World War II Honoree

William P. Heppler

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Honored By

Helen M. Driscoll & Edward F. Driscoll III

Relationship

Sister & Nephew

SERVED FOR THREE YEARS AS A MEDICAL NON-COMMISSIONED OFFICER WITH THE ARMY MEDICAL CORPS. HE SERVED ABOARD THE USS MARIGOLD, THE 212TH ARMY HOSPITAL SHIP, IN THE MEDITERRANEAN WHERE HE CARED FOR THE WOUNDED FROM THE EUROPEAN BATTLEFIELDS OF ROME-ARNO AND SOUTHERN FRANCE. HE THEN SERVED IN THE WESTERN PACIFIC CARING FOR THE WOUNDED AT MILNE BAY, HOLLANDIA, LUZON, BIAK, LEYTE AND MANILA. AFTER A RETURN TO THE U.S. WITH THE SHIP AT CAPACITY WITH BATTLE CASUALTIES, HE RETURNED TO THE PACIFIC ARRIVING IN MANILA IN TIME TO CELEBRATE V-J DAY. HE THEN SAILED TO TOKYO BAY VIA OKINAWA AND ARRIVED THERE BEFORE THE PEACE TREATY WAS SIGNED. HE HAD THE DISTINCTION OF BEING ON ONE OF THE FIRST ALLIED SHIPS TO DOCK IN JAPAN. HE AIDED HUNDREDS OF LIBERATED PRISONERS OF WAR AS WELL AS SICK AND WOUNDED CANADIANS, DUTCH, GREEKS, AUSTRALIANS, BRITISH, JAPANESE AND CHINESE CIVILIANS. PARTICIPATED IN BATTLES AND CAMPAIGNS OF ROME-ARNO, SOUTHERN FRANCE, NEW GUINEA, PHILIPPINES, LUZON AND THE WESTERN PACIFIC. HE WAS AWARDED THE GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL, AMERICAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, ASIATIC-PACIFIC CAMPAIGN MEDAL, EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN SERVICE MEDAL AND THE WWII VICTORY MEDAL.