World War II Honoree

William Lloyd Anfin

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Rosalie, Nebraska

Honored By

Judy Williams

Relationship

Daughter

JOINED COMPANY B OF THE 117TH INFANTRY, 30TH DIVISION JUST BEFORE THE BREAKTHROUGH AT ST. LO IN FRANCE IN JULY OF 1944. THE DIVISION SAW ACTION THERE IN FRANCE, BELGIUM, LUXEMBOURG AND HOLLAND. IN AN ATTACK ON THE FAMED SIEGFRIED LINE ON OCTOBER 3RD, HE AND HIS UNIT WERE PINNED DOWN AND CAUGHT IN MURDEROUS CROSSFIRE OF MACHINE GUN AND MORTAR SHELLING. A SHELL LANDED ALMOST ON TOP OF HIM AND 2 OTHERS, KILLING 1 OF THEM AND SEVERING A LEG ON THE OTHER. HE WAS BLOWN INTO THE AIR AND LANDED ON HIS BACK. HE SUFFERED INJURIES TO HIS ARM, SHOULDER, HAND AND LEG. AFTER BEING GIVEN A SHOT BY A MEDIC, HE LAY WHERE HE FELL FOR ABOUT 2 HOURS UNTIL A TANK DRIVER CRAWLED TO WHERE HE LAY AND DRAGGED HIM TO THE COMPARATIVE SAFETY UNDERNEATH HIS TANK. LATER, ANOTHER MEMBER OF THE TANK CREW ASSISTED HIM IN GETTING BACK THE HALF MILE OR SO TO THE AID STATION WHERE HE WAS CARED FOR. HE WAS OPERATED ON IN A HOSPITAL AT MAASTRICHT, HOLLAND AND BEGAN A 2 YEAR PERIOD OF CONVALESCING IN VARIOUS HOSPITALS BEFORE HIS EVENTUAL DISCHARGE FROM SERVICE. RECEIVED THE PURPLE HEART AND THE COMBAT INFANTRYMAN BADGE.