CPL. Mays, William John

Service number: 38079547

Age: 32

Born: Jan 22, 1912 Talco, Titus County, Texas, USA

Hometown: Cuthand, Red River County, Texas

Family:

William Edward Mays (father)

Dona Mae (nee Belcher) Mays (mother)

Edward I. Mays (brother)

Thomas Mays (brother)

Robert David Mays (brother)

Lee Roy Mays (brother)

Lorene Elizabeth Mays/Williams (sister)

John Albert Mays (brother)

Minta Rosanna Mays (sister)

Esther Marie (nee White) Mays/Carr (wife)

Sammy Gene Mays (son)

Rank: Corporal

Function: Anti Tank Gun Crewman

Battalion: 814th Tank Destroyer Battalion

Division: 7th Armored Division

Company: B

Date of death: October 28, 1944

Status: Died Of Wounds

Place of death: Asten, Asten Municipality, Noord-Brabant, Netherlands

Spot: In route to the 53rd Field Hospital

Last known duty: On the road between Asten and Meijel, Netherlands

Awards / Commendations:

★ Purple Heart                                                                     

★ World War II Victory Medal

★ Combat Infantryman Badge                                              

★ Marksmanship Badge

★ American Campaign Medal

★ Army Good Conduct Medal

★ European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign              

Grave number: Not available

Cemetery:

Belcher Cemetery

Titus County, Texas, USA

Date of enlistment: Reported for duty on February 11, 1942, at Fort Sill, Oklahoma

Other information:

First note: Some articles and/or records had his name as William John (Willie) Mays. Military records do not reflect this.

The date of his death year on his grave marker is incorrect. His last known duty was listed on Oct 28, 1944. The grave marker shows 1945.

While residing in Red River County Texas, Willie Mays entered the military, on Feb. 11, 1942 at Fort Sills, Oklahoma.

He sacrificed his life near Asten, Netherlands. This engagement was known as The Battle Of The Canals.

Paris News

Sun. Oct. 3, 1948

Pg. 13

Mays Reburial Set Sunday at Talco

Clarksville--Reburial of Cpl Willie Mays, Cuthand, will be made in Belcher Cemetery, at Talco, Sunday at 2:30 p.m. The service will be conducted by Arthur Bond, Bogata minister, and military rites will be conducted by the American Legion Post of Clarksville. Pallbearers will be Otho White, Fred White, Eugene White, Joe Carr, Clinton Carr and Sam Shirfield.

Corporal Mays was killed in Holland, Oct. 29, 1944 (*Note: Date on Headstone is Oct. 28, 1945). Born in Talco, Jan 22, 1912, he was in training at Camp Polk, La., and Camp Hood before going overseas in 1943.

He leaves one son, Sammie Dean Mays (*Note: Spelling on son's headstone is Sammy Gene Mays); and these brothers and sisters: Ed Mays, Bogata; John Albert Mays, Odessa; Robert Mays, Cuthand; Mrs. Lewis Williams and Mrs. Willard Covington, Frederick, Okla.

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A Veterans Memorial is being built at Paris, Lamar County, Texas, to honor the men from a five county area who died while in the service of Our Country (See: Red River Valley Veterans Memorial www.rrvvm.com ). Cpl. Willie Mays will be remembered at the memorial.