William "Willie" was born May 13, 1895 in Rowan County Kentucky. On June 5, 1917 Willie and his brother Wallace registered for the draft of WWI in Morehead, Rowan County. At the time Willie was working there as a Lathe Man for the Morehead Spoke Company in Morehead. He was later inducted on July 21, 1917. After training at Camp Shelby he was assigned to:
Company D of the 165th Infantry Regiment, 42nd "Rainbow" Division. He was promoted to Pvt. 1st class (PFC) on September 26, 1918. While overseas in France he fought at the following battles:
Champagne Sector; Battle of the Aureau;
Chateau Thierry Sector; Battle of Wesles Woods;
Chateau Thierry Sector; St. Mihiel Salient, Argonne Forest.
About a week before Willie had went to see his brother Wallace at his unit which at the time was just a short distance away, probably the 7th or 8th of October. Then on October 14, 1918 Willie passed away of wounds received in battle. Word was sent to his brother Wallace whose unit was about a mile away at the time.
Note (1):
Two members of Willie's Company, (D) received the Medal Of Honor for their heroic actions during the battle that same day Willie died; Sergeant Michael A. Donaldson and Lieutenant Colonel William Joseph Donavan.
Note (2):
Dalton Hayes, the grandson of President Rutherford B. Hayes and Lucy Webb Hayes, also of Willie's company, was seriously wounded that same day but lived.
Note (3):
Willies Unit was the famed "Fighting 69th" they received this nickname from Robert E. Lee in the Civil War. The 69th was renumbered the 165th Infantry Regiment, but retained its Irish symbolism and spirit. It saw heavy combat with the 42nd "Rainbow" Division. Three of its members won the Medal of Honor, including its famed commander, William Joseph Donovan. It also produced Father Francis Duffy, "The Fighting Chaplain".
Company D of the 165th Infantry Regiment, 42nd "Rainbow" Division. He was promoted to Pvt. 1st class (PFC) on September 26, 1918. While overseas in France he fought at the following battles:
Champagne Sector; Battle of the Aureau;
Chateau Thierry Sector; Battle of Wesles Woods;
Chateau Thierry Sector; St. Mihiel Salient, Argonne Forest.
About a week before Willie had went to see his brother Wallace at his unit which at the time was just a short distance away, probably the 7th or 8th of October. Then on October 14, 1918 Willie passed away of wounds received in battle. Word was sent to his brother Wallace whose unit was about a mile away at the time.
Note (1):
Two members of Willie's Company, (D) received the Medal Of Honor for their heroic actions during the battle that same day Willie died; Sergeant Michael A. Donaldson and Lieutenant Colonel William Joseph Donavan.
Note (2):
Dalton Hayes, the grandson of President Rutherford B. Hayes and Lucy Webb Hayes, also of Willie's company, was seriously wounded that same day but lived.
Note (3):
Willies Unit was the famed "Fighting 69th" they received this nickname from Robert E. Lee in the Civil War. The 69th was renumbered the 165th Infantry Regiment, but retained its Irish symbolism and spirit. It saw heavy combat with the 42nd "Rainbow" Division. Three of its members won the Medal of Honor, including its famed commander, William Joseph Donovan. It also produced Father Francis Duffy, "The Fighting Chaplain".
William "Willie" was born May 13, 1895 in Rowan County Kentucky. On June 5, 1917 Willie and his brother Wallace registered for the draft of WWI in Morehead, Rowan County. At the time Willie was working there as a Lathe Man for the Morehead Spoke Company in Morehead. He was later inducted on July 21, 1917. After training at Camp Shelby he was assigned to:
Company D of the 165th Infantry Regiment, 42nd "Rainbow" Division. He was promoted to Pvt. 1st class (PFC) on September 26, 1918. While overseas in France he fought at the following battles:
Champagne Sector; Battle of the Aureau;
Chateau Thierry Sector; Battle of Wesles Woods;
Chateau Thierry Sector; St. Mihiel Salient, Argonne Forest.
About a week before Willie had went to see his brother Wallace at his unit which at the time was just a short distance away, probably the 7th or 8th of October. Then on October 14, 1918 Willie passed away of wounds received in battle. Word was sent to his brother Wallace whose unit was about a mile away at the time.
Note (1):
Two members of Willie's Company, (D) received the Medal Of Honor for their heroic actions during the battle that same day Willie died; Sergeant Michael A. Donaldson and Lieutenant Colonel William Joseph Donavan.
Note (2):
Dalton Hayes, the grandson of President Rutherford B. Hayes and Lucy Webb Hayes, also of Willie's company, was seriously wounded that same day but lived.
Note (3):
Willies Unit was the famed "Fighting 69th" they received this nickname from Robert E. Lee in the Civil War. The 69th was renumbered the 165th Infantry Regiment, but retained its Irish symbolism and spirit. It saw heavy combat with the 42nd "Rainbow" Division. Three of its members won the Medal of Honor, including its famed commander, William Joseph Donovan. It also produced Father Francis Duffy, "The Fighting Chaplain".
Company D of the 165th Infantry Regiment, 42nd "Rainbow" Division. He was promoted to Pvt. 1st class (PFC) on September 26, 1918. While overseas in France he fought at the following battles:
Champagne Sector; Battle of the Aureau;
Chateau Thierry Sector; Battle of Wesles Woods;
Chateau Thierry Sector; St. Mihiel Salient, Argonne Forest.
About a week before Willie had went to see his brother Wallace at his unit which at the time was just a short distance away, probably the 7th or 8th of October. Then on October 14, 1918 Willie passed away of wounds received in battle. Word was sent to his brother Wallace whose unit was about a mile away at the time.
Note (1):
Two members of Willie's Company, (D) received the Medal Of Honor for their heroic actions during the battle that same day Willie died; Sergeant Michael A. Donaldson and Lieutenant Colonel William Joseph Donavan.
Note (2):
Dalton Hayes, the grandson of President Rutherford B. Hayes and Lucy Webb Hayes, also of Willie's company, was seriously wounded that same day but lived.
Note (3):
Willies Unit was the famed "Fighting 69th" they received this nickname from Robert E. Lee in the Civil War. The 69th was renumbered the 165th Infantry Regiment, but retained its Irish symbolism and spirit. It saw heavy combat with the 42nd "Rainbow" Division. Three of its members won the Medal of Honor, including its famed commander, William Joseph Donovan. It also produced Father Francis Duffy, "The Fighting Chaplain".
Inscription
WILLIAM CUNDIFF
PVT. 1 CL., 165th INF. 42 DIV.
KENTUCKY OCT. 14, 1918
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