World War II Honoree

Orvis Levant 'Lee' Cason, Jr.

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

Samson, Alabama

Honored By

William David Wilson, American Legion Post 68

He enlisted on his birthday 7 July 1942 at Napier Field in Dothan, Alabama for Cadet Training in the U.S. Army Air Corps. He trained as a Bombardier on a B-24 aircraft. On 3 February 1944, he and his crew left Fair Field Army Air Base in California for Hickam Field, Hawaii. From Hickam, they flew to Canton Isle, Fiji Isles, New Caledonia Isles and finally Brisbane, Australia. He was assigned to the 5th Air Force, 43rd Bomb Group, 64th Bomb Squadron in the Southwest Pacific from 1943 to 1945 where he flew 46 combat missions. He flew missions from Nadzab Air Base New Guinea, Owi Schouten Islands, Biak Island, and Leyte Island. He flew five additional missions with the 90th 'Jolly Roger' Heavy Bomb Group, 319th Bomb Squadron from Biak Island. He returned to the United States and was assigned to Big Springs Army Air Base in Texas where he trained Bombardier-Navigators. He was discharged on 8 October 1946 at Maxwell Field, Alabama.