World War II Honoree

William Earl George Godwin

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Knoxville, Tennessee

Honored By

Robert & Fred Godwin

Relationship

Sons

SERVED WITH THE 19TH CAVALRY RECONNAISSANCE SQUADRON, ENGAGED IN MOP-UP CAMPAIGN WITH GENERAL PATTON'S 3RD ARMY IN VARIOUS LARGE AND SMALL TOWNS IN AND AROUND BAD HOMBURG, GERMANY IN MARCH AND APRIL 1944. ACCORDING TO THE SQUADRON HISTORY WRITTEN BY MAJOR KERR, 'ONE OF THE HARDEST WORKING CREWS IN THE REAR ECHELON WAS THE PERSONNEL SECTION HEADED BY WARRANT OFFICER WILLIAM GODWIN, WITH AN OFFICE BUILT ON A 6X6 TRUCK KNOWN AS 'MR. G.'S 40 AND 8.' THE PAPER WAR RAN UNABATED IN THE REAR ECHELON. ALL HANDLED UNDER THE ROUGHEST FIELD CONDITIONS.' ON AUGUST 14, 1944 THE 19TH CAVALRY RECONNAISSANCE SQUADRON EMBARKED AT MARSEILLES, HAVING BEEN CATEGORIZED AS A UNIT TO DEPLOY DIRECTLY TO JAPAN FOR THE PLANNED INVASION. THE SQUADRON WAS SCHEDULED TO BE ONE OF THE FIRST ASHORE ON MAINLAND JAPAN. FORTUNATELY, V-J DAY WAS DECLARED AUGUST 15, 1944, SO THOSE WHO WOULD HAVE BEEN IN THE FIRST DEADLY WAVE IN JAPAN WERE RETURNED TO BOSTON HARBOR INSTEAD.