World War II Honoree

William Smith Coleman

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Iva, South Carolina

Honored By

James O. Sweeny

Relationship

Classmate

ENTERED INTO ACTIVE DUTY AS A 2ND LIEUTENANT IN THE RESERVES IN LATE 1942. AFTER SIX WEEKS TRAINING AT CAMP WHEELER NEAR AUGUSTA, GEORGIA, AND AN ASSIGNMENT AT THE INFANTRY REPLACEMENT CENTER, HE WAS SENT TO NORTH AFRICA. HE PARTICIPATED IN THE INVASION OF SICILY, AND UPON ACTIVATION OF THE U.S. SEVENTH ARMY FOR THE INVASION OF SOUTHERN FRANCE IN JUNE, 1944, HE VOLUNTEERED FOR AND WAS ASSIGNED TO THE OFFICE OF STRATEGIC SERVICES (OSS) AS SPECIAL OPERATIONS AND INTELLIGENCE OFFICER WITH THE SEVENTH ARMY HEADQUARTERS. FOLLOWING HIS RETURN TO THE U.S. IN AUGUST OF 1945, HE SERVED AT CAMP GORDON, GEORGIA AS COMPANY COMMANDER AND ADJUTANT. HE WAS INTEGRATED INTO THE REGULAR ARMY IN JULY OF 1946, AND THEREAFTER HAD A DISTINGUISHED MILITARY CAREER, RETIRING AS MAJOR GENERAL ON SEPTEMBER 1, 1974.