Eaton had been "bitten by the bug" during the war years that affected so many who wanted to get back into the air. That urge to fly again led to the beginning of the Lt. Warren Eaton Airport in Norwich in 1927.

In 1917, Eaton entered the Air Service Ground School in Ithaca, and went to Ann Arbor, Mich., for a short time, leaving there with a pilot’s commission. From there, it was off to "the war to end all wars."

Eaton ended up in France, and as a lieutenant he eventually joined the Lafayette Escadrille, which was organizing the 103rd Aero Pursuit Squadron, American Expeditionary Forces. The young pilot saw plenty of severe combat, and repeatedly proved his mettle. He did so well that he was awarded a "Distinguished Service Cross," which at the time was the nation’s No. 2 milita[an error occurred while processing this directive]