World War II Honoree

William S. Church

Hometown

Henderson, North Carolina

Honored By

Charles B. Church III

WORKED AS A CIVILIAN WITH AN OCCUPATIONAL DEFERMENT, IN DIRECT SUPPORT OF THE WAR EFFORT. AS A CHEMIST, HE WORKED FOR E. I. DUPONT DE NEMOURS AND COMPANY IN PRODUCTION AND QUALITY CONTROL AT CONVENTIONAL EXPLOSIVES PLANTS FOR THE MILITARY AT SEVERAL LOCATIONS IN THE U.S. LATER DURING THE WAR, HE WAS CALLED UPON TO WORK ON THE TOP SECRET MANHATTAN PROJECT. AT THE HANFORD ENGINEER WORKS IN HANFORD WASHINGTON HE SUPERVISED AND OPERATED A NUCLEAR REACTOR TO PRODUCE PLUTONIUM FOR USE IN ATOMIC BOMBS AND PREFORMED SIMILAR SERVICE AGAIN AT THE SAVANNAH RIVER PLANT IN AIKEN, SOUTH CAROLINA.