World War II Honoree

William 'Bill' J. Whalen, Sr.

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Mahonoy Plane, Pennsylvania

Honored By

VFW Post 23 Ladies Auxiliary, Lebanon, PA

HE SERVED IN THE U.S. ARMY WITH THE 17TH AIRBORNE DIVISION AND PARTICIPATED IN OPERATION VARSITY SHORTLY AFTER THE BATTLE OF THE BULGE. WHEN THEIR GLIDER PLANE WENT OFF COURSE AND LANDED BEHIND ENEMY LINES THE ENTIRE PATROL WAS CAPTURED BY THE GERMAN ARMY. HE WAS ABLE TO ADMINISTER LIFESAVING FIRST AID TO HIS BADLY WOUNDED LIEUTENANT AND THEN SURRENDER TO THE ENGLISH SPEAKING GERMAN OFFICER. WAS ABLE TO LEAVE THE WOUNDED LIEUTENANT AT A HOSPITAL BEFORE BEING MARCHED TO THE POW CAMP WHERE HE AND HIS PATROL REMAINED UNTIL THE END OF THE WAR.