World War II Honoree

William W. Ahern

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Arlington, Massachusetts

Honored By

Kristen Ahern Harrigan

Relationship

Daughter

COMPANY B, 387TH REGIMENT, 97TH INFANTRY DIVISION. SERVED 1943-1946. AFTER GRADUATING FROM ARLINGTON HIGH SCHOOL, ENLISTED AT THE AGE OF 17 TO SERVE IN THE ARMY. HE WAS THE SQUAD SCOUT THROUGHOUT HIS TOUR OF EUROPE. CROSSED THE RHINE RIVER FROM GERMANY INTO CZECHOSLOVAKIA. HIS COMPANY FIRED THE LAST OFFICIAL SHOT OF WWII. AFTER THE EUROPEAN ARMISTICE, HE WAS IN THE FIRST GROUP OF TROOPS TO OCCUPY JAPAN. AWARDED THE COMBAT INFANTRYMAN BADGE AND THE BRONZE STAR.