Cecil's military career began on October 2nd, 1941, when he traveled to Jackson, Mississippi and registered as an Aviation Cadet in the US Army Air Corps. After joining the military, Cecil was sent to Maxwell Field in Alabama for his basic training. He was then sent to Spencer Field in Moultrie, Georgia for his first stage of pilot training and it was here on May 20th, 1942, when he received his wings. It was after he got his wings that he was assigned to the 8th Fighter Squadron in the 49th Fighter Group, nicknamed "The Black Sheep"
After being winged, he was sent to Napier Field in Alabama for his advanced pilot training. After receiving advanced pilot training, he was transferred to other bases in places like Greenwood, Mississippi and Tallahassee Florida before finally being sent over seas. He was first sent to Australia then, by the end of his life, was stationed in New Guinea
Overseas Deployment
Cecil flew the P-38 Lightning when operating under the 8th Fighter Squadron. During World War II, the P-38 was a multipurpose fighter; being used for missions like interception, bombing, reconnaissance, and mostly long-range escorting. The time around Cecil's death, his squadron was engaged in the Battle of the Bismark Sea. The US Army Air Corps's P-38s were used mostly as escorts for large bombers, whose mission was to attack ground targets. Cecil saw a good amount of combat during the time he was overseas, later receiving medals for his service.
Missing In Action
On March 8th, for reasons unknown, Cecil was reported MIA (Missing In Action). His mother back in Meridian had heard word of this, and became worried. However, the report was confirmed to be false whenever Addie and one of Cecil's hometown friends received letters from Cecil that were dated March 11th and 19th.