World War II Honoree

William Mckinley Watts

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Piraton, Alabama

Honored By

Stephen R. Watts

Relationship

Grandson

HE WAS DRAFTED IN 1944 AT THE AGE OF 36, HE COMPLETED HIS BASIC TRAINING AT FORT JACKSON, SOUTH CAROLINA. FOLLOWING HIS BASIC TRAINING HE WAS SHIPPED TO ENGLAND TO AWAIT THE INVASION OF FRANCE ON D DAY, JUNE 6TH 1944, HE WENT IN AT OMAHA BEACH. HE MADE IT THROUGH OMAHA BEACH AND WAS LATER CRITICALLY WOUNDED BY A SHELL BURST THAT LANDED IN A TREE BY HIS PLATOON . HE WOKE UP SOME TIME LATER IN A HOSPITAL BED IN ENGLAND WHERE HE WAS AWARDED THE PURPLE HEART FOR HIS WOUNDS.