World War II Honoree

William Edward Fieck

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Chicago, Illinois

Honored By

James Sullivan

ENLISTED FEBRUARY 26, 1944. POSTHUMOUSLY PROMOTED TO PRIVATE FIRST CLASS. SERVED WITH 77TH 'STATUE OF LIBERTY' INFANTRY DIVISION, 307TH INFANTRY REGIMENT, COMPANY E. DEPARTED HAWAII, JULY 1, 1944 FOR THE AMPHIBIOUS ASSAULT ON GUAM IN THE MARIANA ISLANDS, DROVE NORTH TO MOUNT TENJO AND LINKED WITH 3RD MARINE DIVISION. DEPARTED FOR NEW CALEDONIA BUT WAS REDIRECTED TO LEYTE IN THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS AND WAS ATTACHED TO XXIV CORPS AND THE SIXTH ARMY. ON NOVEMBER 23, 1944 LANDED AT IPIL, PHILIPPINE ISLANDS AND FOUGHT UP THE EAST COAST OF LEYTE TO ORMOC BAY. ON DECEMBER 14, 1944 SECURED VALENCIA AND CONTINUED MOPPING UP OPERATIONS FROM JANUARY 1945 THROUGH FEBRUARY 5, 1945. FROM MARCH 26 TO MARCH 29, 1945 MADE 15 LANDINGS ON IE SHIMA IN PREPARING FOR THE ASSAULT ON OKINAWA, INCLUDING THE BITTER FIGHTS OF 'GOVERNMENT HOUSE HILL' AND 'BLOODY RIDGE'. LEFT IE SHIMA FOR OKINAWA, RELIEVED THE 96TH DIVISION, AND FOUGHT ITS WAY AGAINST EXTREMELY HEAVY JAPANESE RESISTANCE, DROVE TO SHURI WITH THE 1ST MARINE DIVISION AND SEALED JAPANESE CAVE POSITIONS. KILLED IN ACTION IN MAY 17, 1945. AWARDED THE COMBAT INFANTRYMAN BADGE, BRONZE STAR MEDAL FOR VALOR IN COMBAT, PURPLE HEART MEDAL WITH OAK LEAF CLUSTER (2 AWARDS) FOR WOUNDS SUSTAINED IN COMBAT, COMBAT ACTION RIBBON, DISTINGUISHED (PRESIDENTIAL) UNIT CITATION; MERITORIOUS UNIT CITATION; GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL, AMERICAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, ASIATIC-PACIFIC THEATER MEDAL WITH 4 STARS (WESTERN PACIFIC, LEYTE, SOUTHERN PHILIPPINES, AND RYUKYUS BATTLE CAMPAIGNS) AND WITH BRONZE ARROWHEAD FOR AMPHIBIOUS ASSAULTS, WWII VICTORY MEDAL, AND PHILIPPINE LIBERATION MEDAL.