH 2-4, 1943. AWARDED THE SILVER STAR, DISTINGUISHED FLYING CROSS, AIRMAN'S MEDAL, PURPLE HEART FOR WOUNDS RECEIVED IN ACTION AT GASMATA ON THE SOUTH COAST OF NEW BRITAIN ISLAND, DURING THE BISMARCK ARCHIPELAGO CAMPAIGN IN DECEMBER, 1943, AIR MEDAL, AMERICAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, ASIATIC-PACIFIC CAMPAIGN MEDAL, AND WWII VICTORY MEDAL. AUTHORIZED THE PRESIDENTIAL (DISTINGUISHED) UNIT CITATION WITH 2 BRONZE OAK LEAF CLUSTERS FOR EXTRAORDINARY HEROISM IN ACTION BY HIS UNIT IN COMBAT ON 3 SEPARATE OCCASIONS. HONORABLY DISCHARGED IN 1945 WITH THE RANK OF CAPTAIN AND ISSUED THE HONORABLE SERVICE LAPEL BUTTON.