World War II Honoree

William Reynolds Purnell

Branch of Service

U.S. Navy

Hometown

Bowling Green, Missouri

Honored By

Pearl Thomas

Chief of Staff to Commander in Chief, Asiatic Fleet and Commander U.S. Forces, Southwest, Pacific. Received Navy Distinguished Service Medal. He was on the three-man committee that oversaw the Manhattan Project. When Tinian was selected to launch the Enola Gay, he, along with Captain William S. Parsons and Brigadier General Thomas F. Farrell were known as the 'Tinian Joint Chiefs'. He helped direct the bombing mission on-site and was the first proponent of the idea that two atomic bombs would be required to end the war.