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name
WITTON, William Jones - Date of
birth
24 July 1925 -
Age
19 - Place of
birth
Boston, Suffolk County, Massachusetts -
Hometown
Concord, Middlesex County, Massachusetts
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
31390776 -
Rank
Private First Class -
Function
unknown -
Unit
HQ Company,
3rd Battalion,
423rd Infantry Regiment,
106th Infantry Division
-
Awards
Silver Star,
Purple Heart
Death
-
Status
Killed in Action - Date of
death
21 December 1944 - Place of
death
Germany
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Henri-Chapelle
| Plot | Row | Grave |
|---|---|---|
| H | 6 | 48 |
Immediate family
-
Members
Edgar A. Witton (father)
Catherine J. Witton (mother)
Helen M. Witton (sister)
More information
Pfc William J. Witton graduated from Concord High School in 1943 and attended Harvard University for two terms.He entered the Army in October, 1943 and was selected for the Army Specialized Training Program (A.S.T.P.) at Fort Benning. When the program was eliminated, he trained at Camp Atterbury, Indiana. He was sent overseas in October, 1944.
Pfc Witton was awarded the Silver Star for gallantry in action on 17 December 1944, near Oberscheid, Germany. The citation reads in part: "Pfc Witton, while patrolling with his Commanding Officer, Capt Bishop and Pvt Hunt behind advancing German columns, observed a lone German soldier firing direction flares for his gun crew. Advancing on alone, he stalked the enemy soldier back to his gun position and killed him with his M-1, then tossed three grenades into the gun emplacement killing its entire crew. He then destroyed the enemy weapon with the assistance of Pvt Hunt. "
Source of information: Astrid van Erp, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.ancestry.com - U.S. School Yearbook / 1930 Census
Photo source: www.findagrave.com - Des Philippet, U.S. School Yearbook