The son of Benjamin Harrison Bess (son of George Payne Bess and Susannah A. Comer) & Bertha Marie Krinkie who married on 16 SEP 1920 in Wintersville (Jefferson County), OH.

NEWSPAPER ARTICLE DATED 19 AUG 1950...23 DAYS BEFORE KIA/MIA INCIDENT:

"COUNTY SOLDIER TELLS OF BATTLE FOR YONGDONG...PFC William H. Bess of Mount Pleasant Reports from Korea - With the First Cavalry Division in Korea, a Mount Pleasant soldier and a member of the 7th Cavalry Regiment weapons platoon told of his part in the battle for Yongdong when a small unit inflicted more than 1,400 casualties on two battalians of North Koreans.

The soldier, PFC William H. Bess, son of Mrs. Bertha Bess of Mount Pleasant who was a gunner during the battle.

According to PFC Bess, his platoon was operating in an advance position eight miles ahead of their nearest supporting troops when they were ordered to support a small element of South Korean forces who were taking a beating from the Reds on the outskirts of the city.

Heavy weapons, including mortars, 75 MM Recoiless Rifles and 3.5 Rocket Launchers were set up on a hillside and the South Koreans told to withdraw their troops and reorganize.

Fire adjustment followed and the Reds' position was bombarded with rounds of white phosphorous and high explosive shells, both of which the Ko-Reds hate. The phosphorous proved to be too much for the communists and as they left defenses to evade the heavy barrage of fire, the small unit of 7th Cavalrymen cut them down with machine gun and small-arms fire.

The South Koreans then organized, again went into action with the advice of the American commander of the platoon, 2nd Lieutenant Francis J. Maloney, Jr. of Worchester, MA to hold their fire until they had something to shoot on. This time the small company held their lines and with the support of another platoon, the Red attack was repulsed.

PFC Bess has been with the 7th Cavalry Regiment for 14 months and a member of the U.S. Forces since 1948."