World War II Honoree

William E. Wade

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Whitesville, Illinois

Honored By

Robert Medley Gatewood

ENLISTED IN THE ARMORED FORCES ON NOVEMBER 18, 1940 AT FORT KNOX, KENTUCKY. COMPLETED BASIC TRAINING AND QUALIFIED AS A RIFLEMAN (MOS 745), AND LATER AS A DUTY NON COMMISSIONED OFFICER (MOS 566). ASSIGNED TO AND SERVED WITH COMPANY B, 13TH ARMORED INFANTRY REGIMENT, 1ST ‘OLD IRONSIDES’ ARMORED DIVISION SHORTLY AFTER ITS RE-DESIGNATION. DEPARTED THE CONTINENTAL U.S. WITH HIS UNIT ABOARD THE QUEEN MARY ON MAY 11, 1942 BOUND FOR IRELAND AND FURTHER TRAINING. THE DIVISION WAS THE FIRST ARMORED DIVISION TO GO INTO COMBAT IN WWII IN SUPPORT OF OPERATION TORCH ON NOVEMBER 8, 1942 AT THE BEGINNING OF THE ALGERIA-FRENCH MOROCCO CAMPAIGN. WADE WAS WOUNDED BY ENEMY ACTION AT ORAN BUT RETURNED TO THE FIGHT, PARTICIPATING IN THE TUNISIAN AND NAPLES-FOGGIA CAMPAIGNS UNTIL WOUNDED AGAIN BY ENEMY ACTION IN ITALY ON JANUARY 2, 1944 AND REMOVED FROM THE BATTLEFIELD FOR TREATMENT AND CARE BY THE 45TH GENERAL HOSPITAL. HE RETURNED STATESIDE FOR CONVALESCENCE ON SEPTEMBER 1, 1944 AND WAS HONORABLY DISCHARGED AS A STAFF SERGEANT ON JUNE 10, 1945 AT THE SEPARATION CENTER, CAMP ATTERBURY, INDIANA. EARNED THE PURPLE HEART MEDAL WITH OAK LEAF CLUSTER, COMBAT INFANTRYMAN BADGE, DISTINGUISHED UNIT CITATION, GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL, AMERICAN DEFENSE SERVICE MEDAL, AMERICAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN CAMPAIGN MEDAL WITH 3 BRONZE BATTLE STARS, AND THE WWII VICTORY MEDAL.