President George H.W. Bush's US Naval Reserve service during World War II

George H.W. Bush, the 41st president of the United States, enlisted in the U.S. Naval Reserve on June 13, 1942, on his 18th birthday after the attack on Pearl Harbor in December 1941. He had preflight training at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and became one of the youngest naval aviators. He flew 58 combat missions, received the Distinguished Flying Cross and three air medals. He is credited with 126 carrier landings and 1,228 flight hours. (U.S. Navy video by Nathan Quinn)

[Strazman]

A very nice tribute to George H.W. Bush's military history.

[leonardcovarrubias]

Bush World War president 1/9 bone spurs Warrior....

[Michelle-juvs]

All due respect for his military service, but it seems unfair to most American men who fought in WW2 that an 18 year old who only had a high school diploma was commissioned as an officer in the US Navy because of who his father was. Most officers had to have a bachelor's degree or have been in university for at least a couple years to be considered for a commission. If he wasn't born rich he would've ended up among the enlisted ranks.