World War II Honoree

Joseph Stephen Pugh

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

Burleson, Texas

Honored By

Kathryn Pugh Filipovich

Relationship

Niece

He enlisted in the United States Army Air Forces on October 1, 1941. He served in the 584th Bombardment Squadron, 394th Bombardment Group. he was awarded the final rank of Master Sergeant, and he received an Honorable Discharge on November 10th, 1945. His military specialty was Airplane Maintenance Technician. He received the Army Air Forces Air Crew Member Badge on August 10, 1943 after successful completion of the Air Corps Technical School for Aircraft Maintenance on March 21, 1942. This certification awarded him the ability to not only maintain and repair the aircraft flown in campaigns of WWII, but also gave him the responsibility to taxi these war planes during their maintenance periods. He served in the following campaigns: Normandy, Northern France, Ardennes, Rhineland, Central Europe, the Air Offensive, Europe. His valor during these campaigns earned him the following decorations and citations: Distinguished Unit Badge, Company 164, Headquarters 9th Air Force (23 August 1945), the American Defense Service Medal, European-African-Middle Eastern campaign Medal with 6 bronze stars, the Good Conduct Medal, and the Bronze Star, Company 62, Headquarters 9th Air Force (August 24, 1945).