World War II Honoree

Willie Worthy Wurtz

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Beagle, Kansas

Honored By

A Grateful Kansan

He served two tours of duty, first entering the United States Army on July 8, 1944. He was a rifleman 745 in Company E of the 23rd infantry, under General George Patton. He served in the European Theater of operations, including the Rhineland Campaign and Central Europe Campaign. He fought in the Battle of the Bulge. He was awarded the Combat Infantryman Badge and European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Ribbon. He was honorably discharged on November 22, 1945, and re-enlisted the very next day, this time serving with the 8th Division 3191 Engineers. His duties were guarding prisoners and post-war clean up. He was honorably discharged on January 6, 1947, and received the WWII Victory Medal and the Army of Occupation Medal, Germany.