World War II Honoree

Kenneth James 'Ken' Gray

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

West Frankfort, Illinois

Honored By

Robert S. Cox

Relationship

Relationship Not Determined

ENLISTED IN MILITARY SERVICE AFTER GRADUATING FROM HIGH SCHOOL. APPLIED, AND WAS SELECTED FOR AIRCREW TRAINING IN THE AVIATION CADET PROGRAM AS A PILOT. UPON SUCCESSFUL COMPLETION OF PREFLIGHT SCHOOL, PRIMARY FLYING SCHOOL, BASIC FLYING SCHOOL AND ADVANCED FLYING TRAINING, HE WAS EARMARKED FOR FOLLOW-ON AIRCRAFT TRAINING, AWARDED HIS SILVER PILOT WINGS AND COMMISSIONED A SECOND LIEUTENANT. NEXT, ASSIGNED FOR TRANSITION FLYING TRAINING IN THE AIRCRAFT HE WOULD FLY IN COMBAT. SERVED AS A PILOT OVERSEAS IN THE EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN THEATER, IN THE NORTH AFRICAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (NATOUSA). AWARDED THE ARMY PILOT BADGE, AIR MEDAL, AMERICAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, AND WWII VICTORY MEDAL. HONORABLY DISCHARGED AND ISSUED THE HONORABLE SERVICE LAPEL BUTTON.