World War II Honoree

William Philip Curran

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Worcester, Massachusetts

Honored By

Bernadette A. Curran Steele

Relationship

Daughter

STATIONED AT SCHOFIELD BARRACKS ON DECEMBER 7, 1941. HE LEFT THERE WITH COMPANY F, 27TH WOLFHOUND REGIMENT, 25TH INFANTRY DIVISION IN 1942 AND SPENT THE DURATION OF THE WAR IN THE ASIATIC-PACIFIC THEATER WHICH INCLUDED GUADALCANAL, NEW GEORGIA, ARUNDEL ISLANDS, LUZON, MANILA, NEW ZEALAND, NEW CALEDONIA, NORTHERN SOLOMON ISLANDS, THE PHILIPPINES. BILL WAS A SERGEANT WHO OFTEN ACTED AS PLATOON OFFICER BECAUSE OF A SHORTAGE OF OFFICERS DUE TO WOUNDS OR SICKNESS. ON JANUARY 13, 1943 ON GUADALCANAL, BILL TOOK PART IN AN ACTION FOR WHICH HE WAS AWARDED THE SILVER STAR. HE RECEIVED THE OAK-LEAF CLUSTER TO THE SILVER STAR “FOR GALLANTRY IN ACTION AT NEW GEORGIA, SOLOMON ISLANDS, ON AUGUST 9, 1943 WHEN IN THE FACE OF ENEMY FIRE, HE FEARLESSLY ASSAULTED TWO JAPANESE PILLBOXES, DESTROYING ONE AND KILLING ITS CREW OF THREE. IN OCTOBER 1944, IN NEW CALEDONIA, HE RECEIVED A BATTLE FIELD COMMISSION TO 2ND LIEUTENANT. FEBRUARY 2, 1945, BILL WAS IN LUZON WHERE HE WAS WOUNDED WITH SHRAPNEL AND RECEIVED THE PURPLE HEART. PROMOTED TO 1ST LIEUTENANT IN JUNE 1945. BILL ARRIVED IN SAN FRANCISCO ON V-J DAY.