Bronze Star

Bronze Star. Illustrated by Virginia Reyes of the Air Force News Agency. This image is 4x8 inches @ 200 ppi. Bronze Star Medal was authorized by Executive Order 9419 dated Feb. 4, 1944, retroactive to Dec. 7, 1941. and later amended on Aug. 24, 1962, to expand the authorization to include those serving with friendly forces. It is awarded to any person who, while serving in any capacity in or with the military of the United States after Dec. 6, 1941, distinguished himself or herself by heroic or meritorious achievement or service, not involving participation in aerial flight, while engaged in an action against an enemy of the United States; while engaged in military operations involving conflict with an opposing foreign force; or while serving with friendly foreign forces engaged in an armed conflict against an opposing armed force in which the United States is not a belligerent party.

748 SCMG Shield

748 SCMG Shield

I Can 2

Combined Federal Campaign logo coin.

I Can

Combined Federal Campaign I Can Coin.

Chauncey Spencer

Chauncey Edward Spencer (1906-2002) Later, while employed by the Army, Spencer worked with Judge William H. Hastie to encourage fair treatment of African American air cadets being trained at Tuskegee Institute in Alabama and other air bases during World War II. He encountered considerable resistance from whites as well as blacks as the Civilian Personnel Employee Relations Officer at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Ohio. Despite this, he persisted and made steady progress towards integration of the Air Force. In 1948, Spencer received the Exceptional Civilian Service Award for service during World War II, the highest honor the Air Force could bestow upon a civilian. In 1953, the United States Air Force referred to his role in the integration of the military as "unique - though strangely unsung." However, his refusal to drag his feet on integration created resentment among highly-placed officials who wished to see integration fail. Consequently, in September 1953 Spencer was charged with disloyalty and accused of being a Communist. He was relieved of his position and his family suffered great humiliation and economic deprivation until 29 June 1954, when the Air Force cleared him of all charges.

General Mitchell

William Lendrum "Billy" Mitchell (1879-1936) General William "Billy" Mitchell was a strong advocate of military aviation. Beginning his career as a signalman in the Signal Corps, he eventually rose to the position of chief of the Air Service of the American First Army in France during World War I.