World War II Honoree
Killed in World War II
William H. Dukeman, Jr.
Branch of Service
U.S. Army
Hometown
Weld County, Colorado
Honored By
Orville L. Kline
RANK: CORPORAL. SERVED AS U.S ARMY ASSISTANT SQUAD LEADER, EASY COMPANY, 506TH PARACHUTE INFANTRY REGIMENT, 101ST AIRBORNE ‘SCREAMING EAGLES’ DIVISION. HE WAS A PARATROOPER WHO JUMPED INTO FRANCE IN THE EARLY MORNING HOURS ON D-DAY, JUNE 6, 1944, OPERATION OVERLORD, THE INVASION OF GERMANY’S FORTRESS EUROPE AND A 2ND COMBAT JUMP INTO HOLLAND, OPERATION MARKET GARDEN. CAMPAIGNS AND BATTLES: NORMANDY AND HOLLAND. KILLED IN ACTION, OCTOBER 5, 1944 DURING THE BATTLE OF OPHEUSDEN, HOLLAND AND IS BURIED AT THE NETHERLANDS AMERICAN CEMETERY, MARGRATEN, NETHERLANDS. DECORATIONS: AWARDED THE PURPLE HEART MEDAL WITH 1 BRONZE OAK LEAF CLUSTER. HIS UNIT WAS AWARDED A PRESIDENTIAL UNIT CITATION WITH 1 OAK LEAF CLUSTER, FRENCH CROIX DE GUERRE WITH PALM, BELGIAN CROIX DE GUERRE WITH PALM, A NETHERLANDS ORANGE LANYARD AND A BELGIAN FOURRAGERE FOR EXTRAORDINARY HEROISM IN ACTION AGAINST THE GERMAN ARMED FORCES.