World War II Honoree

Bill J. Barnett

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

St. Petersburg, Florida

Honored By

Ms. Heather Barnett

Relationship

Granddaughter

JOINED THE ARMY IN 1942. VOLUNTEERED TO BE A PARATROOPER IN THE 505TH PARACHUTE INFANTRY REGIMENT OF THE 82ND AIRBORNE DIVISION. WENT THROUGH JUMP SCHOOL AT FORT BENNING IN GEORGIA. IN MAY 1943 HE TRAVELED TO CASABLANCA, FRENCH MOROCCO, AFRICA. THEN TRAVELED TO TUNISIA WHERE HE TRAINED UNTIL HIS DIVISION WAS CALLED ON TO MAKE NIGHT JUMP INTO SICILY IN JULY 1943 TO CAPTURE THE ISLAND. THE FOLLOWING MONTH THE 82ND AIRBORNE MADE ANOTHER NIGHT JUMP ONTO THE BEACHES AT SALERNO, ITALY TO HELP GENERAL CLARK PUSH THE GERMANS AND ITALIANS BACK TO THE VOLTURNO RIVER TAKING NAPLES DURING THE NIGHT. THE 82ND AIRBORNE WAS THEN PULLED BACK FROM THE FRONT, LED ABOARD SHIPS AND SENT TO ENGLAND VIA IRELAND TO TRAIN FOR D-DAY IN NORMANDY, FRANCE. IN SEPTEMBER OF 1943 THE 82ND AIRBORNE JUMPED IN HOLLAND AND STAYED TO PARTICIPATE IN THE BATTLE OF THE BULGE. HE THEN CROSSED THE MASS RIVER INTO GERMANY MEETING THE RUSSIANS JUST BEFORE THE GERMANS SURRENDERED. HE RETURNED TO THE UNITED STATES IN AUGUST 1945. HE WAS AWARDED THE PURPLE HEART AND THE BRONZE STAR FOR HIS HEROISM AND DISTINGUISHED SERVICE.