World War II Honoree

William Powers Ott

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Columbia, South Carolina

Honored By

Robert S. Cox

STAGED WITH HIS REGIMENT AT CAMP PATRICK HENRY, AT ORIANA, VIRGINIA ON NOVEMBER 23, 1943 AWAITING OVERSEAS DEPLOYMENT. SAILED FROM THE HAMPTON ROADS PORT OF EMBARKATION ON DECEMBER 3, 1943 AND ARRIVED AT CASABLANCA, MOROCCO IN NORTH AFRICA ON DECEMBER 20, 1943. SERVED IN THE EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN THEATER WITH THE 350TH INFANTRY REGIMENT, 88TH INFANTRY 'BLUE DEVILS' DIVISION. MOVED TO MAGENTA, ALGERIA FOR TRAINING AND THEN ARRIVED AT NAPLES, ITALY ON FEBRUARY 12, 1944. PARTICIPATED IN THE ROME-ARNO CAMPAIGN. INITIALLY STAGED IN THE PIEDMONT D' ALIFE AREA AND THEN DEFENDED ALONG THE GARIGLIANO RIVER NEAR MINTURNO IN EARLY MARCH. ATTACKED WITH HIS REGIMENT TOWARD ROME ON MAY 11, 1944 AGAINST STRONG OPPOSITION. ADVANCED FROM ROCCA SECCA ACROSS THE AMASENO VALLEY ON MAY 26, 1944. PUSHED THROUGH ROME ON JUNE, 4, 1944 ALONG THE VIA PRENESTINA AND CROSSED THE TIBER RIVER TO BASSANELIO. ASSUMED DEFENSIVE POSITIONS NEAR POMERANCE ON JULY 5TH AND ATTACKED ON JULY 8TH TO TAKE THE TOWN OF VOLTERRA THE FOLLOWING DAY. WAS ADVANCING TOWARD THE HEIGHTS OVERLOOKING THE ARNO RIVER WHEN HE WAS KILLED IN ACTION ON JULY 12, 1944. AWARDED THE COMBAT INFANTRYMAN BADGE, BRONZE STAR MEDAL, PURPLE HEART WITH BRONZE OAK LEAF CLUSTER, AMERICAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN CAMPAIGN MEDAL WITH BRONZE SERVICE STAR, AND WWII VICTORY MEDAL. AUTHORIZED THE FRENCH CROIX DE GUERRE WITH PALM FOR ACTIONS BY HIS DIVISION IN CENTRAL ITALY.