World War II Honoree

William Bernard 'Bill' Arter

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Wood River, Illinois

Honored By

Robert S. Cox

DRAFTED INTO ARMY SERVICE AND SERVED AS A BUGLER IN THE EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN THEATER. PARTICIPATED IN THE NORMANDY, NORTHERN FRANCE, RHINELAND, ARDENNES-ALSACE (BATTLE OF THE BULGE), AND CENTRAL EUROPE CAMPAIGNS. SPENT HIS 21ST BIRTHDAY TAKING PART IN THE NORMANDY INVASION. IN ADDITION TO PLAYING BUGLE CALLS, HE AND FELLOW SOLDIER MUSICIANS WOULD COME TOGETHER AND PLAY JAZZ FOR TROOPS THROUGHOUT THE THEATER. ASSIGNED TO COMPANY B AND WAS ACCORDINGLY A GENUINE 'BOOGIE WOOGIE BUGLE BOY OF COMPANY B' AS REFERENCED IN THE POPULAR WARTIME SONG OF THE DAY. AWARDED THE GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL, AMERICAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN CAMPAIGN MEDAL AND WWII VICTORY MEDAL. HONORABLY DISCHARGED AND ISSUED THE HONORABLE SERVICE LAPEL BUTTON.