December 12, 1941

Paul Douglas, a Paragould (Greene County) native who became an air force “ace,” received his wings and commission as a second lieutenant, just five days after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. Douglas retired as a brigadier general on February 1, 1970, having flown four different airplane types over the course of his career. Earning over sixty decorations, Douglas was one of the most decorated flyers in air force history.