Joseph Conrad (J.C. Jayhawk) Warren
United States Army Air Corps WW-II

Joseph Conrad (J.C., Jayhawk) Warren U.S. Army Air Corps, 16 Feb 43 to 8 Nov 45 - 47 Bomb Group, 97 Bomb Squadron S/Sgt, Flight Maintenance Gunner -74g Harmon General (Army) Hospital, Longview, TX, 1945 (patient) Job Description (from separation papers): Flew in 55 combat missions in an A-20, A-26, aircraft over enemy occupied territory of Italy. Transferred fuel, checked instruments and engine performance by the reading of gauges. Kept the flight log while in flight. Fired caliber 50 machine guns from tunnel position when in combat. Medals/Ribbons: 1. AAF Air Crew Member Badge (wings) 2. EAME Ribbon w/1 bronze star 3. Air Medal w/1 oak leaf cluster 4. Victory Medal 5. American Theater Ribbon 6. Purple Heart 7. Lapel button issued, whatever that means. 8. "Caterpillar" award (successfully parachuted in enemy territory) Military Training/Schools: 1. Airplane and Engine Mechanics, Amarillo, TX. AAFTS, airplane and engine mechanic course, 19 weeks. Studied fundamentals of B-17 type aircraft and $2600, $1800 engines. Courses in hydraulics, instruments, structures, carburation and electrical wiring. 2. Aerial Gunnery School, Las Vegas, NV, flexible gunnery (30 and 50 caliber machine guns), six weeks. Positive Traits Known For: 1. Honesty 2. Fairness 3. Hard Work 4. Conscientiousness Birth Place/Home Town: 1. Place of birth: Smackover, Ark. 2. Home town: rural Rusk County, near Overton in East Texas. Called Kilgore home. 3. High School: 1941 graduate, London H.S. (agriculture), New London, TX (He survived the London school explosion March 18, 1937 when he lost a younger sister.) 4. Vocational: Welding, San Diego, CA, 1942 Pre-Service Civilian Occupations: 1. Welder, H. G. Fenton Material Co., San Diego, CA, 1942-43. Operated acetylene and electric arc welder to fabricate and repair metal objects. (per military separation papers) 2. Aircraft Mechanic, installed pilot floors on Catalina Bombers, fitted cut steel into place. (per military separation papers) This page is dedicated to my father. I am attempting to locate people who knew him during his service days. Sandy Warren (sandywarre@aol.com, warrenjoec@aol.com). Joseph Conrad (J.C., Joe, Jayhawk) Warren tried to enlist in the U. S. Marine Corps but was rejected due to a spot on his lungs, a spot which was later noted by cancer specialists. He instead became a Staff Sergeant and a Flight Maintenance Gunner -74g in the U. S. Army Air Corps. He sat at gun in rear of airplane. Warren was crtically injured one day while flying when he decided to take off his flak jacket. He said he knew he shouldn't do it, but it was so hot, he took it off. He got "all shot up," messing up his voice box and earning himself a Purple Heart and a lifetime disability check. He was in Italy and Africa. We have a letter from his commanding officer lauding him for his bravery (name will be added here after the letter is relocated). Shortly before discharge, Warren was stricken with malaria, yellow jaundice or something and was sent to Harmon General (Army) Hospital in Longview, Texas (now LeTourneau University). While there, he met his wife, Inez Martin of De Ridder, La., a surgical technician in the Women's Army Corps. After discharge, Warren worked in East Texas Oil Field, was a truck driver for Hill Bros. Oil Transport in Kilgore, TX; sergeant, Kilgore Police Department; and rancher. He retired from the Kilgore Police Department in 1985, was diagnosed with a recurrence of lung cancer that November and died May 30, 1986. His interests were his adopted wild mustangs, bee keeping and cattle ranching. He was an East Texas cowboy, tending to his animals and range land after working all day as a policeman five days a week and on weekends. In addition, he became a member of the Rocky Mount Masonic Lodge in Overton, TX, and remained a Mason all his life. He had planned to become more active in the lodge after he retired, but his illness wouldn't permit it. The Warrens had two daughters, Sandy and Suz Warren. Sandy has always been single and Suz retrieved her maiden name after her marriage dissolved. Sandy is a journalist and Suz is an airline pricing analyst. Mrs. Warren is semi-retired, has been a bookkeeper.