Turner County GaArchives Military Records.....AKIN JR., SGT ARTHUR V 
WWII U.S. ARMY AIR CORPS
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File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
WYLIE SHEPPARD JR http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00030.html#0007303 August 10, 2011, 12:44 pm

ASHBURN SOLDIER GIVEN MEDAL
AT A 12TH AAF P-47 BASE IN ITALY
 FOR HIS COURAGEOUS EFFORTS IN FIGHTING A FIRE THAT THREATENED TO DESTROY A PLANE AT
AN ADVANCED AIR BASE ON THE ITALIAN FRONT, DGT ARTHUR V AKIN JR, OF ASHBURN,GA. HAS
BEN AWARDED THE SOLDIER'S MEDAL. SGT AKIN, AN AIRPLANE CREW CHIEF WITH A VETERAN
12TH AIR FORCE FIGHTER-BOMBER SQUADRON,,IS A SON OF MR AND MRS ARTHUR V AKINSR ,OF
ASHBURN. ANOTHER SON,AVIATION CADET THOMAS A AKIN, IS SERVING WITH THE U.S. NAVY.
 OFFICIAL ORDERS ANNOUNCING THE SOLDIER'S MEDAL AWARD STATED IN PART AS FOLLOWS;
 ''WHILE SGT AKIN WAS PRE-FLIGHTING AN AIRPLANE AT PISA AIRDROME,ITALY,SPARKS FROM
THE EXHAUST IGNITED A POOL OF GASOLINE AND THE FLAMES SPREAD RAPIDLY THROUGHOUT THE
AIRCRAFT AND THREATENED A NUMBER OF OTHER PLANES PARKED NEARBY,ALTHOUGH PAINFULLY
BURNED,SGT AKIN QUICKLY EXTRICATED HIMSELF FROM THE COCKPIT AND DESPITE THE INTENSE
HEAT AND DANGER OF EXPLOSION, CONTINUED TO FIGHT THE FIRE UNTIL THE FLAMES WERE
EXTINGUISHED.''
 ASHBURN GRADUATE
 SGT AKIN WAS GRADUATED FROM ASHBURN HIGH SCHOOL JUNE 7,1937. FOR SEVERAL OF THE
FOLLOWING YEARS HE WAS ASSOCIATED WITH HIS FATHER IN THE GARAGE AND SERVICE STATION
BUSINESS AND THEN ENTERED CIVIL SERVICE AS AN AIRPLANE MECHANIC ASSIGNED TO BROOKLEY
FIELD, ALA. AIR DEPOT.
 ENLISTING AT MEMPHIS,TENN.ON JULY 7,1942. SGT AKINS TRAINED AND WAS SENT OVERSEAS
AS A MBER P-47 SQUADRON THAT HAS PARTICIPATED IN ALL OF THE MAJOR CAMPAIGNS OF THE
MEDITERRANEAN THEATER. THE OUTFIT HOLDS THE WAR DEPT. DISTINGUISHED UNIT CITATION
FOR OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT.

Additional Comments:
NO DATE,PHOTO IN WW11 SCRAP BOOK CORDELE LIBRARY

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