Brigadier General Jesse D. Auton | |
|---|---|
 Brigadier General Jesse D. Auton | |
| Born | December 1, 1904 Covington, Kentucky |
| Died | March 30, 1952 (aged 47) Offutt Air Force Base |
| Buried | |
| Allegiance |  United States of America |
| Service/ | United States Army Air Forces United States Air Force |
| Years of service | 1928–1952 |
| Rank | Brigadier general |
| Service number | O-17938 |
| Unit | 65th Fighter Wing; 8th Air Force |
| Commands held | 65th Fighter Wing 313th Troop Carrier Wing |
| Battles/wars | Second World War |
| Awards | Air Medal
American Campaign Medal American Defense Medal Bronze Star Distinguished Flying Cross European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal Legion d'Honneur Legion of Merit with 1 oak leaf cluster Purple Heart Croix de Guerre (French) Croix de Guerre (Belgian) |
Jesse D. Auton (December 1, 1904[1] – March 30, 1952) was a brigadier general in the United States Air Force.[2]
Jesse D. Auton was born on December 1, 1904, at Covington, Kentucky, to Robert Wesley and Julia E. [Bagby] Auton. However, he was raised a few minutes to the south in Piner.[3] There, he was the valedictorian of the 1923 graduating class of Piner High School.[4]
Auton enlisted at Kentucky in 1928, going on to serve in the European Theatre of Operations during the Second World War. During the conflict he flew 12 combat missions.[3]
At the White House, he served as an aide to President Franklin D. Roosevelt.[4]
Auton was killed on March 30, 1952, in a plane crash at Offutt Air Force Base, Omaha. He was on a flight returning from California. He was buried on Independence Day - July 4, 1952, at Arlington National Cemetery.[5][3]
