World War II Honoree

William Arthur Penn

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Brooklyn, New York

Honored By

A Grateful American

HE EAGERLY ENLISTED IN THE U.S. ARMY IN DECEMBER 1940. HE WAS ASSIGNED TO THE MOUNTED 10TH CAVALRY, TROOP E, KNOWN AS THE BUFFALO SOLDIERS. HE BEGAN HIS TRAINING AT WEST POINT AND LATER CAMP FUNSTON, FORT RILEY, KANSAS. ONCE THE CAVALRY BECAME MECHANIZED, HE BECAME A DRIVER FOR THE SIX TON WHITE PRIME MOVERS, HEAVY ARTILLERY AND SEMI-TRAILERS. HE TRAVELED MOSTLY ALONE AND SOMETIMES IN CONVOY. HE ALSO SERVED HIS COUNTRY AS A RADIO OPERATOR AND A SHARPSHOOTER. FOR HIS BRAVERY, HE RECEIVED THE EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN SERVICE MEDAL. HAVING ACHIEVED THE RANK OF STAFF SERGEANT, HE RECEIVED AN HONORABLE DISCHARGE ON SEPTEMBER 22, 1945.