World War II Honoree

Andrew Smith Moreland

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

Atlantic City, New Jersey

Honored By

Robert S. Cox

ENLISTED IN MILITARY SERVICE AFTER GRADUATING FROM HIGH SCHOOL IN 1943. APPLIED, AND WAS SELECTED FOR AIRCREW TRAINING IN THE AVIATION CADET PROGRAM AS A PILOT. UPON SUCCESSFUL COMPLETION OF TRAINING IN THE GULF COAST TRAINING COMMAND, WAS EARMARKED FOR FOLLOW-ON TRAINING ON TROOP CARRIER AIRCRAFT, AWARDED HIS SILVER PILOT WINGS AND COMMISSIONED A SECOND LIEUTENANT AT BROOKS FIELD AT SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS IN 1944. NEXT, ASSIGNED FOR TRANSITION FLYING TRAINING IN THE AIRCRAFT HE WOULD FLY IN COMBAT. HE WAS ASSIGNED AS A FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR AT BLACKLAND ARMY AIR FIELD AT WACO, TEXAS, IN THE AMERICAN THEATER, WHERE HE REMAINED FOR 7 MONTHS. HE VOLUNTEERED FOR OVERSEAS DUTY AND DEPLOYED TO ENGLAND. SERVED AS A PILOT OVERSEAS IN THE EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN THEATER, IN THE EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (ETO), IN ENGLAND AND FRANCE WITH A TROOP CARRIER UNIT. PARTICIPATED IN THE ARDENNES-ALSACE (BATTLE OF THE BULGE), AND CENTRAL EUROPE CAMPAIGNS. HE FERRIED GASOLINE AND OTHER SUPPLIES AND FLEW AIR EVACUATION MISSIONS OF WOUNDED SERVICE PERSONNEL. AWARDED THE AIR MEDAL, AMERICAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, AND WWII VICTORY MEDAL. HONORABLY DISCHARGED AND ISSUED THE HONORABLE SERVICE LAPEL BUTTON.