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Personal info

Full name
ELLIS, William Herbert Jr
Date of birth
2 October 1918
Age
26
Place of birth
Wilson, Wilson County, North Carolina
Hometown
Wilson County, North Carolina

Military service

Service number
O-1014568
Rank
Second Lieutenant
Function
Platoon Commander
Unit
C Company,
774th Tank Battalion
Awards
Purple Heart with Oak Leaf Cluster

Death

Status
Killed in Action
Date of death
9 January 1945
Place of death
Bihain, Belgium

Grave

Cemetery
American War Cemetery Henri-Chapelle
Plot Row Grave
C 11 12

Immediate family

Members
William H. Ellis (father)
Archie K. Ellis (brother)
R.A. (Bryan) Ellis (wife)

More information

William graduated from The Citadel with the Class of 1940, where he was a member of the freshman football squad.

He was on a mission to assist infantry in capturing the town of Bihain, Belgium, on the evening of 9 January 1945. He was dismounted from his tank, directing its movement, when he was hit by enemy small arms fire. He died instantly.

Source of information: Raf Dyckmans, Terry Hirsch, www.wwiimemorial.com, http://thecitadelmemorialeurope.wordpress.com - 774th’s After Action Report; Letter to Mrs. Ellis from the Commanding Officer 774th Tank Bn / Attended the Citadel, The Military College of South Carolina located in Charleston. Member of the Class of 1940, www.ancestry.com - U.S., Headstone and Interment Records for U.S. Military Cemeteries on Foreign Soil

Photo source: www.findagrave.com - Jeff Hall, courtesy of Peter Schouteten