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name
MORRIS, William David III - Date of
birth
16 August 1924 -
Age
20 - Place of
birth
Pittsburgh, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania -
Hometown
New Haven County, Connecticut
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
31329797 -
Rank
Sergeant -
Function
Squad Leader -
Unit
423rd Infantry Regiment,
106th Infantry Division,
Intelligence and Reconnaissance Platoon
-
Awards
unknown
Death
-
Status
Died non-Battle - Date of
death
23 December 1944 - Place of
death
Ferrières, Belgium
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Henri-Chapelle
| Plot | Row | Grave |
|---|---|---|
| C | 15 | 56 |
Immediate family
-
Members
William D. Morris II (father)
Olive J. Morris (mother)
Lora E. Morris (sister)
Earle J. Morris (brother)
More information
Sgt William D. Morris III enlisted in New Haven, Connecticut on 16 March 1943.Per Dick Sparks: "Irish Sheehan, Bill Morris and I were sitting on the edge of a small raised platform at the far end of the room. The other guys were spread around sitting on benches or the floor. We were all starting to get our weapons in shape. Suddenly there was a rifle shot. Someone, in his fatigue, had forgotten to take the round out of the chamber of his rifle and had, by accident, pulled the trigger. The bullet went through Slick Hendrickson's arm, ricocheted off the tile floor and hit Bill Morris in the forehead. With a startled look on his face, Bill looked toward me and then, gently, fell back on the floor as if he were going to sleep. The next thing I remember, I was outside in the snow, sick to my stomach and bawling my head off."
Source of information: Terry Hirsch, Carla Mans, www.abmc.gov, www.ancestry.com - 1940 Census / The U.S. National Archives and Records Administration / Headstone and Interment Record / U.S. WWII Draft Cards Young Men, http://www.indianamilitary.org/106ID/Diaries/None-POW/Richard%20D%20Sparks/Richard%20Sparks.htm
Photo source: www.findagrave.com - Ralph Peeters, http://www.indianamilitary.org - Richard Sparks, U.S. School Yearbooks - Milford School 1939