World War II Honoree

William Patrick Hitler

Branch of Service

U.S. Navy

Hometown

Liverpool, England

Honored By

Henry J. Zasowski, Jr.

Relationship

Military Historian

WILLIAM WAS A NEPHEW OF ADOLPH HITLER. IN 1942, HE WROTE PRESIDENT ROOSEVELT ASKING PERMISSION TO JOIN THE U.S. NAVY TO HELP PAY THE GREAT DEBT THAT HE AND HIS MOTHER, BRIDGET DOWLING HITLER, THOUGHT THEY OWED AMERICA. IN 1944, HITLER JOINED THE U.S. NAVY'S NAVAL MEDICAL CORPS AND SERVED IN THE PACIFIC THEATER, WHERE HE WAS WOUNDED IN ACTION.