World War II Honoree

Joseph Howard Parnell

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

Munford, Alabama

Honored By

Connie Parnell-Beverly

Relationship

Niece

MAJOR. HE SERVED IN THE MILITARY MOST OF HIS LIFE. HE JOINED THE DAY BEFORE PEARL HARBOR WAS ATTACKED. THOUGH HE WAS ORIGINALLY SENT TO FORT LOGAN TO ATTEND A CLERK AND TYPING SCHOOL. HIS PERSISTENCE TO BE A PILOT FINALLY GOT HIM ADMITTED TO FLIGHT SCHOOL, FROM WHICH HE GRADUATED AND WAS COMMISSIONED A 2ND LIEUTENANT. DURING HIS MILITARY CAREER HE FLEW 20 DIFFERENT AIRCRAFT BEGINNING WITH A SINGLE ENGINE BIPLANE (THE STEARMAN). THAT WAS FOLLOWED BY PROPELLER AND JET FIGHTERS. ALSO VARIOUS PROPELLER-DRIVEN BOMBERS AND UTILITY AIRCRAFT, THE B-52 BOMBER AND FINALLY HIS ALL TIME FAVORITE THE KC-135, A 4-ENGINE JET REFUELING TANKER.