World War II Honoree

William James Fitzgerald

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Kewanee, Illinois

Honored By

Eugene Houser

Relationship

Friend

AT 19 YEARS OLD, ENTERED ARMY ON FEBRUARY 1943 AND BASIC MILITARY POLICE TRAINING. WAS SHIPPED TO CASABLANCA. SERVED IN HEADQUARTERS BATTALION FOR 18 MONTHS PATROLLING STREETS FOR TRAFFIC AND DRUGS. HE SERVED AS PLAIN CLOTHES GUARD FOR WINSTON CHURCHILL WHILE HE WAS PRESENT FOR THE CONFERENCE WITH DE GAULLE. WAS A RIFLEMAN IN ITALY. MOVED NORTH FROM NAPLES THROUGH ROME TO PISA. WHILE AT PISA HE WAS NOTIFIED THAT HE WOULD BE RETURNED TO THE STATES FOR OFFICER CANDIDATE SCHOOL TRAINING WHERE HE SPENT 18 MONTHS UNTIL THE WAR ENDED.