World War II Honoree

Rufol E. Willis

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Glezen, Indiana

Honored By

Carol Bonzi

Relationship

Wife

Entered the service from Civilian Conservation Corps in 1938 at Fort Benjamin Harrison, Indiana. Was eventually assigned to the 173rd Field Artillery. trained at Camp Livingston, Louisiana; Fort Sill and Camp Gruber, Oklahoma. In 1943, was sent overseas to Africa and up the boot of Italy under General Mark Clark's 3rd Army. killed near Caserta, Italy on March 19, 1944 when his Army truck was struck. Never received word of the birth of his daughter just two weeks prior to his death.