World War II Honoree

William J. Amann

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Poteet, Texas

JOINED THE ARMY NATIONAL GUARD IN 1937. AFTER THE NATIONAL GUARD WAS CALLED UP AFTER PEARL HARBOR HE CHOSE TO GO TO OFFICER CANDIDATE SCHOOL AT FT. SILL, OKLAHOMA AND RECEIVED HIS COMMISSION JULY 21, 1942. HE WAS PROMOTED TO 1ST LIEUTENANT IN NOVEMBER 1942. HE WAS ASSIGNED FIRST TO THE 333RD AND IN 1943 TO THE 969TH FIELD ARTILLERY BATTALION AND TRAINED AT CAMP GRUBER, OKLAHOMA, WHERE BECAME THE EXECUTIVE OFFICER FOR BATTERY B. HE ENTERED FOREIGN SERVICE ON MARCH 1, 1944, AND FOUGHT AT NORMANDY, IN FRANCE AND AT THE SIEGFRIED LINE. THE UNIT WAS GIVEN THE DISTINGUISHED UNIT CITATION FOR ITS STAND AT BASTOGNE DURING THE BATTLE OF THE BULGE. HE WAS PROMOTED TO CAPTAIN AND COMMANDER OF BATTERY A, SEPTEMBER 1944. HE WAS KILLED IN A GERMAN BOMBING RAID ON DECEMBER 24, 1944. HE WAS FIRST CONSIDERED MISSING IN ACTION AND WAS DECLARED 'KILLED IN ACTION' ON JANUARY 1, 1945.