World War II Honoree

Louis Ray Rivas

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

Chickasha, Oklahoma

Honored By

Robert S. Cox

A MEMBER OF THE COMANCHE INDIAN TRIBE, HE ENLISTED IN MILITARY SERVICE IN 1942 BEFORE GRADUATING FROM HIGH SCHOOL. SELECTED FOR ENLISTED AIRCREW TRAINING AND AFTER BASIC INDIVIDUAL TRAINING IN THE AMERICAN THEATER, RECEIVED SPECIALTY TRAINING AT THE FLEXIBLE GUNNERY SCHOOL AT LAREDO ARMY AIR FIELD, TEXAS, WAS AWARDED HIS SILVER AERIAL GUNNER WINGS AND PROMOTED TO THE RANK OF SERGEANT. TRANSFERRED, FOR ADDITIONAL SPECIALTY TRAINING, TO KEESLER FIELD AT BILOXI, MISSISSIPPI TO ATTEND AIRPLANE MECHANICS SCHOOL. UPON SUCCESSFUL COMPLETION IN 1943, AWARDED THE TECHNICIAN QUALIFICATION BADGE WITH AIRPLANE MECHANIC QUALIFICATION BAR. THEN, REASSIGNED TO PUEBLO ARMY AIR BASE, COLORADO FOR CREW TRAINING ON THE TYPE AIRCRAFT TO BE FLOWN IN COMBAT. SERVED AS A BALL TURRET GUNNER OVERSEAS IN THE ASIATIC-PACIFIC THEATER ABOARD B-24 'LIBERATOR' HEAVY BOMBER AIRCRAFT. ASSIGNED TO THE 5TH BOMBARDMENT GROUP, 13TH AIR FORCE. PARTICIPATED IN THE EASTERN MANDATES, BISMARCK ARCHIPELAGO, AND WESTERN PACIFIC CAMPAIGNS. STATIONED AT MOMOTE AIRFIELD, LOS NEGROS ISLAND IN THE ADMIRALTY ISLANDS; AND WAKDE ISLAND, AND NOEMFOOR ISLAND IN DUTCH NEW GUINEA. FLEW 48 MISSIONS, INCLUDING HIS FINAL MISSION TO BOMB JAPANESE OIL AND GAS REFINERIES AT BALIKPAPAN, BORNEO IN THE NETHERLANDS EAST INDIES. THE MISSION WAS ONE OF THE LONGEST DAYLIGHT MISSIONS FLOWN BY B-24 BOMBERS, AND A VERY DANGEROUS ONE DURING WHICH A LARGE NUMBER OF BOMBERS AND CREW WERE LOST. HIS GROUP RECEIVED A DISTINGUISHED UNIT CITATION FOR THE ATTACK, WHICH WAS CONDUCTED THROUGH HEAVY FLAK AND FIGHTER DEFENSES ON SEPTEMBER 30, 1944. HIS CREW WAS ROTATED TO THE STATES IN JANUARY, 1945 AFTER THEIR 48TH MISSION. HIS CREW WAS AWAITING THEIR RETURN TO COMBAT WHEN THE ATOMIC BOMBS WERE DROPPED ON JAPAN AND THE WAR ENDED. AWARDED SILVER ENLISTED AIRCREW MEMBER WINGS, THE AIR MEDAL, GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL, AMERICAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, ASIATIC-PACIFIC CAMPAIGN MEDAL WITH 3 BRONZE SERVICE STARS (3 CAMPAIGNS), AND WWII VICTORY MEDAL. HONORABLY DISCHARGED AFTER SOME 3 YEARS SERVICE AND ISSUED THE HONORABLE SERVICE LAPEL BUTTON. LATER, RECEIVED HIS HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA THROUGH THE VETERAN'S PROGRAM. CONTINUED IN OKLAHOMA NATIONAL GUARD AND ACTIVE DUTY U.S. ARMY SERVICE AFTER THE WAR UNTIL AGAIN HONORABLY DISCHARGED.