World War II Honoree

William Gail 'Mad Major' White

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Carmel, California

Honored By

Pearl Thomas

Enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1941. He was wounded nine times in the war and was awarded nine Purple Hearts. Served with the 330th Infantry Regiment, the 83rd Infantry Division, 3rd Battalion in France. On July 4, 1944, he received two Purple Hearts from injuries combating German troops. From July 6 to July 7, he was wounded three more times. In four days of combat he was wounded six times. In Luxembourg he received his seventh Purple Heart from another grenade blast. On December 10, 1944, while attacking the German town of Strass, he was critically wounded and received his eighth Purple Heart. Before the war ended, he was struck by shell fragments near the Elbe River in Germany, giving him his ninth Purple Heart. He received two Silver Stars.