Army Serial Number 36603251
82nd Airborne Division, Company C, 307 ABN Engineer Battalion
Killed in Lent at the Waal River Crossing in Holland with 48 others. Posthumously awarded the Purple Heart, Distinguished Service Cross and the Knight 4th Class in the Militaire Willems-Orde by the Netherlands government. Repatriated and buried February 14, 1949 in the Fort Snelling National Cemetery.
DSC Citation
The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pride in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross (Posthumously) to Sergeant William Emil Kero (ASN: 36603251), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy while serving with Company C, 307th Airborne Engineer Battalion, 82d Airborne Division, in action against enemy forces on 20 September 1944. Sergeant Kero, a Squad Leader, crossed the river in the leading boat as a member of a squad to remove mines and facilitate the acquisition of a bridgehead by the infantry. He advanced with the forward assault elements to their bridge objective and became separated from the unit with seven others. Sergeant Kero shot two Germans from the bridge trestle. Two 20-mm. SP guns fired point blank at the group. On his own initiative Sergeant Kero attacked the house sheltering the Germans while a companion set up a light machine gun. Six Germans were killed in the house and three others when they tried to escape. Sergeant Kero took three men on to the embankment to cover the light machine gun and observed nine Germans trying to outflank him 200 yards distant. He opened fire, threw grenades and adjusted direction from a fully exposed location for the light machine gun until most of the enemy detail was killed and the others were in retreat. Sergeant Kero was killed as a result of this action. Throughout three hours of fighting, Sergeant Kero displayed exemplary courage of the highest order, was constantly in the van of each attack and was a source of inspiration to all who fought with him. The superior leadership, personal bravery and courage of Sergeant Kero made a vital contribution to the successful capture of the important bridges, and reflect great credit upon himself, the 82d Airborne Division, and the United States Army.
1930 United States Federal Census
William E Kero 9
Eleanor W (Kero) Viviana or Viviano 7
Helen M (Kero) Trojohn or Trojahn 5
Robert H Kero 4
Norma J (Kero) Peterson 3
Reynold J Kero - b. abt 1937
Arnold A - b. abt 1940
82nd Airborne Division, Company C, 307 ABN Engineer Battalion
Killed in Lent at the Waal River Crossing in Holland with 48 others. Posthumously awarded the Purple Heart, Distinguished Service Cross and the Knight 4th Class in the Militaire Willems-Orde by the Netherlands government. Repatriated and buried February 14, 1949 in the Fort Snelling National Cemetery.
DSC Citation
The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pride in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross (Posthumously) to Sergeant William Emil Kero (ASN: 36603251), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy while serving with Company C, 307th Airborne Engineer Battalion, 82d Airborne Division, in action against enemy forces on 20 September 1944. Sergeant Kero, a Squad Leader, crossed the river in the leading boat as a member of a squad to remove mines and facilitate the acquisition of a bridgehead by the infantry. He advanced with the forward assault elements to their bridge objective and became separated from the unit with seven others. Sergeant Kero shot two Germans from the bridge trestle. Two 20-mm. SP guns fired point blank at the group. On his own initiative Sergeant Kero attacked the house sheltering the Germans while a companion set up a light machine gun. Six Germans were killed in the house and three others when they tried to escape. Sergeant Kero took three men on to the embankment to cover the light machine gun and observed nine Germans trying to outflank him 200 yards distant. He opened fire, threw grenades and adjusted direction from a fully exposed location for the light machine gun until most of the enemy detail was killed and the others were in retreat. Sergeant Kero was killed as a result of this action. Throughout three hours of fighting, Sergeant Kero displayed exemplary courage of the highest order, was constantly in the van of each attack and was a source of inspiration to all who fought with him. The superior leadership, personal bravery and courage of Sergeant Kero made a vital contribution to the successful capture of the important bridges, and reflect great credit upon himself, the 82d Airborne Division, and the United States Army.
1930 United States Federal Census
William E Kero 9
Eleanor W (Kero) Viviana or Viviano 7
Helen M (Kero) Trojohn or Trojahn 5
Robert H Kero 4
Norma J (Kero) Peterson 3
Reynold J Kero - b. abt 1937
Arnold A - b. abt 1940
Army Serial Number 36603251
82nd Airborne Division, Company C, 307 ABN Engineer Battalion
Killed in Lent at the Waal River Crossing in Holland with 48 others. Posthumously awarded the Purple Heart, Distinguished Service Cross and the Knight 4th Class in the Militaire Willems-Orde by the Netherlands government. Repatriated and buried February 14, 1949 in the Fort Snelling National Cemetery.
DSC Citation
The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pride in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross (Posthumously) to Sergeant William Emil Kero (ASN: 36603251), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy while serving with Company C, 307th Airborne Engineer Battalion, 82d Airborne Division, in action against enemy forces on 20 September 1944. Sergeant Kero, a Squad Leader, crossed the river in the leading boat as a member of a squad to remove mines and facilitate the acquisition of a bridgehead by the infantry. He advanced with the forward assault elements to their bridge objective and became separated from the unit with seven others. Sergeant Kero shot two Germans from the bridge trestle. Two 20-mm. SP guns fired point blank at the group. On his own initiative Sergeant Kero attacked the house sheltering the Germans while a companion set up a light machine gun. Six Germans were killed in the house and three others when they tried to escape. Sergeant Kero took three men on to the embankment to cover the light machine gun and observed nine Germans trying to outflank him 200 yards distant. He opened fire, threw grenades and adjusted direction from a fully exposed location for the light machine gun until most of the enemy detail was killed and the others were in retreat. Sergeant Kero was killed as a result of this action. Throughout three hours of fighting, Sergeant Kero displayed exemplary courage of the highest order, was constantly in the van of each attack and was a source of inspiration to all who fought with him. The superior leadership, personal bravery and courage of Sergeant Kero made a vital contribution to the successful capture of the important bridges, and reflect great credit upon himself, the 82d Airborne Division, and the United States Army.
1930 United States Federal Census
William E Kero 9
Eleanor W (Kero) Viviana or Viviano 7
Helen M (Kero) Trojohn or Trojahn 5
Robert H Kero 4
Norma J (Kero) Peterson 3
Reynold J Kero - b. abt 1937
Arnold A - b. abt 1940
82nd Airborne Division, Company C, 307 ABN Engineer Battalion
Killed in Lent at the Waal River Crossing in Holland with 48 others. Posthumously awarded the Purple Heart, Distinguished Service Cross and the Knight 4th Class in the Militaire Willems-Orde by the Netherlands government. Repatriated and buried February 14, 1949 in the Fort Snelling National Cemetery.
DSC Citation
The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pride in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross (Posthumously) to Sergeant William Emil Kero (ASN: 36603251), United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy while serving with Company C, 307th Airborne Engineer Battalion, 82d Airborne Division, in action against enemy forces on 20 September 1944. Sergeant Kero, a Squad Leader, crossed the river in the leading boat as a member of a squad to remove mines and facilitate the acquisition of a bridgehead by the infantry. He advanced with the forward assault elements to their bridge objective and became separated from the unit with seven others. Sergeant Kero shot two Germans from the bridge trestle. Two 20-mm. SP guns fired point blank at the group. On his own initiative Sergeant Kero attacked the house sheltering the Germans while a companion set up a light machine gun. Six Germans were killed in the house and three others when they tried to escape. Sergeant Kero took three men on to the embankment to cover the light machine gun and observed nine Germans trying to outflank him 200 yards distant. He opened fire, threw grenades and adjusted direction from a fully exposed location for the light machine gun until most of the enemy detail was killed and the others were in retreat. Sergeant Kero was killed as a result of this action. Throughout three hours of fighting, Sergeant Kero displayed exemplary courage of the highest order, was constantly in the van of each attack and was a source of inspiration to all who fought with him. The superior leadership, personal bravery and courage of Sergeant Kero made a vital contribution to the successful capture of the important bridges, and reflect great credit upon himself, the 82d Airborne Division, and the United States Army.
1930 United States Federal Census
William E Kero 9
Eleanor W (Kero) Viviana or Viviano 7
Helen M (Kero) Trojohn or Trojahn 5
Robert H Kero 4
Norma J (Kero) Peterson 3
Reynold J Kero - b. abt 1937
Arnold A - b. abt 1940
Inscription
WISCONSIN
SGT
307 ABN ENGR BN
82ND AIRBORNE DIV
WORLD WAR II
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