Technical Sergeant William C. Toombs Sr., from North Little Rock, enlisted in the Army Air Corps on 31 October 1942. He was assigned as a flight engineer and top turret gunner with the 493rd Bomb Group, 8th Air Force, European Theater of Operations. Sergeant Toombs flew 20 missions in the B-24 Liberator before transitioning to the B-17 Flying Fortress. On 11 September 1944, while on his fourth mission in the B-17, they crash-landed in a Belgian turnip field after two of its four engines were shot out.

Sergeant Toombs' military awards include the Distinguished Flying Cross and four Air Medals. He is an active member of the 8th Air Force and Distinguished Flying Cross organizations. The narrative for Technical Sergeant William C. Toombs' Distinguished Flying Cross reads:

"Technical Sergeant, Army Air Forces, United States Army, for extraordinary achievement while serving as top turret gunner on many high-altitude heavy bombardment missions against the enemy over continental Europe during a period ending on 27 September 1944. Sergeant Toombs repelled numerous hostile fighter attacks by his excellent marksmanship, thereby assuring the safety of the crew and the aircraft. His courage, presence of mind, and devotion to duty while engaged in aerial combat on all these occasions are in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Army Air Forces."