March 1943 - Left Montana State and enlisted in Army Infantry.

INDUCTION at Fort Lewis, Washington.  Serial #19118246

Transferred to Army Air Force, Camp Cook, California.

Summer 1943- Buckley Field, Colorado

Fall 1943 - University of Nevada, Reno Air Base

Fall 1943 - Santa Ana Air Base, California; preflight, 10 weeks

Winter/Spring 1944 - San Marcos Army Air Base, Texas; 18 weeks advance navigation.

Boca Raton, AAF, Florida - Radar, 4 weeks

     During training went to : Lincoln, Nebraska; Great Bend, Kansas; Batista Field, Cuba; Borinquen Field Puerto Rico; Kearney, Nebraska; Mather Field, Sacramento, California

EMBARKATION: 9 February, 1945, Mather Field, California

Arrived Guam, North Field, 19 February 1945

Navigator on B-29 aircraft on 35 combat missions totaling 549 combat hours over enemy occupied Japanese home islands.  Had approximately 1000 hours of navigation time in military aircraft.  Navigation by means of Dead Reckoning, Pilotage, Celestial, radio and radar. Was with 20th Air Force based in Guam

DEBARKATION 22 August, 1945, Fort Mason, California

DISCHARGED 27 October, 1945, Santa Ana, California

MEDALS AWARDED TO EMMETT STEWART EPLEY, PACIFIC THEATER, WORLD WAR II

1. Distinguished Flying Cross

"Heroism or extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight"

2. Asiatic-Pacific Medal

"Service in the Asiatic-Pacific theater for 30 days or receipt of any combat decoration."

3. World War II Victory Medal

"Awarded for service in the U.S. Armed Forces during the period 1941-1946"

4. American Campaign Medal

"Service outside the American theater for 30 days, or within the continental U.S., for one year"

5. Air Medal

"Heroic actions or meritorious service while participating in aerial flight"

6. Aviator Badge

7. DFC Ribbon

8. Air Medal Ribbon with 4 Bronze Oak Leaves (which represents five awards)

9. Asiatic Pacific Campaign Ribbon with 2 bronze service stars

 

This information is courtesy of Emmett Stewart Epley's widow, Nancy Epley, 2004.