World War II Honoree

William Alvin Garrett

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

Piggott, Arkansas

Honored By

Robert Medley Gatewood

ENTERED ACTIVE SERVICE AS A DRAFTEE ON MARCH 15, 1944. COMPLETED BASIC TRAINING AND QUALIFIED IN THE MILITARY OCCUPATIONAL SPECIALTY OF RIFLEMAN (745) AND LATER TELEPHONE SWITCHBOARD OPERATOR (650). DEPARTED THE CONTINENTAL U.S. ON AUGUST 28, 1944 BOUND FOR THE EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS. SERVED WITH AN INFANTRY UNIT IN THE RHINELAND CAMPAIGN AND SUFFERED MULTIPLE WOUNDS BY ENEMY ACTION ON OCTOBER 8, 1944. AFTER RECOVERY, TRANSFERRED TO THE ARMY AIR FORCES AND ASSIGNED TO THE 303RD STATION COMPLEMENT SQUADRON (SPECIAL) FROM WHICH HE WAS HONORABLY DISCHARGED AS A TEMPORARY SERGEANT AT FURSTENFELDBRUCK, GERMANY ON JANUARY 30, 1946 TO ENLIST IN THE REGULAR ARMY. AFTER ENLISTMENT, HE SERVED WITH THE 5TH COMMUNICATIONS SQUADRON/WING IN GERMANY AS A SWITCHBOARD OPERATOR IN THE ARMY OF OCCUPATION UNTIL HONORABLY DISCHARGED AS A STAFF SERGEANT AT THE SEPARATION STATION, CAMP STONEMAN, CALIFORNIA ON JULY 24, 1947. EARNED THE PURPLE HEART MEDAL, COMBAT INFANTRYMAN BADGE, GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL, AMERICAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, WWII VICTORY MEDAL AND ARMY OF OCCUPATION MEDAL (GERMANY).