World War II Honoree

William Arthur Fincke

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Santa Fe, New Mexico

Honored By

OAMC, ROTC Class of 1943

SERVED IN THE ARMY RESERVE OFFICER TRAINING CORPS AT OKLAHOMA A&M COLLEGE IN STILLWATER, OKLAHOMA FROM SEPTEMBER, 1940 TO APRIL 5, 1943. SIMULTANEOUSLY SERVED AS A PRIVATE IN THE ENLISTED RESERVE CORPS WITH THE 1875TH SERVICE UNIT FROM JULY 1942 TO APRIL 5, 1943. INDUCTED AND CALLED TO ACTIVE DUTY ON APRIL 6, 1943. REPORTED TO THE RECEPTION CENTER, FORT SILL, LAWTON, OKLAHOMA ON APRIL 12, 1943. ASSIGNED TO OFFICER CANDIDATE SCHOOL AT FORT BELVOIR, VIRGINIA FROM JUNE TO SEPTEMBER 1943. HONORABLY DISCHARGED IN SEPTEMBER 1943 WITH THE RANK OF CORPORAL TO ACCEPT AN APPOINTMENT AS AN OFFICER. GRADUATED AND COMMISSIONED A SECOND LIEUTENANT IN THE CORPS OF ENGINEERS IN SEPTEMBER 1943. ASSIGNED TO THE 142ND ENGINEER COMBAT BATTALION, 42ND INFANTRY 'RAINBOW' DIVISION AT CAMP GRUBER, BRAGGS, OKLAHOMA. STAGED AT CAMP KILMER, STELTON, NEW JERSEY ON DECEMBER 23, 1944 AND SAILED OVERSEAS FROM NEW YORK PORT OF EMBARKATION ON JANUARY 6, 1945. ARRIVED AT MARSEILLES, FRANCE ON JANUARY 18, 1945 AND SERVED IN THE EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN THEATER. PARTICIPATED IN THE RHINELAND CAMPAIGN. TOOK PART IN COMBAT OPERATIONS NEAR HAGUENAU, FRANCE IN THE HARDT MOUNTAINS, WHERE HE WAS MORTALLY WOUNDED. DIED OF WOUNDS ON MARCH 3, 1945. AWARDED THE BRONZE STAR MEDAL, PURPLE HEART, GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL, AMERICAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN CAMPAIGN MEDAL WITH BRONZE SERVICE STAR, AND WWII VICTORY MEDAL.