1175 WFCHS

SCOPE AND CONTENT: This collection contains WWII medals awarded to J. Clayton Cochran, Jr. and a WWI medal awarded to his father, John Clayton Cochran. There is also a fishing license received in 1965.
(1 box) Last updated 11/16 

BIOGRAPHICAL/HISTORICAL: J. Clayton Cochran, Jr. was a native of Winchester, VA. Mr. Cochran graduated from Handley High School in 1942 and soon thereafter enlisted in the Navy Air Force Cadet Program and became a Navy Fighter Pilot during World War II. He served in the Pacific Theatre for the duration of the war. Cochran then returned to Winchester and for a short time attended Shepard College. He owned and operated Winchester Smoke Shop for many years and retired in 1975.

Mr. Cochran was a major supporter of the archives, having arranged for the donation of over 1,000 photographs of veterans, businesses, houses and events of the Winchester-Frederick County community. He provided key pieces of detail about photos and aided in research done on the material as well. Mr. Cochran was awarded the Louis Baker Award in 2001 for his diligent service to the archives. He died August 12, 2012 and left a bequest to the Archives Department of the Handley Regional Library. 

BIBLIOGRAPHY: Taken from the collection and The Virginia Genealogical Society Newsletter, “Bequest to Stewart Bell Jr. Archives” by Rebecca Ebert, page 8. 

CITE AS: J. Clayton Cochran, Jr. Collection, 1175 WFCHS, Stewart Bell, Jr. Archives, Handley Regional Library, Winchester, VA, USA. 

ORGANIZATION: 

BOX 1

Cochran, J. Clayton, Jr. – Fishing license (1965); 1 leaf, printed/manuscript 

Cochran, J. Clayton, Jr. –WWII medals, 2 items:  Air Medal, Victory Medal and Wings 

Cochran, J. Clayton, Jr.—WWII Air Medal box; 1 item 

Cochran, John Cochran, Sr.—WWI medal, 1 item

Victory Medal, “Presented by the city of Winchester and Frederick County to Sgt. J.C. Cochran in grateful recognition of patriotic service in the World War”