He resided in Pennsylvania prior to the war.
William was "Killed In Action" when he was shot by the German's during Operation Percy Red in France during the war.
He was awarded the the "Bronze Star" and the Purple Heart.
Operation Percy Red's mission was to assist the Maquis in the Department of Haute Vienne in Central France.
Service # O1292011
( Bio by: Russ Pickett )
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Below mission info submitted by:
Dwight "Andy" Anderson
While the Jeds and SO agents were in two- or three-man teams, the Operational Group sections ranged from ten to twenty uniformed and well-armed personnel. In all, 356 Americans in 21 OG teams parachuted into France in 1944. Most of them had trained at Areas F and B. The majority were flown from bas OG Section “Percy Red” was composed mainly of Norwegian Americans, led by Captain William F. Larson and including Technician Fifth Class (T/5) Arne Herstad from Tacoma, who had been waiting in vain for a mission to Norway. Instead, beginning on the first of August 1944, the 18 OGs were parachuted into the Haute Vienne region of central France to connect with the maquis and impede the movement of German troops. Operating near Limoges, they blew up bridges, blasted highways, dug anti-tank ditches, and planted mines and booby traps. On 11 August the team blocked a German armored train by blowing up a bridge in front of it. But in the ensuring fire fight, Captain Larson was fatally wounded. Despite his loss, the Norwegian OGs continued their mission and eventually met up with Colonel Obolensky and OG “Patrick” before being flown back to London.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
He resided in Pennsylvania prior to the war.
William was "Killed In Action" when he was shot by the German's during Operation Percy Red in France during the war.
He was awarded the the "Bronze Star" and the Purple Heart.
Operation Percy Red's mission was to assist the Maquis in the Department of Haute Vienne in Central France.
Service # O1292011
( Bio by: Russ Pickett )
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Below mission info submitted by:
Dwight "Andy" Anderson
While the Jeds and SO agents were in two- or three-man teams, the Operational Group sections ranged from ten to twenty uniformed and well-armed personnel. In all, 356 Americans in 21 OG teams parachuted into France in 1944. Most of them had trained at Areas F and B. The majority were flown from bas OG Section “Percy Red” was composed mainly of Norwegian Americans, led by Captain William F. Larson and including Technician Fifth Class (T/5) Arne Herstad from Tacoma, who had been waiting in vain for a mission to Norway. Instead, beginning on the first of August 1944, the 18 OGs were parachuted into the Haute Vienne region of central France to connect with the maquis and impede the movement of German troops. Operating near Limoges, they blew up bridges, blasted highways, dug anti-tank ditches, and planted mines and booby traps. On 11 August the team blocked a German armored train by blowing up a bridge in front of it. But in the ensuring fire fight, Captain Larson was fatally wounded. Despite his loss, the Norwegian OGs continued their mission and eventually met up with Colonel Obolensky and OG “Patrick” before being flown back to London.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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