World War II Honoree

William Douglas 'Bill' Hightower

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Wadesboro, North Carolina

Honored By

Robert S. Cox

DRAFTED INTO MILITARY SERVICE DURING THE WAR. HIS BATTALION SAILED FROM THE NEW YORK PORT OF EMBARKATION ON JULY 2, 1944 AND ARRIVED IN ENGLAND ON JULY 13, 1944. SERVED IN THE EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN THEATER WITH THE 244TH FIELD ARTILLERY BATTALION, ASSIGNED AS PART OF THE THIRD ARMY COMMANDED BY GENERAL PATTON. LANDED IN FRANCE ON JULY 31, 1944. PARTICIPATED IN THE NORMANDY, NORTHERN FRANCE, RHINELAND, ARDENNES-ALSACE (BATTLE OF THE BULGE), AND CENTRAL EUROPE CAMPAIGNS. HIS BATTALION WAS OUTFITTED WITH DIFFERENT WEAPONS IN EUROPE AND FOUGHT WITH CAPTURED GERMAN AND FRENCH WEAPONS. AWARDED THE AIR MEDAL, AMERICAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN CAMPAIGN MEDAL WITH SILVER SERVICE STAR, WWII VICTORY MEDAL AND ARMY OF OCCUPATION MEDAL. HONORABLY DISCHARGED WITH THE RANK OF SECOND LIEUTENANT AND ISSUED THE HONORABLE SERVICE LAPEL BUTTON.