World War II Honoree
Killed in World War II
William R. Beall
Branch of Service
U.S. Army
Hometown
Washington County, Maryland
Honored By
Orville L. Kline
RANK: MAJOR. HE WAS A PARATROOPER, WHO SERVED WITH THE ARMY IN THE EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS AS COMMANDER OF REGIMENTAL HEADQUARTERS, 3RD BATTALION, 504TH PARACHUTE INFANTRY REGIMENT, 82ND AIRBORNE ‘ALL AMERICAN’ DIVISION. KILLED IN ACTION FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 1943 WHILE PARTICIPATING IN THE ASSAULT ON SALERNO, INVASION OF ITALY. HE IS BURIED IN THE SICILY-ROME AMERICAN CEMETERY LOCATED AT NETTUNO, ITALY. DECORATIONS AND MEDALS: BRONZE STAR AND THE PURPLE HEART. THE BRONZE STAR WAS AWARDED TO THE MAJOR FOR BRAVERY, ACT OF MERIT AND MERITORIOUS SERVICE. HIS DIVISION WAS AWARDED A PRESIDENTIAL UNIT CITATION WITH 1 BRONZE OAK LEAF CLUSTER FOR SAINT-MERE-EGLISE, NORMANDY AND HOLLAND CAMPAIGNS, FRENCH CROIX DE GUERRE WITH PALM FOR SAINTE-MERE-EGLISE, FRENCH CROIX DE GUERRE WITH PALM FOR COTENTIN, FRENCH CROIX DE GUERRE FOURRAGERE, BELGIAN FOURRAGERE 1940 AND THE NETHERLANDS ORANGE LANYARD FOR EXCEPTIONAL VALOR AND HEROISM IN ACTION AGAINST THE GERMAN ARMED FORCES.