Lt. Mendenhall, who graduated from South Park High School in Beaumont in 1935 and from Lamar College in 1939, was employed by Chambers County Telephone Company before entering the Air Corps in July, 1942.
Lt. Menenhall also wears the Air Medal with the three Oak Leaf Clusters awarded "For meritorious service."
4 May 1944 -- Lt. Bags 3JU88 Enemy Planes -- 8th AAF Fighter Station In England. Less than two weeks after he had tallied his first victory by blowing up a Messerschmitt 109, Lt. Lee G. "Mendy" Mendenhall, P51, Mustang pilot from Anahuac, TX., scored a "triple" by destroying three German aircraft on the ground.
In the low level attack in airfields deep in southwestern Germany, the 23 year old Texas, former manager of the Chambers County Telephone Company, also damaged three enemy planes, a locomotive, and shot up airdome buildings.
Describing today how he bagged his triple, Lt. Mendenhall said, "I sprayed three JU88s, which were parked close together, on our first trip across the field. I saw hits on 'em all, and as we pulled up I put a lot of holes in a building. I had time to spray one more before we pulled off."
"As we started around to make a third pass I spotted a railroad station with quite a few engines and coaches standing alongside. I wasn't in very good position, but by rolling almost on my back I was able to pull a stream of bullets through a locomotive."
"On the third pass at the field I hit another JU88 and when we circled the field, just before starting home, I saw it burning like hell."
"It was a busy afternoon, all right. We were happy as hell when we got back, but oh, brother, were we tired!"
The Lt., who was an outstanding backfield star at Lamar Junior College, from which he was graduated in 1939, is the son of M/M C. G. Mendenhall, of Anahuac.
He wears the Distinguished Flying Cross, awarded "for extra-ordinary achievement" and the Air Medal with three Oak Leaf Clusters.