World War II Honoree
Killed in World War II
William H. Arledge
Branch of Service
U.S. Army
Hometown
Birmingham, Alabama
Honored By
Orville L. Kline
RANK: PRIVATE 1ST CLASS. HE WAS INDUCTED INTO THE ARMY AUGUST 5, 1942 AT FORT MCCLELLAN, ALABAMA. SERVED AS A PARATROOPER WITH B-COMPANY, 1ST BATTALION, 506TH PARACHUTE INFANTRY REGIMENT, 101ST AIRBORNE ‘SCREAMING EAGLES’ DIVISION. ON SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 1944, HE JUMPED INTO THE AREA OF EINDHOVEN, THE INVASION OF HOLLAND, CODE NAME: OPERATION, MARKET GARDEN. HE WAS KILLED IN ACTION FRIDAY, OCTOBER 6, 1944 DURING THE SAVAGE FIGHTING AT OPHEUSDEN BY AN ENEMY TANK ARTILLERY BURST. HIS BODY WAS NEVER RECOVERED AND HE IS MEMORIALIZED ON THE TABLET OF THE MISSING AT THE NETHERLANDS AMERICAN CEMETERY IN MARGRATEN, HOLLAND. DECORATIONS AND MEDALS: BRONZE STAR AND THE PURPLE HEART. THE BRONZE STAR WAS AWARDED TO THE SOLDIER FOR BRAVERY, ACT OF MERIT AND MERITORIOUS SERVICE IN COMBAT. HIS REGIMENT, FROM THE BATTLEFIELD OF NORMANDY AND IT’S MARCH ACROSS EUROPE TO THE EAGLE’S NEST, BERCHTESGADEN, GERMANY WAS AWARDED A PRESIDENTIAL UNIT CITATION WITH 1 OAK LEAF CLUSTER, FRENCH CROIX DE GUERRE WITH PALM, BELGIAN CROIX DE GUERRE MEDAL, THE BELGIUM FOURRAGERE AND THE ORANGE LANYARD OF THE ROYAL NETHERLANDS ARMY FOR EXTRAORDINARY HEROISM IN ACTION AGAINST THE GERMAN ARMED FORCES.