World War II Honoree

William E. Bearisto

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Boston, Massachusetts

Honored By

Pearl Thomas

In April 1943 he joined the U.S. Army. He was put on a troop ship headed to England where he became part of the 110th Infantry Regiment of the 28th Infantry Division. After landing at Normandy in June 1944, his unit saw action in Northern France, the Rhineland, the Ardennes and in Central Europe. Trained as a forward artillery observer it was his job to make sure that friendly rounds landed on enemy positions and to call back for fire whenever the groaning sounds of distant Diesel engines meant that German Panzer and Tiger tanks were soon to enter the fray. On Saturday, December 16, 1944 Hitler unleashed what remained of his western armies on advancing Allied troops in what later became known as the 'Battle of the Bulge'. When the fog lifted the morning after, his small band of brothers, totaling eleven men was entirely surrounded by German troops. There began four months of captivity that included 421 miles of forced marches in summer clothing between three Prisoner of War camps. Liberation came via the arrival of British troops to the camp near Hamburg where he was held. By then he was down to 89 pounds and suffered from various maladies. He was awarded the Purple Heart.