World War II Honoree

William Stuart Acheson

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Moorhead, Minnesota

Honored By

Jyl Acheson

Relationship

Granddaughter

HE SERVED IN THE U.S. ARMY DURING WWII AS 1ST LIEUTENANT. HE WAS AWARDED THE PURPLE HEART FOR WOUNDS RECEIVED IN ACTION IN THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS ON FEBRUARY 15, 1945. FOR HEROIC SERVICE IN CONNECTION WITH MILITARY OPERATIONS AGAINST THE ENEMY, HE RECEIVED THE BRONZE STAR. AS COMPANY EXECUTIVE OFFICER, HE VOLUNTEERED TO LEAD COMBAT PATROLS INTO ENEMY TERRITORY. TO THE MEMBERS OF HIS UNIT, HIS CALM MANNER AND PERSONAL COURAGE WERE AN INSPIRATION. ON JUNE 19, 1945, WHILE LEADING A COMBAT PATROL, THREE MEN WERE WOUNDED BY A GRENADE THAT WAS THROWN FROM THE LARGE CAVE THEY WERE INVESTIGATING. HE MOVED TO THE MOUTH OF THE CAVE, USED HIS OWN WEAPON TO KEEP THE ENEMY FROM FIRING WHILE HE DIRECTED THE EVACUATION OF THE WOUNDED MEN. A LARGE SUPPLY OF AMMUNITION AND WEAPONS WERE RECOVERED FROM THIS CAVE. OVER FORTY OF THE ENEMY WERE KILLED, WHICH WAS TWICE THE SIZE OF HIS PATROL. ON JUNE 20, 1945, HE HAD MADE PERSONAL RECONNAISSANCE OVER AN AREA SWEPT BY KNEE MORTAR, SNIPER AND HEAVY MACHINE GUN FIRE. OUR OWN WEAPONS WERE UTILIZED TO THE BEST ADVANTAGE AND AIDED IN THE CAPTURE OF A LARGE, WELL-PLANNED ENEMY STRONG POINT WITH MINIMUM CASUALTIES. HIS PERSONAL COURAGE AND LEADERSHIP REFLECT GREAT CREDIT UPON HIMSELF AND THE MILITARY SERVICE. HE WAS AWARDED THE GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL.