Jesse D. Auton

Jesse D. Auton was a brigadier general in the United [States Air Force].

Early life

Jesse D. Auton was born on December 1, 1904, at Covington, Kentucky, to Robert Wesley and Julia E. Auton. However, he was raised a few minutes to the south in Piner. There, he was the valedictorian of the 1923 graduating class of Piner High School.

World War II

Auton enlisted at Kentucky in 1928, going on to serve in the European theatre of [World War II|European Theatre of Operations] during the Second World War. During the conflict he flew 12 combat missions.
At the White House, he served as an aide to President Franklin D. Roosevelt.

Death

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.