World War II Honoree

Kenneth L. Youngblood

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

Lawton, Oklahoma

Honored By

Robert S. Cox

ENLISTED IN MILITARY SERVICE AFTER GRADUATING FROM HIGH SCHOOL. HE WAS TRAINED AS AN AERIAL GUNNER AND DUE TO HIS SMALL FRAME, WAS DESIGNATED AS THE TAIL GUNNER ABOARD ASSIGNED BOMBER AIRCRAFT. HE RECALLS THAT HE LIKED THE VIEW FROM HIS FIGHTING POSITION IN THE TAIL OF THE PLANE, BUT LITTLE ELSE. AWARDED HIS SILVER AERIAL GUNNER WINGS, AIR MEDAL, GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL, AMERICAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, AND WWII VICTORY MEDAL. HONORABLY DISCHARGED AS A SERGEANT AND ISSUED THE HONORABLE SERVICE LAPEL BUTTON. AFTER A BREAK IN SERVICE, REENTERED MILITARY SERVICE IN THE U.S. ARMY JUDGE ADVOCATE GENERAL (JAG) CORPS, WAS COMMISSIONED AND SERVED UNTIL HIS RETIREMENT WITH THE RANK OF COLONEL.