World War II Honoree

Jim Watson

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

Honored By

Robert S. Cox

STUDIED AND TRAINED AS AN ARMY AIR FORCES AVIATION CADET IN BASIC PREFLIGHT CIVILIAN SCHOOLING AT OKLAHOMA AGRICULTURAL & MECHANICAL COLLEGE (OAMC) AT STILLWATER, OKLAHOMA. FOLLOWING BASIC TRAINING, SELECTED AS A CAREER GUNNER TO SERVE EXCLUSIVELY AS A GUNNER. REASSIGNED TO THE YUMA, ARIZONA AREA AND ATTENDED GUNNERY (FLEXIBLE GUNNERY) SCHOOL. UPON COMPLETION OF TRAINING, SENT TO UNIT AND CREW TRAINING. THEN, SAILED FROM SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA FOR DUTY IN THE PACIFIC OCEAN AREA. SERVED OVERSEAS AS A TURRET GUNNER IN THE ASIATIC-PACIFIC THEATER DURING THE WAR. AWARDED THE AIR MEDAL, GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL, AMERICAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, ASIATIC-PACIFIC CAMPAIGN MEDAL, AND WWII VICTORY MEDAL. HONORABLY DISCHARGED AND ISSUED THE HONORABLE SERVICE LAPEL BUTTON.