World War II Honoree

William Edwards, Jr.

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

West Jefferson, North Carolina

Honored By

Dave Brewer

ENLISTED IN THE U.S. ARMY PRIOR TO THE JAPANESE ATTACK ON PEARL HARBOR, THE HAWAIIAN ISLANDS. HE WAS ASSIGNED AS A COMBAT ENGINEER ATTACHED TO THE 25TH INFANTRY DIVISION. ON SUNDAY MORNING, DECEMBER 7TH, 1941 HE WAS JUST WAKING UP ON THE FOURTH FLOOR OF THE SCHOFIELD BARRACKS. THE SOUND OF AIRCRAFT, EXPLODING BOMBS AND MACHINE GUN FIRE COULD BE HEARD JUST OUTSIDE THE BARRACKS. LOOKING OUT THE WINDOW, HE OBSERVED THE HANGARS AND AIRCRAFT OF NEARBY WHEELER FIELD IN FLAMES. HE ARMED HIMSELF WITH A FIRE AXE AND BROKE THE LOCK OFF THE WEAPONS SUPPLY ROOM. HE ARMED HIS MEN WITH MACHINE GUNS AND AMMUNITION. THEY RACED TO THE ROOF OF THE BARRACKS WHERE THEY SET UP A DEFENSIVE POSITION. THEY FIRED UPON AND HIT SEVERAL OF THE JAPANESE PLANES. FROM THE ROOF, HE COULD SEE U.S. NAVAL VESSELS ABLAZE AND SINKING IN PEARL HARBOR, PARTICULARLY THE USS ARIZONA. FOLLOWING THE AERIAL ATTACK, HE AND HIS SQUAD WERE SENT TO PLACE EXPLOSIVE CHARGES BENEATH THE LARGEST BRIDGE ON THE ISLAND. HIS ORDERS WERE TO DESTROY THE BRIDGE SHOULD JAPANESE LAND FORCES ASSAULT THE ISLAND. THE JAPANESE NEVER FOLLOWED THROUGH WITH A LAND ASSAULT.