World War II Honoree

William R. Gilmore

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Allen, Ohio

Honored By

Barbara O'Connell

HE WAS INDUCTED INTO THE U.S. ARMY AT CAMP PERRY, A NATIONAL GUARD TRAINING FACILITY ON THE SHORES OF LAKE ERIE IN NORTHERN OHIO IN EARLY 1942, AT AGE 18. FOLLOWING BASIC AND ADVANCED INFANTRY TRAINING, HE WAS ASSIGNED TO THE FIRST BATTALION, 501ST PARACHUTE INFANTRY REGIMENT, 101ST AIRBORNE DIVISION 'SCREAMING EAGLES'. IN MAY OF 1943, HE EARNED SILVER JUMP WINGS AT FORT BENNING, GEORGIA. SHORTLY AFTER THAT AND THROUGHOUT THE SUMMER, HE UNDERTOOK COMPANY BATTALION AND REGIMENTAL TRAINING AT CAMP MCCALL, NORTH CAROLINA AND PARTICIPATED IN THE TENNESSEE MANEUVERS. THE REGIMENT THEN DEPARTED FOR ENGLAND IN DECEMBER, 1943. ON JUNE 6, 1944 HE JUMPED INTO NORMANDY, FRANCE IN THE EARLY MORNING HOURS, AS PART OF I COMPANY, 501ST PARACHUTE INFANTRY REGIMENT. HE WAS KILLED IN ACTION THAT VERY DAY. HE WAS BURIED AT NORMANDY AMERICAN CEMEMTERY. FOR HIS HONORABLE AND VALUABLE SERVICE ON TWO CONTINENTS AND IN TWO THEATERS OF WAR, HE WAS AWARDED SILVER JUMP WINGS, COMBAT INFANTRYMAN BADGE, BRONZE STAR MEDAL, PURPLE HEART, GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL, AMERICAN THEATER MEDAL, EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN THEATER MEDAL WITH ONE BRONZE SERVICE STAR (NORMANDY) AND BRONZE ARROWHEAD (INDICATING NORMANDY WAS AN OPPOSED LANDING), WWII VICTORY MEDAL, TWO OVERSEAS SERVICE BARS AND EXPERT MARKSMAN BADGE WITH RIFLE TAB.