William served as a First Lieutenant, 81st Combat Engineer Battalion, 106th Infantry Division, U.S. Army during World War II.
He resided in Baltimore County, Maryland prior to the war.
He enlisted in the Army on August 20, 1942 in Baltimore, Maryland. He was noted as being employed in construction and also as Single, without dependents.
The 81st Combat Engineer Battalion, a scratch force of 106th Division personnel, was tasked with a five-day holding action (December 17–21, 1944) on a ridge outside of St. Vith, Belgium against a vastly superior force as part of the Battle of the Bulge.
For this action, the 81st Engineer Combat Battalion was later awarded the "Distinguished Unit Citation" for gallantry. The defense of St. Vith by the 106th has been credited with ruining the German timetable for reaching Antwerp, hampering the Bulge offensive for the Germans.
On the last day of this holding action while attempting to withdraw 1st. Lt. Gordon, who was believed to be wounded, was taken prisoner by the German Army. He was held at the German POW Camp Stalag 13b Weiden, Bavaria 49-13.
William "Died While A POW" while at this POW Camp in Germany.
He was awarded the Prisoner Of War Medal and the Purple Heart.
Service # O1110510
His next of kin was noted as being Mrs. Virginia M. Gordon who resided in Arlington, Virginia.
( Bio by: Russ Pickett )
Special thanks to:
Eric Ackerman for noting he was a POW which helped in discovering how he actually died!
He resided in Baltimore County, Maryland prior to the war.
He enlisted in the Army on August 20, 1942 in Baltimore, Maryland. He was noted as being employed in construction and also as Single, without dependents.
The 81st Combat Engineer Battalion, a scratch force of 106th Division personnel, was tasked with a five-day holding action (December 17–21, 1944) on a ridge outside of St. Vith, Belgium against a vastly superior force as part of the Battle of the Bulge.
For this action, the 81st Engineer Combat Battalion was later awarded the "Distinguished Unit Citation" for gallantry. The defense of St. Vith by the 106th has been credited with ruining the German timetable for reaching Antwerp, hampering the Bulge offensive for the Germans.
On the last day of this holding action while attempting to withdraw 1st. Lt. Gordon, who was believed to be wounded, was taken prisoner by the German Army. He was held at the German POW Camp Stalag 13b Weiden, Bavaria 49-13.
William "Died While A POW" while at this POW Camp in Germany.
He was awarded the Prisoner Of War Medal and the Purple Heart.
Service # O1110510
His next of kin was noted as being Mrs. Virginia M. Gordon who resided in Arlington, Virginia.
( Bio by: Russ Pickett )
Special thanks to:
Eric Ackerman for noting he was a POW which helped in discovering how he actually died!
William served as a First Lieutenant, 81st Combat Engineer Battalion, 106th Infantry Division, U.S. Army during World War II.
He resided in Baltimore County, Maryland prior to the war.
He enlisted in the Army on August 20, 1942 in Baltimore, Maryland. He was noted as being employed in construction and also as Single, without dependents.
The 81st Combat Engineer Battalion, a scratch force of 106th Division personnel, was tasked with a five-day holding action (December 17–21, 1944) on a ridge outside of St. Vith, Belgium against a vastly superior force as part of the Battle of the Bulge.
For this action, the 81st Engineer Combat Battalion was later awarded the "Distinguished Unit Citation" for gallantry. The defense of St. Vith by the 106th has been credited with ruining the German timetable for reaching Antwerp, hampering the Bulge offensive for the Germans.
On the last day of this holding action while attempting to withdraw 1st. Lt. Gordon, who was believed to be wounded, was taken prisoner by the German Army. He was held at the German POW Camp Stalag 13b Weiden, Bavaria 49-13.
William "Died While A POW" while at this POW Camp in Germany.
He was awarded the Prisoner Of War Medal and the Purple Heart.
Service # O1110510
His next of kin was noted as being Mrs. Virginia M. Gordon who resided in Arlington, Virginia.
( Bio by: Russ Pickett )
Special thanks to:
Eric Ackerman for noting he was a POW which helped in discovering how he actually died!
He resided in Baltimore County, Maryland prior to the war.
He enlisted in the Army on August 20, 1942 in Baltimore, Maryland. He was noted as being employed in construction and also as Single, without dependents.
The 81st Combat Engineer Battalion, a scratch force of 106th Division personnel, was tasked with a five-day holding action (December 17–21, 1944) on a ridge outside of St. Vith, Belgium against a vastly superior force as part of the Battle of the Bulge.
For this action, the 81st Engineer Combat Battalion was later awarded the "Distinguished Unit Citation" for gallantry. The defense of St. Vith by the 106th has been credited with ruining the German timetable for reaching Antwerp, hampering the Bulge offensive for the Germans.
On the last day of this holding action while attempting to withdraw 1st. Lt. Gordon, who was believed to be wounded, was taken prisoner by the German Army. He was held at the German POW Camp Stalag 13b Weiden, Bavaria 49-13.
William "Died While A POW" while at this POW Camp in Germany.
He was awarded the Prisoner Of War Medal and the Purple Heart.
Service # O1110510
His next of kin was noted as being Mrs. Virginia M. Gordon who resided in Arlington, Virginia.
( Bio by: Russ Pickett )
Special thanks to:
Eric Ackerman for noting he was a POW which helped in discovering how he actually died!
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