World War II Honoree
World War II Veteran
William Preston 'Bill' Friedlander
Branch of Service
U.S. Merchant Marine
Hometown
Chickasha, Oklahoma
Honored By
Robert S. Cox
ENLISTED IN BATTERY B, 189TH FIELD ARTILLERY REGIMENT, OKLAHOMA NATIONAL GUARD, AFTER GRADUATING FROM HIGH SCHOOL IN 1939. SERVED FOR ABOUT 2 YEARS DURING WHICH THE REGIMENT WAS INDUCTED INTO FEDERAL SERVICE AS PART OF THE 45TH DIVISION. STATIONED AT FORT SILL AT LAWTON, OKLAHOMA AND ATTAINED THE RANK OF PRIVATE FIRST CLASS. ALSO SERVED IN THE U.S. MERCHANT MARINE AS AN OFFICER IN THE ATLANTIC, PACIFIC, AND MEDITERRANEAN-MIDDLE EAST WAR ZONES DURING THE WAR.