World War II Honoree

William Yawney

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Freemansburg, Pennsylvania

Honored By

Orville L. Kline

Rank: Private. On August 24, 1942, he entered the United States Army with his induction at Allentown, Pennsylvania. Served in Company-D as a Rifleman, First Battalion, 105th Infantry Regiment, Twenty-Seventh Infantry Division attached to the U.S. Tenth Army. His division participated in the amphibious assault against the Imperial Japanese forces on the Island of Saipan (Battle Dates: June 15-July 9, 1944) Mariana Islands Campaign. Killed in action Friday, July 7, 1944, and buried in a Battlefield Cemetery on Saipan. After the cessation of hostilities with Japan, the 604th Quartermaster Graves Registration Company, Quartermaster Corps conducted recovery operations from Saipan and his remains were not recovered. In 2012 a local resident, who resided on the island discovered a burial grave on Saipan, which contained some remains, American military gear and other artifacts. The Joint Prisoner of War/Missing in Action Accounting Agency was notified of the grave, dispatching a recovery team to the site, who investigated the findings. The remains were transferred to their laboratory in Hawaii where he was identified. The remains of this Soldier were interred with Military Honors at the Saint Johns Catholic Cemetery May 25, 2013 in Northampton, Pennsylvania. He received the following awards posthumously: Bronze Star and a Purple Heart. The Bronze Star awarded for Bravery, Act of Merit and Meritorious Service in Combat and the Purple Heart as he so gallantly gave his life for his country.