World War II Honoree

Wilson W. 'Bill' Chaney

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Logan, West Virginia

Honored By

Department of Oklahoma Military Order of the Purple Heart

SERVED IN THE U.S. ARMY FROM 1942 TO 1945 FIRST WITH THE THIRD ARMY, 12TH CORPS, MECHANIZED INFANTRY. PARTICIPATED IN THE EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN THEATRE IN THE NORMANDY INVASION, LANDING IN THE SECOND OR THIRD WAVE. WAS ASSIGNED TO THE XII CORPS, 4TH ARMORED DIVISION, A PART OF THE THIRD ARMY COMMANDED BY GENERAL GEORGE PATTON. PARTICIPATED IN FIVE MAJOR CAMPAIGNS INCLUDING CENTRAL EUROPE, NORTHERN FRANCE, AND BATTLE OF THE ARDENNES (THE BATTLE OF THE BULGE) AT BASTOGNE, BELGIUM, ON DECEMBER 16, 1944. IN THE RHINELAND CAMPAIGN, HIS UNIT CROSSED THE RHINE RIVER IN MARCH 1945. WAS AMBUSHED AND WOUNDED ON APRIL 1, 1945 WHILE ON A SCOUTING PATROL NEAR FULDA, GERMANY, AND THE CZECHOSLOVAKIAN BORDER. WAS CAPTURED AND SPENT SIX WEEKS AS A PRISONER OF WAR UNTIL LIBERATED BY AMERICAN FORCES IN JUNE 1945. MEDALS AWARDED: FIVE MAJOR BATTLE STARS; THREE PURPLE HEART MEDALS; EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN CAMPAIGN MEDAL; PRISONER OF WAR MEDAL; WWII VICTORY MEDAL; AMERICAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL; ARMY OF OCCUPATION MEDAL WITH GERMANY CLASP; GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL, AND HONORABLE SERVICE LAPEL BUTTON.