Missing information?

Do you have any additional information you would like to share about a soldier?

Submit

Personal info

Full name
MARION, William Albert
Date of birth
1 March 1925
Age
19
Place of birth
Barberton, Clark County, Washington
Hometown
West Lafayette, Coshocton County, Ohio

Military service

Service number
38442553
Rank
Sergeant
Function
Tail Gunner
Unit
751st Bombardment Squadron,
457th Bombardment Group, Heavy
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster

Death

Status
Finding of Death
Date of death
13 January 1945
Place of death
Outskirts of Wörth am Rhein, Germany

Grave

Cemetery
American War Cemetery Lorraine
Tablets of the Missing
* This soldier has been accounted for. A rosette has been placed next to his name.

Immediate family

Members
Louis F. Marion (father)
Lydia R. Marion (mother)
Richard L. Marion (brother)

Plane data

Serial number
43-38795
Data
Type: B-17G
Destination: Maximiliansau, Germany
MACR: 11586

More information

Sgt William A. Marion graduated from Barberton High School before he enlisted.

Flak hit the bomb bay. The airplane exploded and crashed near Wörth am Rhein, Germany.

On 18 January 1971, gravediggers at Wörth am Rhein uncovered a piece of parachute ropes, buckles and a boot, skeletal remains and two ID tags from Sgt Marion. The remains were turned over to a U.S. Army mortuary team and the identification was confirmed through dental records.

His remains were returned to the U.S. for permanent interment at the Greenlawn Memorial Park in Akron, Ohio.

Sgt Marion's name is permanently inscribed on the Tablets of the Missing at the Lorraine American Cemetery and Memorial at St. Avold, France.

Source of information: Peter Schouteten, www.abmc.gov, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.archives.gov, www.ancestry.com – U.S. WWII Draft Cards Young Men / U.S. Headstone Applications for Military Veterans / 1930 Census, www.fold3.com – MACR, www.newspapers.com – The Akron Beacon Journal Akron Ohio - 8 February 1945/30 April 1971
Photo source: www.newspapers.com – The Akron Beacon Journal Akron Ohio - 8 February 1945