World War II Honoree

William F. McIlvain

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Clay City, Illinois

Honored By

Robert Medley Gatewood

ENTERED ACTIVE SERVICE AS A DRAFTEE ON DECEMBER 29, 1942 AT FORT SHERIDAN, ILLINOIS. COMPLETED BASIC TRAINING AND QUALIFIED IN THE MILITARY OCCUPATIONAL SPECIALTY OF PARTS CLERK (348). DEPARTED THE U.S. ON AUGUST 11, 1944 BOUND FOR THE EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS. ASSIGNED TO AND SERVED WITH THE SERVICE BATTERY, 252ND FIELD ARTILLERY BATTALION, AN INDEPENDENT UNIT, THROUGH THE RHINELAND AND CENTRAL EUROPE CAMPAIGNS. EARNED THE GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL, MERITORIOUS UNIT AWARD, AMERICAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN CAMPAIGN MEDAL WITH 2 BRONZE BATTLE STARS AND THE WWII VICTORY MEDAL. HONORABLY DISCHARGED AS A CORPORAL ON FEBRUARY 7, 1946 AT THE SEPARATION CENTER, CAMP GRANT, ILLINOIS.